(By: Nicole Hermione Atayde)
TAGUIG, Philippines—CIVIC Merchandising Incorporated, a leading force in the heavy equipment sector, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a grand event attended by its valued partners and esteemed guests last September 17.
Established in 1974, CIVIC has evolved from a spare parts business to selling used equipment and becoming a dealer of major international brands such as Volvo, growing through a commitment to customer service and a civic duty of giving back, that influenced the company name.
“We are here because of you, because of all the support from all the different segments, and everybody contributed to where we are right now. So, this is our way of giving thanks,” Mr. Ronald Yao said during the conference.
CIVIC has undergone significant changes over the decades, most notably in 1995, and its mission is encapsulated in its tagline, “Where service comes first.”
Looking forward, CIVIC is embracing sustainability and innovation, aiming for projects such as the digitalization of systems, and transitioning to electric equipment and hybrid service vehicles.
“When we say sustainability initiatives, we have set our targets. By the year 2030, we aim to achieve 70% reduction of our net carbon emission,” Ms. Mary Grace Lim-Ramos shared.
Despite encountering challenges, including an increasingly competitive market with over 20 new players, CIVIC remains confident in its future, attributing its success to the foundational values of hard work and customer care.
“…with how we work and with how we got our foundation, the values we got from our first generation are our edge; the value of hard work, the value of taking care of our people, and taking care of our customers. We have quality equipment, we have quality people, and we go beyond partnership. When we say go beyond partnership, we do not just consider you as partners or clients, we are your friends and we are one call away”, Mr. Ronald Yao elaborated.
CIVIC is developing more programs to highlight their customer service capabilities. One of which is the “Unli Service Project”, a new customer-focused initiative offering free labor for an extended number of years, going beyond the typical warranty period to help customers maximize their equipment’s lifespan, as mentioned by Mr. Scott Chester Ngo.
During the celebratory night, CIVIC also addressed how it has navigated through major crises, such as the Asian financial crisis and the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“During COVID, our sales dropped by 90% in one week… but I’m very proud of that time because, at the peak of COVID, we were given an award by Volvo as the only country that increased their market share,” Mr. Ronald Yao said.
Reflecting on its half-century of success, CIVIC expressed its profound gratitude to its customers, suppliers, bank partners and employees, crediting their continued trust and support as essential to reaching this milestone and enabling them to go beyond partnership.