theceomagazine.com | 173“Our culture is more personal than most other companies.
People come to us because of the personal connection we
have developed with them. What sets us apart is our more
than 60 years of experience in selling traditional hardware
products. Despite the many changes in
the industry, this unique background
has enabled us to remain stable but
adaptive, and ingrained into us
a deeper and more strategic
understanding of our client and
the industry as a whole.”
Being understanding is an essential
value to Michael. Whether it’s with
clients or suppliers, Michael believes
that understanding and constant
communication among stakeholders
builds better relationships. “Of course,
suppliers want to sell more to us and, as buyers, we
want to buy more efficiently,” he says. “It is essential for a
company like us to have efficient supply chain management.
We should know every aspect of our supply chain well.
“Regular interaction is important. We have developed
a feedback program where we ask our suppliers what
support they need, let them know what our needs are,
and how they performed. This way, we maintain a good
relationship with our suppliers because
it is not just a simple buy and supply
relationship. You take care of them,
and they take care of you.”
Michael considers the company’s
goals and plans to be multifaceted.
Since retail is a mix of products and
people coming together, he wants
to keep creating a good “buying
experience”. “In the short-term, we
still need to develop our core product
to reach its maximum level. From day
one, when I started at Cebu Home in
2002, I was already determined to establish the company’s
core and exclusive brand that customers can depend on,” he
explains. “We continue to develop the product and extend
our core brand and products.”“IT IS NOT JUST A
SIMPLE BUY AND
SUPPLY RELATIONSHIP.
YOU TAKE CARE OF
THEM, AND THEY
TAKE CARE OF YOU.”
Interview | INVEST