COMPANY PROFILE

Who would have thought that a business that had once started as a small downtown store of basic building materials with a meager capital would develop further genesis of high -end building, architectural and finishingg materials? Amid sceptic speculations, competition and myriad of odds and challenges, Bionic Group of Companies has gone a long way. This is its trend for its success story.

Where it all began

It was in September 26, 1976 when Cebu Bionic Builder Supply, Inc. birthed its first offspring along the bustling Magallanes Street, Cebu City. Founded by enterprising couple, Bonifacio and Lydia Sia with an initial capital of Php 40,000.00, they were able to invest on an 80 square meter retail store and employed 5 personnel.

It was a typical hardware store that carried basic hardware products like paints, cement, GI sheets and steel bars. The succeeding years saw a booming success in the making as more people recognized the store as a single stop for almost all basic building materials that put a premium on value-for –money products.

Growth

True enough, 1985 was the year of successive growth spurts within the business. It opened Cebu Bionic South which would later become the company’s head office and main warehouse. Following the establishment of the head office, Bionic continued to increase in visibility by opening branches and partners. The company began a daring venture to become the very first in Cebu to sell imported finishing materials. Imported tiles, mostly from Europe were among the first top sellers later followed by other finishing materials.

To date, the Cebu Bionic Group of Companies already has two Cebu Bionic outlets: Bionic South and the Hardware Mall. iTrade which delves into wholesale trading with much emphasis on Bionic’s Direct Import Products. Bionic also has two Build It outlets: Build It! and steel+stone building materials provider and finally, Zscape, the development arm of the group which provides architectural services and property development.

History

By the late 1980’s Bionic has felt the need to segment their market by differentiating the general hardware buyers from the finishing materials shoppers because demand for new and innovative products continued to grow. It was time to expand and further segment their market in building & finishing materials. This differentiation brought about the decision to open the very first air-conditioned Finishing Materials Showroom in 1990 when the other hardware store owners thought it was impractical. Thus, Build It! Showroom was born.

The making of Build It!

This new 100 square meter Build It! Showroom was then located in Cebu’s premier location: Century Plaza Commercial Complex along Juana Osmeña St. in uptown Cebu. Later, it moved into a 600 square meter spread in that same area to meet the ever increasing demand and further expanded its product base and customer service by introducing the DIY (Do It Yourself) concept. Thus renaming it to, Build It! Showroom and DIY Shop

In that span of time, a bandwagon of similar business genre has mushroomed all over the region. Being the unswerving trendsetter in the industry, it was just right for the company to take another step higher and above the existing trend it was proud to set in the mid 70’s.

Build It’s! already spacious venue seemed already unable to meet such overwhelming demand. So far, there is a store in Mambaling that caters to the industrial products and wholesale market for basic hardware supplies, another one in Magallanes which sells retail general hardware supplies and a third in Mandaue, which is a mini-depot type that specializes in finishing materials. Each of these three stores has successfully operated along the vein of the quality standard it has always set as trademark in the company’s pursuit for global competence. It was time for the Bionic Group to begin exploring new possibilities that further highlight such standards.

International Representation

By this time, Bionic and Build It! had already positioned itself to be at the forefront of the Architectural and Finishing Materials Industry. This Earned the trust & support of the world’s prestigious manufacturer’s of architectural and finishing materials. Among these global names to which the company is exclusively bearing distributorship are Genesis Tilemates Ltd. of England (United Kingdom), BLB Bathtubs & Interbath Shower Systems (Europe) and Cristina Faucets (Italy). Beyond these, the store is also a leading source of amous European tiles like Keope of Italy, Saloni, Cicogres and Ape of Spain.

Relocation

The arrival of the shopping malls era in the mid 90’s brought about Build It’s! relocation to where all the action was, thus the decision to move Build It! to Mandaue City and at the same time opening a branch at the bustling Salinas Drive near the Suburbs and the city’s financial and IT District was in place.

Specialization

Build It! further decided to specialize. The Mandaue main office would now carry its official corporate name: Build It! Building Materials Sales, Inc. and would be positioned to be a depot, warehouse type retail store focusing more on mid-end finishing materials catering to north Cebu’s residential and commercial market.

The Salinas Drive branch would now need to focus on a more high-end, specialized market for their innovative and top-of-the-line products from here and abroad. Build It! decided to further raise the standards of the Building and Finishing Materials Industry.

This standard weaved the first fibers of the one-of-a-kind boutique and lifestyle showroom that is to be called: steel+stone building materials provider.

Set in 1,200 square meters of display area is a showroom that has been conceived, designed, built, and furnished unlike any other. Steel+stone showcases only the best of what the company has to offer – the widest and most elegant array of products and services that are not seen anywhere else in the country. Every inch bespeaks a dynamism of solutions to almost every building & architectural need.

The name that came to be steel+stone

Needless to say the name went through several name studies before its current name was finally been deemed appropriate. Still, coming up with the store brand name came almost as natural as the acumen the people in the company had in their business.

Other than the mere representation for the products STEEL+STONE showcases, the words wrap up the entire image of the store, and the mission and vision of the company.

The Logo…

Colors:
• orange – as the basic color that is usually suggestive of earth tones, of clay (terracotta) - the basic earth material that composes STONE.

• silver gray – is the color generally seen on the outset for STEEL or that of metals in general.

Symbols:
+: symbolism for good grounding/stability, foundation; connection and or melding of two kinds of building materials.

“Double Ss” – aesthetic representations for infrastructure/building and for the letter S that begin the words of its name.

Target Market

steel+stone’s primary target market would comprise professional clients like Architects, Builders, Contractors, Developers, and Engineers. It also aims to target the upscale clientele and those who desire the latest and most innovative products.

Business Philosophy and Slogan

steel+stone lives by the ‘Dynamism of Innovation’, where there is a continuous and perpetual pursuit of educating and bringing to our clients the latest of what the industry has to offer. steel+stone is also ‘Where high end is not high price’. The commitment to maintain our high standards of quality, ensuring each and every product to be above par from what is common in the industry is what gives a win-win situation to company and customer. steel+stone does not short charge its customers.

steel+stone aims to be the leading provider of architectural and finishing materials products. Its guiding principles are:

• Ultimate customer satisfaction

• Integrity and Honesty

• Innovation

• Teamwork

Major Product Lines / Exclusive Distributorship

1. Architectural Finishes

   1. Tiles

      1. Italy

         1. Ceramiche Keope

      2. Spain

         1. Saloni Ceramica

         2. Ape Ceramica

         3. Cicogres Ceramica

      3. Asia

         1. Kito Porcelain Tiles

         2. Image Porcelain Tiles

         3. Mariwasa Tiles

         4. Eurotiles Ceramic Tiles

         5. Apo Vinyl Tiles

         6. Neuflor Carpet Tiles

   2. Tile Accessories

      1. Europe

         1. Genesis Tile Trims and Accessories

         2. Rubinet Chemicals

      2. Asia

         1. ABC Adhesives and Sealants

         2. Novtek Sealers and Grouts

   3. Architectural Coverings/Claddings

      1. Japan

         1. Alpolic Aluminum Composite Materials

      2. China

         1. iTAlcom Aluminum Composite Materials

         2. Good Sense PolyCarbonate Sheets

2. Bathroom, Plumbing and Kitchen

   1. American Standard Sanitary Wares and Brass Fittings

   2. Bolina Italiana Sanitary Wares

   3. HCG Sanitary Wares and Brass Fittings

   4. Toto Sanitary Wares and Brass Fittings

   5. Cristina Brass Fittings & Faucets (Italy)

   6. Image Tech Brass & Plumbing Fittings (China)

   7. Sonia Bath Accessories (Spain)

   8. Arco Plumbing Fittings (Spain)

   9. Olgus Shower Enclosures and Tubs (China)

   10. Ariston Water Heaters (Italy)

   11. Panasonic Water Heaters (Japan)

   12. Hwaco Stainless Kitchen Sink (Singapore)

   13. Wellmate Bladder Type Pressure Tank

3. Electrical

   1. Aiphone Intercom and Security System

   2. KDK Exhaust Fans

   3. National Panasonic Wiring Devices and Switches

   4. Osram Lighting Fixtures

   5. Fumaco Lighting Fixtures

   6. Philflex Wires and Cables

   7. Makita Power Tools

4. General Hardware

   1. Hu Lift Materials Handling Equipments, Gondolas and Stackers

   2. Eternit Fiber Cement Board

   3. Emerald PVC Pipes and Fittings

   4. Kwikset Locksets

   5. Schlage Door Locks & Handlesets

   6. Hager Door Fittings

   7. Door Accents Drawer Pulls and Door Hardware

Clientele

5. Residential and Commercial Projects

6. Hospitals, Schools and Universities

7. Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants

8. Office and Residential Buildings

9. Air and Shipping Lines

Build It! Building Materials Sales, Inc. Officers

President – Lydia I. Sia

General Manager/Secretary – Bernard Vonn I. Sia

Directors – Bonifacio L.Sia

– Blesyl May Sia

– Buck Richnold Sia

– Arnold Gomez

People behind steel+stone

General Manager – Bernard Vonn I. Sia

Admin./Accounting Supervisor – Jean Verano

Store Operations Supervisor – Seigfred Melleza

Sales & Marketing Supervisor – Jocelyn Noblefranca

Contact Details

steel+stone building materials provider

Ground Floor USP Foundation Building

Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines 6000

Trunkline: +63 32 412 7295 to 97

+63 32 231 9167; 231 9171; 231 9173

GM’s Line: +63 32 412 6540

Sales Telefax: +63 32 412 6539

Fax: +63 32 412 7298

Mobile: +63 917 62-BUILD (62-28453)

Email: info.steelstone@cebubionic.com

steelstone@mozcom.com

Webpage: www.cebubionic.com

www.steelstone.com.ph