"My grandparents introduced the first luxury department store in the country — the first supermarket and department store complex that was the precursor of malls. We have done the same on the food side by pioneering the first hypermarket in the country. The third generation is simply continuing the legacy that was begun by my grandparents."
WHEN someone comes from a prominent family whose businesses are inevitably passed on to their children through the years, chances are the scions will end up working for the family enterprise.
Christopher Tantoco Chief Operations Officer Joel’s Place
Thirty-six-year-old Christopher Tantoco, the youngest grandchild of the Tantoco family who owns Rustan's and Shopwise, initially wanted to work outside the family businesses after he graduated from college. However, the Tantoco patriarch, his grandfather, Bienvenido Tantoco Sr., wouldn't let him.
"My lolo always wanted me to work for the family," Tantoco shared. "After I finished studying at Boston University, I was applying for a job in the US. My lolo said he wanted me to work for the family. He sent me to Morocco to help out in the family's Duty Free business there."
Tantoco was very close to his grandfather. "I grew up with him," he said of his grandfather.
"I was living with him until I moved back here in Manila. I think it was more of a calling to come home for the family and to spend time with my lolo."
His grandfather was also Tantoco's role model.
"He showed me how to live and enjoy life. He was humble; he let go of things quickly, quick to forgive and quick to forget."
In 2019, the young Tantoco returned to Manila to help his cousins in putting up a new shopping concept — a "grocerant" or a grocery and restaurant.
"My lolo always wanted me to work for Manong Donnie," Tantoco said.
The Tantocos started Rustan’s and then Shopwise. After several decades, they are introducing Joel’s Place, a different concept inspired by European establishments. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
"Manong Donnie" is the Tantoco's eldest grandson, Bienvenido "Donnie" Tantoco 3rd, the president of Rustan's Commercial Corp., and how Tantoco calls his eldest cousin.
"While studying abroad, I spent my vacations doing summer jobs with the Rustan Group," Tantoco said.
"Before graduating, I worked with Manong Donnie on a project. We got to know each other more and realized that we work well with each other as a tandem.
"Eventually, Manong Donnie offered me an opportunity to co-lead something new, and I immediately accepted."
The young Tantoco was tapped to join the Manila company in mid-2019.
"We decided that we should venture into something new again," Tantoco shared.
"In January 2020, we began the planning for a new retail format that would express the values of a new generation of consumers. We went abroad to do some research."
The family believed London (United Kingdom) and Paris (France) were good places to scout for a possible grocerant concept.
"So in January 2020, we traveled around Europe to look for a new retail format," Tantoco narrated.
"We went to London and Paris and got some concepts, with Donnie, Christian (my nephew and Donnie's son), Frances Yu (consultant) and the team.
"We went to all the places that we toured, and we wanted to get whatever works for us here and eventually conceptualized Joel's Place.
"In Paris, one of the places that struck us the most was Le Bon Marche. We also went to Harrod's in London, although they didn't do their grocerant concept in a grand scale. We also visited Selfridges food hall. We spent two weeks scouting for concepts."
However, the Tantocos did not readily get to put out their concept store because a few weeks after they returned from Europe, the pandemic happened and everything came to a halt.
"I guess you couldn't control that," Tantoco maintained. "While the pandemic slowed down the implementation, we were able to spend more time in thoughtful attention to the details of the various aspects of the business. We went to how we would focus on our current business and survive the pandemic.
"The grocerant was pushed to the side, so we stabilized and learned what to do with Covid. After that, the team went back together and started conceptualizing working on all the plannings, from the design phase, what products should we choose, what pillars. We were all meeting via Zoom. It was very difficult and challenging.
"Eventually, I felt fulfilled that the concept was accepted and made people happy, and that I contributed to making that happen. With Joel's Place, we are building a happy community with our employees and customers."
Tantoco now acts as the COO (chief operating officer) of Joel's Place, the grocerant that opened only last December. The store was named after the Tantocos' late grandson (Joel), who passed on more than a decade ago because of pancreatitis.
Joel's Place on the ground floor of the Proscenium Retail Row at The Proscenium Residences, Rockwell Center in Makati City, can be positioned in many places because it functions as a neighborhood grocerant and community. The place is a convergence of retail, food service and experiences.
The family wanted a proper name, a name of a person, to call their newest venture. They didn't want it to sound like a commercial establishment. They wanted Joel's Place to feel like a second home.
"When you visit Joel's Place, we don't want you to feel like you're in a commercial establishment, but a home," Tantoco said. "One of the senses of fulfillment comes from seeing an idea germinate from a seed and come to fruition."
Everything at Joel's Place is selected by the team that does the merchandising. "The team just looks at everything together," Tantoco said.
"We're quite a bit. Others are joining us as consultants. Everyone played a part. Everyone played a role in conceptualizing and executing the store."
Thankfully, Tantoco had no second thoughts about working for the family business.
"Retail is in my DNA, although I wanted to get work experience abroad first before joining the family business," he said.
"A big challenge for me was not being able to see each other, face-to-face. It's difficult to judge emotions and during meetings, I cannot feel the room. We're don't always connect properly. It was difficult to adjust to online work."
Tantoco earlier wanted to work in another company outside his family business. But his grandfather wanted him to work for the family business. Hence, with Joel's Place, he expects to continue the company growth.
"Growth comes from consistency, trust and staying attuned to the ever changing needs of our customers and the communities which we serve," Tantoco attested.
"We will roll out this concept in the communities in which there is a fit between what we offer and the needs and aspirations of our target customers."
The Tantocos started Rustan's and then Shopwise. After several decades, they are introducing Joel's Place, a different concept inspired by European establishments.
"Rustan's has always been a pioneer since 1952," Tantoco informed.
"My grandparents introduced the first luxury department store in the country — the first supermarket and department store complex that was the precursor of the malls, partnered exclusively with many international brands to roll out specialty stores and many more products, services and experiences.
"We have done the same on the food side by pioneering the first hypermarket in the country through the Shopwise format in 1998. The third generation is simply continuing the legacy that was begun by my grandparents, built-up by the second generation, and now, continued by the third generation."
Without a doubt, Tantoco still wishes to achieve and accomplish things professionally and personally now that he is helping steer Joel's Place to a new high.
"I am very excited to learn, grow and contribute positively to my family, to the business, to the communities that surround us and to whatever sphere of influence in which I find myself," he said.
He knows his job as COO of Joel's Place is difficult and at the same time challenging in the new concept and the new company.
"What is most challenging is that this is a new venture and concept. So, there's no data, no past experiences, no local industry examples. Innovating entails having to unlearn and re-learn new things, new discoveries."
He undoubtedly enjoys working in teams with his family members and that brings out his expertise in his job. "I like working with people and achieving goals together," Tantoco said. "I got to where I am because of good mentors.
"Since I was small, I've always liked working in teams while playing sports. I've always wanted to be in a good team. I get a significant fulfillment when I play, win or lose, with a team. Now, I'm not playing sports, but still working in a team in trying to achieve a common goal."
During the pandemic, Tantoco also tied the knot and the couple now have a son, Andres, who's almost one year old. His grandfather, the senior Tantoco, also passed on two years ago.
The Tantocos started Rustan’s and then Shopwise. After several decades, they are introducing Joel’s Place, a different concept inspired by European establishments. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
His wife's name is Rebecca. "She's very supportive of Joel's Place and even agreed to appear in our video reels," Tantoco said.
"She's knowledgeable about food and when we go on store visits together, she shares with me invaluable inputs that I then share with the team to operationalize.
"The Tantoco family is pretty big. Everyone supports each other, helps each other out. The family members have been visiting our store since we opened until today. They've shared their observations and things to improve on."
Before the virus totally disrupted everything around us, Tantoco went to Mexico to attend a friend's wedding. One week later, the lockdown started. More recently, he and his wife hied off to El Nido for a much-needed R&R (rest and recreation).
"He certainly knows how to keep a balance between work and home. "I believe that it is important to remain flexible and adjust to work or home, depending on what aspect of my life needs more focus at any given time," Tantoco said.
"When my son was born, I made sure I spent ample time with him and my wife. When Joel's Place opened, I'm in the store as much as I possible. I always try to find ways to balance my priorities. When I'm not at work or at home, I live to travel and experience new things.
"As a new father, I go to different places with my family as much as I can. I try to detach by watching movies, documentaries, nature, etc. I also do activities where I can involve my son, like swimming, travelling, walking and visiting Joel's Place."
**
quick questionsWhat is your biggest fear?
Losing someone close to me
What really makes you angry?
Injustice, bullying
What motivates you to work hard?
Working with the team [of Joel's Place]
What makes you laugh the most?
Andres', my son's, laugh
What would you do if you won the lotto?
I don't bet on the lotto.
If you could share a meal with any individual living or dead, who would, he/she be?
Jesus
What was the last book you read?
Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist." I've been re-reading that over the years.
What celebrity would you like to meet for a cup of coffee?
American businessman and billionaire Warren Buffet
What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
Opening Joel's Place
Read The Rest at :
