By: Marane Plaza

Ah, shopping! I’m always lost for words every time I try to expound the many wonders of shopping. Many times have I been saved from fatal boredom, and it’s by far my second favorite thing to do on Earth (next to partying, of course). My endorphins are a little more active than usual every time I’m at the mall shopping my heart out, and all ya ladies know exactly what I’m talking about! Actually, the best-selling book series and now a hot flick—The Confessions of a Shopaholic— is very timely indeed, as it totally captures the addictive effects of shopping.

Don’t you wish you could shop through high-end retail stores like Becky Bloomwood? I do.

But more than the shopping, I dream of savoring the many perks these A-list shopaholics enjoy. Indulgences such as courtesy lanes, special discounts, amazing swags and other exclusive privileges…

For those of you who feel like I do, here’s good news!

SM, the largest chain of malls in the country, has created a new trend in shopping with SM Advantage Prestige. Now shoppers can enjoy upscale perks like access to the SM Prestige Lounge! Yeah baby, an exclusive lounge in a mall! Can it get any cooler?

The advantage of shopping

SM has put the word “shopping” right next to the word “prestige” in the dictionary through SM Advantage Prestige.

SM Advantage Prestige is an elite program under SM Advantage—a membership loyalty program for SM shoppers. Primarily launched in September 2003, the SM Advantage Program was designed and developed by SM Marketing Convergence Inc. to pamper its loyal customers through a point-earning program. SM Advantage members are entitled to gain points every time they shop at SM. These points give the cardholders a chance to enjoy special promos, discounts and freebies, available to the members alone.

One can be an Advantage member by purchasing the membership kit for P150, and start earning points in all SM retail stores, like the Department Store, Supermarket, Hypermarket, Hardware, Appliance Center and Toy Kingdom. By availing the kit, you can start collecting advantages, literally. Currently, there are over five million SM Advantage members.

With an overwhelming response from its enormous number of members, SM Advantage Prestige was then born in 2006. Rey Maclang, assistant vice president for sales and marketing, further explained the concept behind this elite membership club.

“Three years after its launching, SM Advantage gathered a lot of members so we felt the need to add glamour to the program. We picked out the top 3 percent of the Advantage members based on their spending, and we elevated them into a higher level of membership—through a two-year SM Advantage Prestige membership.”

This high-end membership is offered exclusively to SM Advantage members who have reached the required spending level at SM—monitored by its sophisticated computer system. Prestige members must maintain an average spending of P12,500 monthly during the two-year term to experience the prestige shopping. Today, there are over 200,000 Advantage Prestige members in the country.

This “prestige status” allows cardholders to avail of premium privileges, way over and above those enjoyed by regular SM Advantage members. As a Prestige member, you can enjoy valet shopping, from which you can enjoy the convenience of having your very own personal shopping assistant. You don’t have to sweat and fall in line as you pay your bills, because a guest relation assistant from the concierge service is just around to take care of it. You can get free gift-wrapping services, too. Plus, you have the Priority Cashier Lanes in all SM retail stores, and free deliveries from SM Appliance Center.

To top it all, prestige shoppers can enjoy exclusive discounts and delightful freebies from over 200 establishments outside the SM Group. These external partners include over 109 restaurants, around 10 recreational establishments, 23 clothing and accessories stores, 40 wellness centers, over 50 hotels and resorts and other specialty shops. These top-of-the-line partners include hotels like Intercontinental Hotel, Sofitel and Tagaytay Country Hotel; wellness centers like The Spa and V-Prime Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center; apparels like Lacoste Footwear, Gingersnaps, CMG, adidas, Black Shop; restaurants and cafés like UCC, Superbowl, Museum Cafe, Figaro and Gloria Jeans and recreational centers like the Makati Golf Club.

The lounge

After a long day of shopping, the Prestige members can chill and relax at the The SM Prestige Lounge. Located at four SM Malls, the Prestige Lounge gives a business-like yet homey atmosphere to the exclusive shoppers. One has the access to its Globe Wiz Wifi, Nokia Charging Stations, Massage Chairs, Diaper-Changing Area and its spacious Priority Fitting Rooms. These secret havens serve like a home inside a shopping mall, just perfect for your glamorous shopping experience. Special events at the lounges are organized from time to time for the customers’ fun activities.

SM Prestige Lounges are located at SM Makati, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM North Edsa.

“P150 is really a drop in a pocket compared to the benefits that you can enjoy once you become an SM Advantage member, especially when you regularly shop at SM malls. You cannot buy the special perks, but you can definitely earn them,” Maclang concluded.

For inquiries, call the SM Advantage Hotline at 833-8888 for Metro Manila.