Leyende Organic Skincare Business

Leyende Organic Skincare Business - Illustrado

By Bernadette Reyes

 

As an awarded poet, Neva Kares Talladen never really thought about becoming an entrepreneur. She probably never thought that she would transform skin rashes into a homegrown Philippine cosmetics and skin care line that is fast becoming a world-class brand.

In her twenties, while Neva was indulging her fascination for make-up as most girls her age, she suddenly developed severe skin allergies known as eczema and contact dermatitis which are characterized by severe rashes. None of the dermatologists she consulted were able to cure her condition until an allergologist diagnosed she is allergic to phenoxyethanol and sulfate which are chemical compounds commonly used in most commercial skin care products.

 


Named after famous movies and books, Leyende products are an interesting eye-catcher: Clear and Present shampoo named after the movie Clear and Present Danger, Rapunsilk Shampoo after the famous cartoons Rapunzel and Smoothie Operator bath and shower gel after the movie Smooth Operator.

See full article about "Leyende Organic Skincare Business" http://goo.gl/pLdEDK

Filipino Entrepreneur: Outlandish Bags

Filipino Entrepreneur: Outlandish Bags from Illustrado

By Bernadette Reyes

Aside from unique materials, Outlandish bags are also one-of-a-kind pieces as no bag is exactly the same. “The bags we produce for this line are not mass produced. We either make them to suit the taste and personality of clients who order from us, or the embellishments and materials we use are very unique and limited,” Jennifer explained. “That’s why we called our bags Outlandish! They say there’s an element of surprise in every piece,” Michelle said.

A business doesn’t have to start big to become successful as proven by these young entrepreneurs. “We pitched in from our own personal savings, which is a very minimal amount, and started a small collection of bags from that,” Pam said. The business started as a hobby in 2005 for cousins Pam and Michelle Jalandoni. Pam makes the designs while Michelle took charge of accessorizing the bags. Three years after, the business expanded after Jennifer and Ana joined the team.



While all four have various degree of business background that helped launch the business, Pam said they had their share of problems and challenges particularly in the production process. “Training the staff in bag making was tedious and entailed a lot of research and consultations. Working with natural materials also had its own concerns especially on preservation.

Capitalization was also key since we had to invest on learning, equipment and development of our products. Since fashion is fast paced, we had to learn and be aware of trends,” Pam explained. Their youth at times also gets in the way of business but instead of being disheartened by these challenges, these entrepreneurs have these to say, “When you are young, mistakes are forgivable and there is still so much time to make up for them,” Jennifer said.  “Most people who have made their mark in an industry are very willing to teach young people the ropes. Their wisdom is a great help for young entrepreneurs and it will aid them all throughout,” Ana added.



Their knowledge in business also taught these entrepreneurs to become innovative. Bamboo, seeds and banana stalks might just be included in their upcoming designs and not just exclusively for bags. “We will also develop our corporate giveaways line so as to come up with more eco-ethical, patriotic designs,” Pam said.


Read full article about "Outlandish Bags" http://goo.gl/1xO8eG

Pinoy Entrepreneur: Good Old Reliable Karinderya

Pinoy Entrepreneur: Good Old Reliable Karinderya from Illustrado

By Bernadette Reyes

 

How I started a fast food business and became successful:

 

A perfect match in the offering – Sonny Santos used to be a cigarette vendor while his life partner Rowena Mallari, was a former “yaya” until a lot of hard work and love for for both couple yielded a successful business undertaking for them, earning a remarkable Php 15,000 pesos a day.

 

“Nakabili na ako ng condominium unit dahil dyan,” Rowena said of their karinderya business. The ubiquitous karinderya or eatery in the Philippines may appear plain and small compared to other popular food establishments but it can be a significant source of income when managed well. Sonny admitted their business almost closed shop because of poor management. “Sa mother ko itong business pero matanda na sya, ‘di nya kayang patakbuhin. Sinubukan naming mag asawa na ipagpatuloy,” Sonny claims.

Want to start a business right here in the Middle East? Here’s how!




The karinderya used to be a sari-sari store with only a handful of basic items on the shelves. “Nagsimula kami padala-dalawang toyo, suka at iilang de lata lang,” Rowena recalled. Their initial capital was only Php1,500 pesos. Determined to succeed, the couple vowed tol endure all the hardships just to be able to pick themselves from dirt. “Sabi ko okay Rowena, ‘hindi tayo puedeng mapagod,’” Sonny adds. They had to wake up at 1AM to go to the market and finish cooking all the dishes 12 hours after, only to realize there is more work ahead. Customers began to arrive and only Sonny and Rowena manned the eatery. Today however, they have a number of staff delegated to cook, wash the dishes and clean the place while Rowena takes charge of the accounting and Sonny looks after operations and conceptualizing new ideas for the thriving carinderya. The business has likewise grown to three branches all located within Pasig City.


Read full article about "Pinoy Entrepreneur: Good Old Reliable Karinderya" http://goo.gl/ITHRJb