Entrepreneur 17: CHEESE LEDESMA

CHEESE LEDESMA

Business: The Big Chill Inc.,

               Nami Private Villas

             Karaoke King

Category: The Young Millionaires

Her business concepts she usually gets from talking to fishball vendors and basically from just looking around. She develop concepts from existing business, but the difference is that she try to stay away from the conventional: She like to think of new ideas out of existing ones.

She has always been entrepreneurial. In the states, while she was studying, she and her aunt would put up a mini bazaar. When she was studying in Ateneo de Manila University, she had a friend who imported seafoods, she joined the venture and sold seafoods to friends. Right after college, she saw a juice bars in the States and it was in a mall and there were so many people buying. Together with a high school classmate, they set up the Big Chill in December 1994. The turning point was when they hired professional managers to make the business more sophisticated, more world-class.She considered the Big Chill as her biggest start up success. It's now the largest juice bar company in the Philippines. It's stable and it's not a fad.

With her brother they started the karaoke King in December 1999. They set up a booth where people could record their own songs. They have an affiliation with Viva Records. If they think that a client has a potential to be a star, they ask them to try out professional singing.

Nami Private Villas is a family business. It's the only resort with Jacuzzi's in all balconies and a 180 degree ocean view. The resort is located on a cliff, and there's an elevator to give you a breathtaking view of the ocean. 

"Being aware is important. I once talked to a fish ball vendor and later thought of how to make the fish ball business more efficient. I also make it to a point to talk to my staff about improving our products. That is key to sustaining and gaining more customers."

"If you want to be competitive, you have to adjust to trends without compromising the brand. You have to be organized and maintain a few key people. Being unique, having focus, and being aware of the competition are all important. Nothing comes easy in doing business."

GOLDEN RULE: Although it looks simple, don't reinvent  the wheel. Just take out a franchise or go into a joint venture. But if you really want to go into business yourself, then don't just copy, innovate.