Entrepreneur: Business is a journey

CEBU, Philippines -  â€œPutting up a business is a journey and not a one-shot deal,” this according to a woman entrepreneur who has gone through a lot and yet managed to keep her business afloat, as she tries to encourage other entrepreneurs not to lose faith but instead shape up and brave the challenges along the way.

Tropical Souvenirs International managing director Charmaine Ong shared words of inspiration to businesswomen who attended the 10th General Assembly of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance program.

Ong emphasized the value of innovation and resourcefulness in sustaining one’s business.

Last January 2013, Ong was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on the lacrimal gland of her left eye. Although, she went through a seven-month hiatus, it did not stop her from becoming more creative in the industry.

“This is a journey. There will always be challenges. But you should not lose hope and stop learning. At the end of the day, you need to pay your people and develop your products that are saleable to the market,” she said.

She reminded aspiring entrepreneurs that putting up a business is not a one-shot deal wherein one could easily gain his return of investments in a short period of time.

Now she’s back on track with high spirits as she revived her company by diversifying their products into something that she believes could help pick up their sales.

The home-grown souvenir manufacturing company was established in 2005. It started to produce souvenir items such as handicrafts, and fashion accessories and then evolved into selling corporate gifts and customized giveaway items for the domestic and international market.

Its clients range from corporate accounts, multinational companies, government agencies, local government units, and academe.

With her family engaged in the export business, Ong has a wide experience in sourcing different raw materials such as local wood, shells, stone and indigenous fibers, among others, to ensure each item produced is unique from the rest.

She added that one should invest and capitalize on websites and social media to reach out to existing and prospective clients to keep up with the evolving trends and needs of the market.

She also acknowledged the help of some business organizations on her way to recovery such as the Cebu Gift, Toys, and Houseware Foundation Inc. (Cebu GTH) and the Department of Trade and Industry – Region 7 (DTI-7).

On the other hand, Ong cited the calamities that hit the country in the latter part of 2013, which she said have turned what is supposed to be a peak season into a lean period. But with her innate optimism, she remained hopeful that sales will pick up this year.

Determined to inspire more women, Ong plans to come up with a “Big Sister” project that aims to give mentorship and advise to mother entrepreneurs who are challenged in their businesses.

Tropical Souvenirs International has its main office located at 17 Saint James St., La Guardia, Cebu City. /JOB (FREEMAN)