Technopreneurship Today

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JO'S WHOLESALER

by Claire Aspera, Kathleen Flores, Norey Khryss Lacre, Marc Keith Lasaca, Raymart Nipaya | December 12, 2021

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

— C.S. Lewis, British Writer and Lay Theologian

Jo's Wholesaler is a business store selling large quantities of goods that is owned by Fely Torreflores. The store is located at Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

How the Business Started

The family was fond of buying bulk items ever since. They always see bulk items as convenient with lesser expenses. With that, being a fan of bulk items, they thought of starting their own business that would cater people who have the same interest with them.

Challenges

The business faced some unpreventable challenges like the following:

Numerous competitive market

New normal adjustment (pricing, protocols)

Popularity

Lesser manpower (retrenchment)

Despite facing these challenges, they managed to cope and handled the business excellently.

What is success?

“Success is loving what you do. Having genuine happiness and enjoying what you have achieved, no matter how small or big it is, as long as you did your best and you enjoy doing it, you can already call it success.” Fely said.

Suggestions

Utilizing the internet to spread information about their business like publications that would enlighten the target market about what the business can offer.

Insights

Fely Torreflores and her family are very passionate about handling and taking care of the business. They love what they are doing and they value their business so much.

“You can’t be successful in business without taking risks. It’s really that simple.”

— Adena Friedman, President and CEO of NASDAQ

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Poultry Broiler Chicken

by Claire Aspera, Kathleen Flores, Norey Khryss Lacre, Marc Keith Lasaca, Raymart Nipaya | December 12, 2021

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

— Lao Tzu, Ancient Chinese Philosopher and Writer

Poultry Broiler Chicken is owned by Albert Dela Cruz and it is located at Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental.

How the Business Started

The business started with a simple conversation with his cousin, who needs a financier of a poultry business. So he started it to earn extra income and to help others.

Challenges

The challenges are the quality of the chicks to have and the attitude of your flock man/farm assistant. Despite the difficulties, they handled the business well.

What is Success?

“Success is defined when you already achieved your objectives using the designed system you create that produce a favorable outcome.” Albert said.

Suggestions

The Internet really helped them in their business in a way that they could effectively communicate even though Albert is from the farm and could easily send all reports as soon as possible.

Insights

Albert is an amazing entrepreneur. When doing a business, it is important that it should be in line with your passion in order for you to create efficient and effective system easily.

“What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.”

— Ralph Marston, Professional Football Player

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Nativity Builders

by Claire Aspera, Kathleen Flores, Norey Khryss Lacre, Marc Keith Lasaca, Raymart Nipaya | December 11, 2021

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”

— H. Jackson Brown, Jr., American Author

Nativity Builders is a hardware store, open to serve people according to their construction needs. It is owned by Agnes Mejorada, located at Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City.

How the Business Started

Agnes established the business since her family is in the construction industry, having the knowledge about demands in the community, and has connections with suppliers as well as pricing in the market made the business easier. It started as a side-line business and an aid for easier access to engineering projects of her family members until it grew enough and became one of the sources of their income.

Challenges

The business has faced inevitable challenges like the following:

Popularity - Not well known to the community yet so little trust from customers.

Troubling employees - Faced some troubling employees that made the store lose profit.

Despite the problems, they dealt with the situation very well and took care of the business.

What is success?

“Success is harvesting and enjoying the fruits of your labor. These fruits shall not be only enjoyed on my own but to be shared to others as well. When my hardwork pays off to the point where I am able to help others in return that’s when I call it a success.” Agnes said.

Suggestions

Agnes should use the profit to add materials that are lacking in their business and expand branches hopefully if enough money has been saved. To realize the gains, she should give herself a wage. Personal finance is all about managing your personal budget and how best to invest your money to realize your goals and objectives.

Insights

Agnes Mejorada is a wonderful woman and mother of her children. Having this business required a lot of sacrifices and hardwork, yet she overcame them all with the help of her family.

“Business is the salt of life.”

— Voltaire, French writer, historian and philosopher

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24/7 Convenience Store

by Claire Aspera, Kathleen Flores, Norey Khryss Lacre, Marc Keith Lasaca, Raymart Nipaya | December 11, 2021

“Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers.”

— Seth Godin, Author & Former Dot Com Business Executive

24/7 Convenience Store is owned by Jenifer Dadole that sells a range of everyday goods like snacks, groceries, drinks and many more and also provides photocopying services. It is located at Cagayan de Oro City.

How the Business Started

The family started with a small sari-sari store in their neighbourhood and then eventually decided to get a franchise to accommodate more customers and their needs.

Challenges

Having a convenience store is really challenging; it’s important that the store is accessible and not hard to locate; it is also important to think about their competitors and how the business can differ from others, since opening up convenience stores is a popular business today.

What is success?

“For me loving what you do and doing what you love is a huge success, gaining money is a big bonus.” Jenifer said.

Suggestions

By paying herself and her employees, Jenifer will realize her advantages for the business. She should plan to use the profit to supplement things that are currently lacking in their firm and to progressively use and develop it in the future.

Insights

Jenifer Dadole is a remarkable woman who, with the help of her family, managed to complete the duties necessary to maintain the business. She is as devoted to her business as she is to her family. It is more valuable to develop and grow the business when she has her family on her team.

“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.”

— Sam Levenson, Humourist, Writer, Teacher, Television Host, and Journalist

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Oro Spot

by Claire Aspera, Kathleen Flores, Norey Khryss Lacre, Marc Keith Lasaca, Raymart Nipaya | October 24, 2021

“To be successful you have to have your heart in your business and your business in your heart.”

— Thomas J. Watson, Chairman and CEO of IBM

Oro Spot is an online jewelry shop owned by Jane Kaisha Evangelista Moñiza, residing in Villa Nena, Phase 1, Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City. She started this business and came up with selling jewelry.

She faced many challenges in her jewelry business like:

It is difficult to market and to hit the target audience.

Gaining trust amongst people.

It is risky to trust people because it may be a scam.

What is success?

"Success is to gain happiness even if you don't have money." she said.

Suggestions:

She can expand her business by dealing with owners of big businesses like her. She can also meet with an influencer that has many followers to model her jewelry.

Insights:

Jane is admirable because she is hardworking, dedicated to her business and is still happy despite of her family situation and financial problem.

“You can’t be successful in business without taking risks. It’s really that simple.”

— Adena Friedman, President and CEO of NASDAQ

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Susan's Sari-sari Store

by Claire Aspera, Kathleen Flores, Norey Khryss Lacre, Marc Keith Lasaca, Raymart Nipaya | October 23, 2021

“Business is all about relationships, how well you build them determines how well they build your business.”

— Brad Sugars, Chairman and Founder Action COACH

Susan Aspera, residing in Binali, El Salvador City, started the business with her family by selling vegetables, viands, ala carte, carenderia, and then the sari-sari store in which they continue to run until now. They decided to put the business due to poverty and financial crisis. Also, the salary of Susan’s husband wasn't enough to provide the needs of their children. So, in order to help him, she has to find another source of income.

Challenges are always there and may seem impossible to overcome. They have encountered these following challenges:

Area where to put up the business in which there will be many residents or customers, or just a great place to run the business like near the highway.

Conflicts to customers that leads to trouble like being drunk and starts to argue.

Customers that promised to pay their debts with the set date then once that day comes, they’re gone.

Competition with other stores.

What is Success?

“For me, success doesn't have to be about money. It's when I can help my children to finish their studies and achieve what they really wanted. I consider success as something that you can live with the rest of your life like house and lot and other investments that comes from your sweats, hard work, blood and determination.” she said.

Insights:

I'm amazed by Susan's courage and unwavering determination. She's really a great mother to her children. She doesn't think only for herself but the needs of her family is her first priority. Starting from scratch is one of the hardest thing to do and her children are really proud to have a mom like her.

“Customer service is an opportunity to exceed your customer’s expectations.”

— John Jantsch, Author Duct Tape Marketing, Speaker and Author

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M&M Creations

by Claire Aspera, Kathleen Flores, Norey Khryss Lacre, Marc Keith Lasaca, Raymart Nipaya | October 22, 2021

“There’s no luck in business. There’s only drive, determination and more drive.”

— Sophie Kinsella, Author

Mary Lovely Ann Aspera-Maglanoc, residing in Igpit, Opol Misamis Oriental, started the business with a small store selling viands, siomai, chili garlic sauce, and cakes. She’s currently working on baking cakes and said that this is her best business so far.

Mary explained she wanted to master the art of baking and creating cakes. She added “I will never forget those people that told me "I'm not good enough" as well as "You didn't finish college you have nowhere to go" because their words hurt me but I took that as a compliment instead of whining over as to why I wasn't good at some sort of things or get depressed by what they told me.”

People always face challenges every day, and the following are the challenges Mary faced in her business:

When she cannot give the customers the design they wanted.

People discouraging her business.

Time management problems

What is success?

“For me success is something that'll make my heart filled with joy. Something that I accomplish by giving my best. When my customers loves the cakes I make and gives me an honest critic with my creations.” she said.

Suggestions: She can sell through online, create a page or put up a small bakery.

Insights: I admired her dedication for baking and for not giving up despite the harsh circumstances she encountered.

“Never give up. Today is hard and tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.”

— Jack Ma, Founder Alibaba Group

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Gracia’s Garden

by Claire Aspera, Kathleen Flores, Norey Khryss Lacre, Marc Keith Lasaca, Raymart Nipaya  | October 20, 2021 

“If you don’t drive your business, you will be driven out of business.”

— B.C. Forbes, Financial Journalist and Author Forbes Magazine

Customize Coco Pole & Coco Chunks

Mary Grace Aspera, residing in Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City, started the business during the pandemic to be able to survive. She started selling plants and plants accessories like garden soil, coco pole, coco chunks online. To her surprise, people started supporting her until she found herself having a hectic time entertaining her customers.

In these hard times, there are always challenges and these are the following she encountered:

Having a hard time to deliver since she has no car or any vehicle to use for deliveries

Customers refuse to pick up orders because of lock down and new road regulations

People cancelling their orders

“But instead of giving up, I thought of a solution since delivery riders are in demand during this pandemic. I tried installing app for delivery rider and that’s it! My problem was solved. My deliveries are on time, my business continued and I attracted more buyers because of my door-to-door delivery. Thank God! In business, you have to be patient and open for the negative feedbacks because we can't please everyone. Stay humble and down to earth. Don't ever argue with your costumers, instead give them your best and make them come back anytime. Focus on your goals and keep your feet on the ground!” she said.

What is success?

“Success is not all about money, big house, nor having a luxury car. It is all about having a healthy and happy family and having God in your heart is a truly definition of success.” she said.

Suggestions: 

She can sell through online shopping platforms like Shopee and Lazada or she could start a flower shop.

Insights: 

It's really great to have something that makes you happy while earning money. Though it's not always sunny, Mary Grace never judged the day like that. She always bears in mind that "Tomorrow is another day and another blessing." I admire her never-ending patience and being faithful to God. Yes, we all should never forget Him in whatever phase of life we are in.

“Never give up. Great things take time.”

— Unknown