When I saw the Negosyo Center in
Isulan, I inquired about the business I was undertaking. During that time I had
a little sari sari store. My father provided me with the initial capital. It’s
because I quit my job as a teacher and decided to stay home to look after my
old and sickly parents. While looking after them, I am also selling snacks and
toys in my little store. In between customers, I am making my handicraft
projects. Mostly, I am making friendship bracelets for friends and for those
who are ordering from my online store.
Upon visitation at the Negosyo
Center, I ended up registering my store for DTI Certification. I also processed
some necessary parents and later having my business registered at BMBE. That
was a turning point in my life. It’s because I was never really trained in
business. All I know is how to teach and do some paper works. DTI had provided
me with an avenue to learn about things for my business. I attended trainings
and tried to improve my products and develop some new ones. With the help of
some DTI personnel I was able to improve my products with constant critiquing
and suggestions.
One problem I had before was when
a customer places bulk orders. Since I do everything on my own, I can only make
few products in a day. Each of the ordinary bracelets would take me about one
hour to make. So I decided to look for some solutions to this predicament.
While buying some herbs for my
garden, I meet one of the in-charge in the District Jail. After all the
meetings and courtesy calls, I ended up teaching the inmates some techniques in
making my products. After the training, I provided some inmates with the raw
materials and paid their labor in making them. It was really a great help for
me since I can already accept bulk orders from important customers. I was able
to make give-away gifts for a debut party with an order of 100 dream catchers
which was only made in three days.
My packaging is only one of the
concerns that was brought to my attention. I tried to improve it little by
little. I was using the electric sealer of my father to make the package using
plastics used to cover books. The problem with it is the customer can’t try the
product without destroying the package. With the help of one of the speakers in
one of the trainings I attended, I found the plastic that can be sealed again
after it has been opened. In the past it will take me about 15 minutes to pack
one product. With the new plastic, I can pack one product in a minute. Also
with the help of another speaker, the package label was also improved. From a
black and white packaging, some colors were added to make my product more
presentable.
DTI had also provided me with an
opportunity to be introduced in the market. I joined the “Sulong Tacurong” as
one of the exhibitor. Things were quite overwhelming as my sales increase two
folds in the second day and three folds in the third and final day of the
celebration. About 90% of my display was already gone. People responded really
positive from all the products that I have offered them.
Now, I am looking forward to
learning more things as I was enrolled by DTI to the Kapatid Mentor Me program.
Hopefully, it can help me to handle my finances really well to be able to find
the right market for my products.
