Toby’s Sports announces its momentous 45th-anniversary celebration

Toby’s Sports, the Philippines' number one sporting goods store and the Home of Champions, proudly announces its momentous 45th-anniversary celebration. For four and half decades, Toby's Sports has been the unwavering beacon of support for athletes, sports enthusiasts, and champions in the making, fueling the sporting dreams of countless Filipinos. From the very first goal to the triumphant finish line, Toby’s Sports has been there every step of the way, providing Filipinos with the finest sports gear that empower champions.

 

Toby’s Sports opens new franchise in SM San Pedro. Pictured here with the Toby’s Sports Franchise Group is Ms. Lilibeth Santiago, Franchisee of Toby’s Sports SM San Pedro (5th from R) and Mr. William Llaguno, Toby’s Sports Store Operations and Franchise Management Head (6th from R)

A Legacy of Excellence

 

This milestone marks not just the passing of time but a legacy of excellence, resilience, and passion. Over the course of 45 years, Toby’s Sports has transformed into more than just a retailer, but a legacy intertwined with the pursuit of excellence and championing the spirit of sportsmanship. From basketball courts to home gyms, from tennis courts to running tracks, Toby’s Sports has been the source of top-tier sports brands. Its mission? To help Filipinos become champions through sports.

 

"We are immensely proud of the legacy Toby's Sports has built over the last 45 years. From day one, we have fully committed to empowering champions through sports. As we celebrate this milestone, we look back with gratitude for the countless individuals and athletes who have made Toby's Sports a part of their journey. With our 'We Got This’ mantra, we look ahead with great enthusiasm to the future, where we will continue to inspire and equip individuals to reach their full athletic potential. Here's to 45 years of excellence and many more to come,” said Jojo Claudio, CEO of Quorum International Inc., the parent company of Toby's Sports.

To further highlight its retail excellence, several Toby’s Sports stores were recently recognized with Gold Bagwis Awards, a program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that gives due recognition to establishments that uphold the rights of consumers while practicing responsible business where consumers get the best value for money. 

 

More Stores, More Options

 

With millions of Filipinos depending on Toby’s Sports for their sports and fitness needs, the retail giant continues to expand its footprint and product offerings, signifying its dedication to providing top-notch sports gear and equipment to a wider audience. It has opened sevennew stores in the past two years, four of which are franchised, to reach a total of 63 branches nationwide and continues to bring in new sports brands into the country. In 2023, it added a Flagship Store in SM North The Block to bring its total of Flagship Stores to three, with the other two strategically located in Bonifacio Global City and SM Mall of Asia. Its most recent openings include in SM Tuguegerao, SM San Pedro and its Toby’s Outlet Store right next to its Headquarters in Pasig City. The expansion of Toby’s Sports across the Philippine not only showcases its commitment to meeting the diverse needs of its customers, but also reinforces its position as the premier sports store in the country.

Promoting and Growing New Sports

Toby's Sports isn't just about celebrating the legacy of traditional sports, it is also committed to fostering the growth of emerging sports in the Philippines. This year, it has taken massive steps to promoting and growing the sport of Pickleball in the Philippines, introducing Pickleball products in its lineup to ensure that enthusiasts of this fast-growing sport have access to high-quality gear, as well as mounting a series of successful Pickleball events and clinics to provide its customers a space to play and learn the sport. Furthermore, Toby’s Sports is excited to announce the upcoming Pickleball Weekend Games happening on November 25-26 at the 31st Street in Bonifacio Global City. This event aims to not only showcase the sport but also provide a platform for enthusiasts and beginners alike to come together, compete, learn, and celebrate the spirit of Pickleball. 

 

Providing Complete Sports Solutions

 

Apart from catering to individual customers and its own employees, Toby's Sports has also expanded its business to providing gear and mounting sports events for corporate partners and clients like GCash, PhilamLife, VXI and more. Recognizing the importance of fostering a healthy and active workplace culture, Toby's Sports offers tailored solutions to corporate clients, including team-building events, wellness programs, corporate tournaments, fun runs, and access to top-quality sports gear. This expansion aligns with Toby's Sports' mission to empower individuals, teams, schools and corporations with their complete sports and fitness needs.

 

Toby’s Sports Enters Hall of Fame Status at Franchise Excellence Awards

Toby’s Sports, the largest multi-brand sports retailer in the Philippines, today announced that it has once again received the prestigious Outstanding Filipino Franchise Award for Retail (Large Scale Category) from the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) at the 2019 Franchise Excellence Awards held at Edsa Shangri-La Plaza last August 2019. This is Toby’s Sports’ second recognition in the same category, making it an official Hall of Fame Awardee.

(L-R) Dr. Alan Escalona, PFA Chairman; Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, UA&P University President; Usec. Rowel Barba, DTI Undersecretary; Mr. Roberto S. Claudio, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Toby’s Sports; Mr. William N. Llaguno, Store Operations and Franchising Head, Toby’s Sports; Mr. Louie A. Claudio, Business Unit Head for Shared Services, Toby’s Sports; Mr. Bobby Amores, President, Philfoodex; Atty. Alex Cabrera, Committee Chair for FEA 2019; and Chairman of Isla Lipana & Co; and Mr. Richard Sanz, PFA President.



The Franchise Excellence Awards (FEA) recognizes the country’s best-managed companies that serve as benchmarks for all franchising businesses based on the following criteria: growth performance, brand value, and ethical business practices. FEA brings the standard of franchisors to a higher level, positioning the franchisers as forerunners in the growth and development of the franchising sector. FEA is a joint partnership between the PFA, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Philippine Retailers Association.

“We have been in the franchise business for over 20 years and being inducted in the Hall of Fame at the prestigious Franchise Excellence Awards is truly an amazing honor and a huge milestone for us,” said William Llaguno, Head of Store Operations and Franchising at Toby’s Sports. “We see our franchise business playing an important role in our mission to maintain our status as the #1 sports retailer in the country, as well as in our advocacy of promoting sports and an active lifestyle to millions of Filipinos nationwide,” Llaguno concluded. 

“The Outstanding Filipino Franchise Award is given to Filipino franchises that have become benchmarks in national market penetration through excellent franchise operations and good governance. Toby’s Sports has exemplified these qualities, which made it an awardee of the said category. We are confident that this recognition will inspire Toby’s Sports to continue its pursuit of excellence and we look forward to seeing greater achievements from the country’s largest sports retailer,” said Dr. Alan Escalona, PFA Chairman.

Toby’s Sports Opens Flagship Store in BGC

Toby’s Sports, the leading sports retailer in the Philippines, has opened a new, innovative flagship store that highlights its long-standing commitment to elevating its retail experience to world-class standards.

Toby’s Sports held a special preview party of the new flagship store situated in the heart of the bustling Bonifacio Global City (BGC) last Nov. 28. The event, called “Pinnacle of Sports,” gathered celebrities, athletes, sports enthusiasts, and members of the media who had a first look at the new flagship store. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was spearheaded by Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano and Toby’s Sports officials.

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Toby's Sports' flagship store at Bonifacio Global City.


Among those who attended the star-studded launch were Christine Jacob-Sandejas, Miss International Kylie Verzosa, Adidas country manager Adrien Semblat, actors Bubbles Paraiso, Bobby Yan, and Tessa Prieto-Valdes, and athletes from the PBA, UAAP, and NCAA.

The 1,000sqm, two-story space houses a premium assortment of footwear, sports apparel and equipment from the world’s best brands. According to Toby Claudio, President of Toby’s Sports, “we wanted to create an iconic store, a pinnacle shopping experience in the heart of Metro Manila.” To achieve that, the store utilizes cutting-edge technology, such as stunning LED displays towering over 5th avenue and multiple interactive touch screens that uses RFID technology to show information on its latest products. It also features various zones that create an experiential shopping experience:

PLAYZone. The flagship store features an interactive PLAYZone to host events and sports clinics on a regular basis. It also doubles as a basketball court, which utilizes a professional-grade basketball shooting machine, where people can hone their shooting skills. Prizes will be given out regularly to top scorers in the Toby’s Shooout game.

LAUNCHZone. As its names suggests, the LAUNCHZone will host product launches that feature the latest innovations from the top sports brands. Toby’s Sports also plans to use this area for curated installations, special VIP events and athlete appearances.

• Toby’s Custom Lab. The Toby’s Custom Lab, located on the 2nd level, offers apparel customization services. With the capability to create full custom uniforms and jerseys, it will include express customization via sublimation, making a more personalized customer experience.

• Run Signature Analysis. The flagship store offers Run Signature gait and running form analysis, from Brooks. It is a radical new approach to gait analysis that takes an in-depth look at the body’s natural running characteristics so that the store personnel can offer the ideal shoes to every customer.

Latest Retail Technologies

The Toby’s Flagship is one of the first stores in the country to feature a highly digital experience where customers can browse the retailer’s e-commerce website, tobys.com, on large interactive walls in the store. Toby’s Sports also uses RFID technology that allows customers to unlock virtual content by placing a shoe on their Shoe Showcase platforms and browse all its specs and features via touchscreen.

“We harnessed the latest technology to bring our store experience to the next level.  We wanted to create more than just a store, but a space that tells stories about the latest sports innovations and inspire people to play”, Claudio said.

World-class Interiors

Toby’s Sports commissioned the tandem of world-renowned German architectural firm Blocher + Blocher and Philippine-based Sonia Olivares & Associates (SSOa) to bring to life the retailer’s vision for its first flagship store.

The interior design combines architectural details inspired by Manila’s raw aesthetics with larger-than-life graphics and pops of color that represent the vibrant nature of sports.

The concrete walls and metal fixtures create a modern-urban aesthetic, allowing the products displayed to take center stage. The central staircase, which features a massive lighted wall, serve as the centerpiece of store. Neon lights, inspired by the city’s bright lights, were also used to call
out the different product categories and zones of the store.

Going Omnichannel

Toby’s Sports also saw the flagship store as the perfect opportunity to marry its offline and online initiatives to truly provide an immersive omnichannel experience.  The store offers a Click & Collect service that allows its online consumers to pick-up their orders in the store within hours. Toby’s Sports also plans to fully equip its products with QR codes that will lead customers to a particular product’s page in its online store. Soon, Toby’s Sports will introduce an automated locker area, where online customers can pick-up their orders 24/7, even when the  store is closed, using a generated passcode that will be sent directly to the customer’s mobile phone.
"Although our physical stores have been our bread and butter for the past 40 years, we have seen incredible growth in our online business since we re-launched tobys.com in late 2016. Now, we want to make shopping even more convenient to our customers by offering a seamless online-to-offline shopping experience,” Claudio said.

Embracing Growth in its 40th Year

The opening of the Toby’s Sports flagship store also signals the company’s commitment to further solidifying its place as the sports retailer of choice for Filipinos. Apart from its focus on elevating the experience of its current pool of customers, Toby’s Sports also aims to expand its footprint, opening more stores not just in the Metro, but also in various provinces across the country.
“The new Toby’s Sports flagship store is a statement we wanted to make, that even after 40 years in the business, we are still looking for ways to improve. It has allowed s us to provide new and exciting experiences and best-level products for our customers. My hope is that the flagship can become an epicenter for sports and sneaker culture in the Philippines,” Claudio concluded.
Toby’s Sports now has 55 stores nationwide, with more stores in the pipeline in the coming years.

Toby’s Sports Elevates Store Design to World-Class Standards

Toby’s Sports, the largest multi-brand sports retailer in the Philippines, recently introduced a new store concept that transforms the customer experience in a streamlined, modern retail space as part of its efforts to continuously elevate its stores to match global standards.

Known for its long sports heritage, excellent repertoire of products, and strong sports and fitness advocacy, Toby’s Sports has captured the hearts and trust of Filipinos, leading the market for sporting goods retailing in the Philippines for almost 40 years with its dedication to improving its products, customer service, as well as expanding its doors to reach more and more customers. Not to rest on its laurels, Toby’s Sports has once again transformed its stores, introducing a new concept that is truly a cut above other players in the sports industry, and has elevated the brand to world-class retail standards.

The revamped store, dubbed the ‘Elite’ concept, focuses on improving the customer’s buying journey with distinct sections for Men, Women and Kids, and is then divided by the specific sports categories, namely Basketball, Running, Training, Fitness, Watersports, Team Sports, Outdoor and Martial arts. This makes it easy for customers to select all their gears for their intended sport or activity in one area. Each area is merchandised with well-curated selection of products from the world's best sports brands. Life-size mannequins, colorful graphics and digital displays adorn each section, showing off the latest technologies and equipment in each sport category. Each section is also staffed by knowledgeable and passionate sports specialists who provide can provide helpful advice for any type of athlete or skill level.

“We have managed to stay ahead all these years by continuously looking for ways to improve our stores, our product offerings and how we serve our customers.  In this new store concept, the design team at Toby's Sports set out to create a store that embodies our passion for sports, and at the same time elevate the overall look and customer experience to global standards,” said Toby Claudio, President of Quorum International Inc., the parent company of Toby’s Sports.

More Toby’s Sports stores get the new retail design treatment

The new store design concept was first introduced in its stores in SM Megamall, Greenhills and UP Town Center to overwhelmingly positive feedback. Toby’s Sports has since opened two more stores that follow the new concept, the latest of which is a 150-sqm store in Gateway Mall in Cubao, just a stone’s throw away from the legendary Araneta Coliseum, allowing Toby’s Sports to cater to sports fans that visit the area regularly.

“One of our greatest strengths as a retailer is having conveniently-located stores, being present in most of the major malls in the country. We now have over 50 stores that cater to millions of Filipinos nationwide, and the growth does not stop here. We have even bigger plans next year as we celebrate our 40th year anniversary that will surely excite our customers and further solidify our place as the number one multi-brand sports retailer in the country,” Claudio said.

Toby’s Sports is also set to re-open its SM City San Pablo branch in Laguna under the new concept store design this month, and plans to spend over P50M to renovate more of its stores to follow the new design in the coming year.