Ben Chan

Founder, CEO, BENCH, Suyen Corporation

 

The cultural advocate and brand purveyor redefines the country’s retail landscape

Since its launch in 1987, Bench has become the most enduring Filipino brand to enter the market. Its founder, Ben Chan, has successfully extended the brand’s reach to include stand-alone branches in the Philippines and other countries.

To ensure his brand’s longevity, Chan modernised the marketing and technical aspects of the business. He improved back-end systems, logistics, product quality, and customer experience. He also expanded his product portfolio, which now encompasses a broad range of categories: fashion, skincare, home products and food.

Chan resumed his other projects after the pandemic. In January 2023, the third Ternocon, a convention and competition focused on the terno, the Philippine national dress, gathered together fashion, arts and culture enthusiasts. Organised with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, it aimed to preserve an integral part of the Filipino heritage through education, exhibition and public awareness.

Recognised at the Retail Asia Awards 2023 as the Apparel Retailer of the Year in the Philippines, Bench continues to make its mark in the industry. “I’ve always adhered to the words of the writer Jonathan Swift, ‘Vision is the art of seeing the invisible’,” Chan said. “Make your plans into action, work hard and always see the big picture. And in these times, learn to adapt.”

"E-commerce provides an equal platform of opportunity for the industry, whether for a small home-based enterprise or an international brand. However, this has also made the platform highly competitive.”

Awards


2019

Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia (Italy)

2019

Diamond Award (Philippine Tatler)

2017

Brand of the Year (World Branding Forum)

2014

World Entrepreneur Award (Ernst & Young)

Did You Know?


Chan made hand sanitisers a thing for Filipinos way before the pandemic. His signature Bench Alcogel was launched in 1998 as gel-form of rubbing alcohol, which Filipinos were already toting around, but made trendier. This paved the way for the development of Bench Laboratory and an entire expansion into personal care products.

Social Media


Credits


Photography  

Patrick Diokno

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