Henry Sy: Life and Success Story ~ iFranchise.ph (2024)

The epitome of success, no other than, the Philippines’ richest man alive, Henry Sy. His rags to riches tell tales never fail to amaze inspiring entrepreneurs.

Humble Beginning

The Beginning of Henry Sy’s Success Story

Henry Sy was not born with a golden spoon, in fact he belong to a poor family in Quanzhou, China. Sy, migrated in the Philippines when he was twelve and started working for his father’s small sari-sari store located in Quiapo, Manila. The small store that they owned was burned down by fire when the second World War took place which led for Henry’s father to return to China. Instead of coming with his father to China, he insisted to stay with a firm determination to become successful here in the Philippines.

Left with only 10 cents in his pocket, Sy started to empower himself by studying commerce, learning English and Filipino language at the same time. He began selling GI boots (surplus). Sy focused on trading shoes on the onset which lead him to discover local supplier (Philippine made) and explore in importing shoes to be able to cope up with the supply and demand chain.

He married a fellow Chinese immigrant lady and blessed with six children in their marriage. Felicidad, Henry’s wife helped Sy in the business process all the way. Felicidad is a lace vendor in Manila which also have given Sy an idea to bring in other goods and products inside his Shoe Mart.

It was not at all an overnight success for Henry Sy, he started selling shoes in the streets of Manila under the heat of the sun and the cold of the rain. At one point in his past, Sy was shot by a shrapnel and almost die in excessive bleeding, someone helped him, that someone became his friend and as an act of gratitude, he bacame a business partner and now indeed became successful because of him. There has been so many obstacle in the start up process but was able to overcome it one step at a time.

Shoe Mart

SM – Henry Sy’s Most Successful Venture

Henry Sy: Life and Success Story ~ iFranchise.ph (1)Who doesn’t know SM? In the present situation, you can find SM in almost every corner of the street. There’s SM City Malls, SM Hypermarket and SM Savemore. All differs from their classification but under the same umbrella of SM Prime Holdings.

And yes, SM means “Shoe Mart”. Sy’s flagship company. His very first branch was opened in Carriedo, Manila which became so popular and successful that leads Sy to open up two more branches in no time. In 1972, Sy venture in selling other products than shoes in his mall, that’s when his very renowned Department Store and Supermarket emerged. His mother came right after the sucess of his mall opening to help him in managing the supplies as they are now handling not only shoes but other products like RTW dresses. Not long after, his father also came to give a hand in the operation of the business. After opening branches, he ventured into building supermalls, SM North in Quezon City is the very first Supermall of SM, it was opened 1985, followed by the Megamall in Mandaluyong City which faced a serious financial crisis back in year 1997 that has led the opening of this supermall to be delayed many times from the original completion date.

Banco De Oro

In 1967, Sy started to venture into banking industry as he bought Acme Savings Bank which he later change its name to Banco De Oro. His initial goal upon venturing to banking was to provide for his supplier’s cash management. During those years, competition became very stiff in the retail industry, competitors like Isetann and Good Earth, havig acquired a bank added in his business profile, he was able to win over the ravaging competition and survive among all of them.

Sy bought China Bank in 2006 and PCI bank in 2007 and and merge it to their main bank Banco De Oro. The merge has led Banco de Oro to become the country’s third largest lender.

Now, as many as his SM Malls, BDO branches are everywhere. Attracting clients from the basic savings of a simple individual to a corporate accounts that they handle. It is no doubt, BDO gained the trust and confidence of the Filipino market.
SMDC

SM Development Corporation was a vision from one of Henry Sy’s son, Henry Sy Jr. His son sees huge opportunity in providing the basic need of shelter for Filipinos with SMDC. With its undeniable success which now has 31 projects and was able to deliver complete unit turn over of 50,000, SMDC has become a new way of life for urban living.

The very first project was launched last 2003 in Paranaque City, Chateau Elysee. SMDC are known to name their projects based on the location premise of the area. SMDC Shore Residence within the MOA area are known to be just beside the shoreline of Manila Bay. Wind Residences in Tagaytay are known for its high altitude climate to name a few.

Convenience is the major consideration in picking up for the location of each project keeping in mind the perimeter to the major needs of consumer. SMDC maintain sophisticated designs and top of the class amenities.

Successfully Going Global

As the success continues, Sy didn’t mind taking the risk to go global. In year 2001, the very first SM Mall was opened in China. Branches in China continues to expand and now has 6 branches in the following region: Chengdu, Xiamen, Suzhou, Zibo,Chongqing and Jinjiang. SM primes in China maintains high level of occupancy with a long term relationship with the Local and International brand and suppliers.

SMDC also started to venture out in China in 2016. Their China project was named: Silk Residence in Chengdu China. This global step for SMDC was a strong testament of the company’s firm commitment on developing world class project that is well-acknowledged by the international target market.

At the age of 93, Chairman Emeritus, Henry Sy was able to acquire numerous awards and recognition in the field of business especially in retailing and banking as well as in his management skills. The second generation of the family has now taken over the business and continuing the legacy their father have established.

In business, it is not important how much money you have in your pocket, what’s important is how much dedication and perseverance you will put in it. Your hard work is priceless and your passion to what your doing is a treasure.

Henry Sy: Life and Success Story ~ iFranchise.ph (2024)

FAQs

What is the success story of Henry Sy summary? ›

In his twenties, Sy became a store manager working for an American business involved in the local shoe industry in the Philippines; he opened his first sole-proprietorship store in Quiapo, Manila in 1948. He opened at least three shoe stores in the Carriedo area which was then known for its heavy pedestrian traffic.

What are the lessons of the success story of Henry Sy? ›

Henry Sy, SM Group of Companies: On Perseverance

“There is no such thing as overnight success or easy money. If you fail, do not be discouraged; try again.” Henry Sy, the man who built the SM empire from the ground up, is living proof that success can only be achieved through perseverance.

Who is the successful entrepreneur in the Philippines Henry Sy? ›

Henry Sy is a businessman and investor. He is known as the “Father of Philippine Retail” and the #1 Philippines' richest man. Before his passing, he was declared as the country's richest person, with an estimated net worth of $20 billion. SM's Group Founder.

Who is the most successful entrepreneur of all time? ›

  • Who Are the 10 Greatest Entrepreneurs?
  • John D. Rockefeller.
  • Andrew Carnegie.
  • Thomas Edison.
  • Henry Ford.
  • Charles Merrill.
  • Sam Walton.
  • Charles Schwab.

What are the important traits of Mr Sy why he became successful? ›

Henry Sy has maintained traditional Confucian values of hard work, frugality, discipline, love of study, self-sacrifice for the family welfare, and harmonious social relationships. He has said: “The SM business model is anchored on hard work, focus, determination, and the ability to take risks and make bold calls.

What made Henry Sy a successful entrepreneur? ›

Henry Sy Learn lots of innovative things from his suppliers, employees, and customers. With intensive on-site job research, he got enough confidence to expand his business to the department store chain. In life many needs are grow-out and to fulfills these needs, you should become determined.

What is the meaning of there is no such thing as overnight success or easy money? ›

"There is no such thing as overnight success or easy money," Henry Sy said. "If you fail, do not be discouraged; try again. When you do well, do not change your ways. Success is not just good luck: It is a combination of hard work, good credit standing, opportunity, readiness and timing.

What are 5 examples of entrepreneurship? ›

Here, we'll discuss the five types of entrepreneurs and how their respective priorities and goals create unique businesses and distinctly affect consumers.
  • Social entrepreneurship. ...
  • Scalable startup entrepreneurship. ...
  • Small business entrepreneurship. ...
  • Large company entrepreneurship. ...
  • Innovation entrepreneurship.
Jan 21, 2022

What strategy did Henry Sy use? ›

The growth strategy of Henry Sy also created a cluster of competitive advantages that made SM hard to beat in their game, evident in their group rewards program.

Who are the top 3 successful entrepreneurs in the Philippines? ›

The Top 12 Most Successful Entrepreneurs in the Philippines
  • Henry Sy (Shoe Mart)
  • Tony Tan Caktiong (Jollibee Foods)
  • Socorro Ramos (National Book Store)
  • John Gokongwei Jr. (J.G. Holdings)
  • Edgar Sia (Mang Inasal)
  • Mariano Que (Mercury Drug)
  • Cresida Tueres (Greenwich Pizza)
  • Cecilio Kwok Pedro (Lamoiyan Corporation)
Feb 3, 2022

Who is considered as one of the successful Filipino entrepreneurs in the Philippines who is also the owner of Jollibee Foods corporations? ›

Tony Tan Caktiong, Jollibee Foods Corp.

He now owns Jollibee Foods Corporation, which owns 11 restaurant brands including its flagship brand and namesake — Jollibee, the largest quick-service restaurant network in the Philippines with over 3,500 local stores and 2,500 scattered across the globe.

Who is the richest entrepreneur in the Philippines? ›

John L.

Gokongwei Jr. is the man behind JG Summit Holdings Inc. This is the business conglomerate which holds some of the biggest names in the country. Some of those names include Cebu Pacific, Robinsons Retail Holdings, and Robinsons Land Corporation, one of the largest real estate companies in the Philippines.

Who is the Number 1 entrepreneur in the world today? ›

Bill Gates is the most famous entrepreneur and holds the Guinness World record for inventing "World's First Microcomputer" in 1980.

Who is the richest entrepreneur? ›

Key Takeaways
  • Bernard Arnault, co-founder, chair, and CEO of LVMH, is the richest person and the richest man in the world with a net worth of $190 billion. ...
  • After Arnault is co-founder and CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk.

Who is the No 1 successful man in the world? ›

2019
No.NameNet worth (USD)
1Jeff Bezos$131 billion
2Bill Gates$96.5 billion
3Warren Buffett$82.5 billion
4Bernard Arnault$76 billion
6 more rows

What are the personal goals and aspirations of Henry Sy? ›

Henry Sy achieved his goal of becoming a businessman, emerging as the Philippines' and Southeast Asia's richest man, and the 53rd wealthiest person in the world with a net worth estimated at $19 billion by Forbes. (See photos in This Week on PeopleAsia at the Allure section of the Philippine STAR today.)

What character traits should a person possess to become successful in life why *? ›

Qualities of Successful People
  • Passion. If you want to reach your goals, it helps to care a lot about what you're doing. ...
  • Optimism. The biggest successes often start out as fantastical goals. ...
  • Persistence. ...
  • Creativity. ...
  • Self-Discipline. ...
  • A Desire to Improve. ...
  • A Commitment to Learning.
Oct 18, 2018

What do you need to possess to become a successful entrepreneur? ›

7 key characteristics of an entrepreneur
  1. Don't take 'no' for an answer. ...
  2. Learn from the best. ...
  3. Stay hungry and ambitious. ...
  4. Never stand still; evolve with the times. ...
  5. Nurture long-term business relationships. ...
  6. Inspire those around you. ...
  7. Trust your gut instinct, not just your spreadsheet!

How to become a successful entrepreneur? ›

7 Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur
  1. Build Your Skill Set and Knowledge Base. No matter what, you want to start and stay curious. ...
  2. Build Your Network. No one ever succeeded alone. ...
  3. State Your Idea, Claim Your Niche. ...
  4. Find and Understand a Market. ...
  5. Design Your Business and Idea. ...
  6. Secure Finding. ...
  7. Build Your Business.

What have you learned from the story of the late Henry A Sy? ›

No matter how good your plans are, if you don't work hard these plans will be nothing. Moreover, Sy taught his children to be hardworking, too. Thus, unlike many family businesses that fail because the second and/or third generation are lazy, Sy's children are as hardworking as he was.

What does it mean to become an overnight success? ›

something that becomes successful very quickly.

How can I be successful in one night? ›

3 Ways to Become an 'Overnight Success'
  1. Prioritize tunnel vision. A month of all-in focus work with tunnel vision on just one endeavor is far more productive than six months of distracted work. ...
  2. Move your gaze away from the past and onto the future. ...
  3. Use today's viral resources.
Jul 20, 2021

What is meant by the quote success doesn't happen overnight? ›

It means that, even if you feel you haven't achieved whatever you define as “success,” you most likely can and will achieve it. You just haven't gotten there yet. Don't rush life – live it.

What are the 3 Ts of entrepreneurship? ›

There ought to be 3 T's in your journey that will ensure that your endeavours succeed. They are Talent, Team and Trends and why without them you're nothing?

What are the 7 keys in entrepreneurship? ›

7 Keys to a Successful Entrepreneurship
  • Get Educated. ...
  • Know Your Market. ...
  • Have A Financing Plan. ...
  • Communicate Well. ...
  • Focus On Sales. ...
  • Stay Flexible. ...
  • Manage Stress.
Apr 6, 2018

Who is the youngest most successful entrepreneur? ›

Possibly one of the most famous and accomplished young entrepreneurs is Mark Zuckerberg, who at 19 co-founded Facebook (now Meta). Also topping the charts is Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Facebook; and Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, co-founders of Snapchat.

Who is the famous Filipino business tycoon? ›

Joseph Calata (born July 31, 1980) is a Filipino businessman. He served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Calata Corporation, a company formerly listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange. At the age of 31, he became the youngest Chairman of a publicly listed company in the country.

Who is the number one entrepreneur in 2022? ›

Gaston Taratuta is EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2022 | EY - Global.

What are the common traits of successful Filipino entrepreneurs? ›

“Hardworking,” “persistent,” and “optimistic”—these are words strongly associated with the Filipino culture. More so, these are also the usual words that paint the character of businessmen in the Philippine setting.

What is the success story of Jollibee? ›

With the help of his wife Grace, his family, and in-laws, they started everything with a small family business selling ice cream in the streets of Manila. Three years after starting, the family saw the opportunity for hot meals. They converted the ice cream parlors into the Jollibee brand we know today.

Who are 3 successful entrepreneurs? ›

Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, and Larry Page are among the most celebrated American entrepreneurs in history.

Where do the rich live in the Philippines? ›

DAVAO CITY

The “Crown Jewel of Mindanao.” Together with Zamboanga, Davao also shares the title of being one of the wealthiest cities in the Philippines found in Mindanao. It is the largest city in terms of land area and the most populous city outside Metro Manila.

Who is the richest Filipino family? ›

The Sy siblings continue to lead the list with a combined net worth of $12.6 billion.
  1. Sy brothers. Net worth: $12.6 billion. ...
  2. Manuel Villar. Net worth: 7.8 billion USD. ...
  3. Enrique Razon, Jr. ...
  4. Lance Gokongwei and siblings. ...
  5. The Aboitiz . ...
  6. Isidro Consunji and siblings. ...
  7. Tony Tan Caktiong & family. ...
  8. Jaime Zobel de Ayala and family.
Sep 3, 2022

Who is the richest pure Filipino? ›

  • Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family. $2.55 B. Diversified.
  • Ramon Ang. $2.45 B. Food & Beverage.
  • Andrew Tan. $2.4 B. Diversified.
  • Lucio Tan. $2 B. Diversified.
  • Ty siblings. $1.9 B. Finance & Investments.
  • Dennis Anthony & Maria Grace Uy. $1.75 B. Telecom.
  • Lucio & Susan Co. $1.7 B. Fashion & Retail.
  • Hartono Kweefanus & family. $1.5 B. Food & Beverage.
Aug 10, 2022

Who is the richest entrepreneur in America? ›

Top 25 richest Americans
RankNameNet worth in billion US$
1Jeff Bezos195.9
2Elon Musk146.5
3Bill Gates135.8
4Larry Ellison119.5
21 more rows

How much money does a entrepreneur make? ›

Entrepreneur salary in India ranges between ₹ 1.0 Lakhs to ₹ 27.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 6.0 Lakhs.

Who is the hottest entrepreneur? ›

India's hottest business leaders 2020
  • Zubin Saxena. Age: 40. ...
  • 40 under Forty: Celebrating Young Leaders. The Economic Times 40 under Forty is the definitive listing of India Inc.'s top business leaders. ...
  • Abhishek Rastogi. Age: 40. ...
  • Amita Gupta Katragadda. Age: 36. ...
  • Amit Jain. Age: 38. ...
  • Ankur Gupta. Age: 36. ...
  • Arjun Juneja. ...
  • Ashni Biyani.

Who is the youngest man billionaire? ›

Facebook founder is world's youngest billionaire

Mark Zuckerberg, the 23-year-old founder of social networking site Facebook, is the youngest ever self-made billionaire, according to an ann...

Who is the youngest billionaire? ›

As a kid, Alexandr Wang was a math whiz who liked participating in national math and coding competitions.

Who is the 1st trillionaire? ›

Of the 21 individuals who stand a chance of reaching this phenomenal milestone in their lifetime, Elon Musk is predicted to be the first. When the first billionaire was announced in 1916 this colossal figure must have seemed even more unreachable than it is today.

Who is the richest person in history? ›

Who was the richest person ever? The richest person ever is thought to have been an emperor with an accumulation of wealth often described as “unimaginable” or “incalculable.” The title goes to 14th-century African emperor Mansa Musa, and his wealth has been estimated to be the modern day equivalent of $400 billion.

Who failed but became successful? ›

Many notable success stories began in failure: Henry Ford went bankrupt before starting the Ford Motor Company; Thomas Edison and his colleagues tested thousands of materials before creating the carbon-filament lightbulb; J. K. Rowling received twelve rejections before the first Harry Potter book was published.

What are habits of highly successful people? ›

Some of the best habits of successful people involve only conscious effort, like getting up early every day. Others, such as becoming organized, may take a little more skill and practice but ultimately result in the most desired outcome of all—success.

Who was the Filipino entrepreneur who introduced mercury drug stores in the Philippines? ›

From the ashes of World War II, Mariano Que built what would become the thriving Mercury Drug Corporation. He opened the first Mercury Drug store on March 1, 1945, in Manila, Philippines. Orphaned at age 10, he was only able to attend school up to the seventh grade.

What is the entrepreneurial venture of Henry Sy? ›

In 1967, Sy started to venture into banking industry as he bought Acme Savings Bank which he later change its name to Banco De Oro. His initial goal upon venturing to banking was to provide for his supplier's cash management.

What made Mercury Drug succeed in their business? ›

Under Que, the store became the pioneer of pharmaceutical services like using centralized and computerized warehouses and refrigerators for preserving medicines and drive-through services. It was also the first to introduce pharmacy counseling and 24/7 service.

Who is the real owner of Mercury Drugs? ›

2022 Philippines 50 Richest Net Worth

Vivian Que Azcona is the president of Mercury Drugs, the largest drugstore chain in the Philippines. The pharmacy chain was founded in 1945 by her late father Mariano Que who died in March 2017 at age 96.

What made Mercury Drug successful? ›

In 1952, the stores were open 24/7, which made the drugstore become a valuable part of the community. As a matter of fact, because of this scheme, Mercury Drug has been the go-to medical store of the Filipino people.

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