Dec. 31, 2013 — With over 5,500 square meters, 300 brands, and 25,000 pairs at any given time, the newly launched Shoe Department at the Fourth Level of the SM Store Makati have the largest shoe selection in Metro Manila.

And it’s not surprising, as SM started out as a shoe store in 1958, and while it has since grown unimaginable leaps and bounds, shoes remain close to its – and the Filipinos’ – heart. The new Shoe Department is in fact part of the initial phase of SM Makati’s redevelopment.

Designed by New York retail design firm Point Design, its objective is simple: to create a shoe store that will make customers excited and will encourage them to explore every square inch of the store and buy a pair or two.

To improve visibility and connectivity throughout the floor, the east wing is devoted to ladies shoes and bags, while the west wing carries men’s and children’s shoes and luggage. Each category is distinguished by design cues such as lighting, color, materials, and fixtures that relate to the product offering.

For Ladies Shoes, the premise is “more is more”, to emphasize the large size of the store and the large amount of merchandise it carries. Instead of partitions, it was visually organized by defining the selling pads through flooring materials and special merchandising fixtures. A curtain of silver beads and glass balls further define and highlight the round central pads, giving it a sophisticated look.

In the Men’s Shoes area, the visual organization came in the form of see-through vertical cases and stronger color contrasts, while bright colors against white finishes in the Children’s Shoes section create a fun place for kids.

The new SM Makati Shoe Store enhances the customer experience with more sophisticated materials, colors, and fixtures, as well as a more dramatic lighting, to make the merchandise and the whole store more attractive. While the store has the well-loved brands like the iconic Parisian shoes, it also carries new global brands like Badgely Mischka, LAMB, Marie Claire, and Bugatchi.

The Shoe Department is located at the Fourth Level of the SM Store Makati.