Entrepreneur 11: ERICKSON FARILLAS, ROXANE-ANG FARILLAS

ERICKSON FARILLAS & ROXANNE ANG-FARILLAS

Business: Plains & Prints

Category: The Young Millionaires

"I think we made it because of hard work and luck - we were lucky to be at the right place at the right time."

The idea for Plains and Prints started when they're still in college, when they're both making shirts and selling them to friends. Even before marriage they were already business partners. When they saw the market for shirts and blouses they decided to go into business together.

They started in a 10 square meter store in Greenhills Shoppersville Plus in 1994. They knew that their greatest challenge is making the business known because they couldnt afford to take out space in a big mall and to advertise. In 2002 they set up a billboard ads featuring Gretchen Barretto as their signature model, and this lodged in the public's consciousness ever since. They were able to increase their branches from 8 to 16 in just a few months. Traffic to their stores increased and they also attracted mall owners. They received a number of franchisees in the same month they launched the advertising campaign.

After a year that they started franchising they were awarded best onsite marketing by the Philippines Franchise Association, and in 2004 as the Most Promising Filipino Franchise of the year in the Franchise Excellence Awards.

they have been expanding their product lines into perfumes, undergarment line, swimwears and a new line of body splash called Institutions.

They treat their employees fairly, with no bias and favoritism. They give incentives and reward good performance, sponsor outings, and sell store items to staff at discounted prices. They donate unsold stocks to church charities.

They're very hands-on. They often dropped by on their stores when they take their kids to the mall. Their goal is to expand even more.

GOLDEN RULE:

"If you want to get ahead and if you want to sell more, you have to talk to your clients and give them personalized service."

Entrepreneur 10: ANJANET DECENA, JOHN DECENA, CARLO DE GUZMAN

ANJANET DECENA, JOHN DECENA, CARLO DE GUZMAN

Business: Hotshots Flame-Grilled Burgers

Category: The Young Millionaires

Each of them had already worked on their parents companies after graduation and also tried different businesses. Until a mutual friend offered them a space for a food kiosk in front of the University of Asia and the Pacific in Ortigas Center in Pasig. They thought it was a good opportunity to set up a food business because there were no dining places near the school. When the kiosk was offered they had just earned a good profit setting up a neighborhood bazaar and they use it to start the business.

They opened the business on December 14, 1999. The initial capital went to setting up the kiosk and buying of equipments. They did most of the carpentry work and constructions as well as worked on shifts to serve customers. They hired a food consultant to help fine tune the menu and pricing, crew members and another worker to prepare the patties and other ingredients in their commissary.

Their burgers are not fast food, it even takes several minutes for the customer to get his order. They grill the patties then make the sandwich. The customers can customize because they can choose flavors and add anything they want on their burgers. Each patty is exactly a quarter of a pound and made of 100% beef. They coordinate with Ecolab just to make sure that food is handled well and prepared safely in all outlets.

They now have 15 branches, five are company owned and the rest are franchised. It was Francorp that convinced them that Hotshot can benefit from franchising.

"We didn't expect our business to become this successful. We were just after concerning a niche market by offering good tasting burgers with a difference."

GOLDEN RULE:

"It's all about good intentions. If you sincerely operate your business with the customers' needs in mind, then everything else will follow."

BRAZIL FILM FESTIVAL 2011

The EIGA SAI or the Japanese Film Festival 2011 just ended last Saturday and I was able to watch two movies on that day which are the Feel the Wind and The Summit: Chronicles of the Stones, and here comes the Brazil Film Festival 2011. They will only show their movies every Wednesday 5 P.M. & 7 P.M. in UP Film Institute, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Brazil Film Festival 2011 schedule are:

AUGUST 24 (Wednesday) : 

5 P.M. : Domesticas (Maids)

7 P.M. : Filhos De Francisco (The Two Sons of Francisco)

AUGUST 31 (Wednesday)

5 P.M. : Brava Gente Brasileira (Brave New Land)

7 P.M. : Estorvo (Turbulence)

SEPTEMBER 7 (Wednesday)

5 P.M. : O Homem De Capa Preta (The Man In The Black Cape)

7 P.M. : O Casamento De Louise (Louise's Wedding)

SEPTEMBER 14 (Wednesday)

5 P.M. : Sao Paulo, Sociedade De Anonima

7 P.M. : Terra Estrangeira (Foreign Land)

Watching such movies would give you idea about the country, about the people, and characters as well. 

Free Admission! :)

START TRAVELLING IN 2012!

I just got a message from a friend that Cebu Pacific Airline is having a seat sale again just after the piso fare seat sale. I immediately checked it and it is in celebration of Ninoy Aquino's heroism which they called as Tie a yellow low low ribbon. 

For all domestic flights basic fare will only be for : P8.21

And for International Flights for Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Singapore, Shanghai or Taipei basic fare will only be P82.10

Travel Period will start on January 2012 until March 14, 2012.

And the seat sale will only be until tomorrow August 21, 2011.

Happy panic buying!

:)

Here's the link: CEBU PACIFIC AIR

Entrepreneur 9: RAFFY DAVID

RAFFY DAVID

Business: Pilipinas Teleserv

Category: The Young Millionaire

"If there's one thing any company should have, it's a clear vision of what it is, what it does, and where it's going."

His friend who is an electronics and communications engineer, and an information technology professional and himself started the Teleserv in the year 2000. They had been toying with an idea of putting up an internet business since each of them have an experience on the field. Like his friend Jun Yupitun who designed and managed the United States Visa appointment system. Inspite the thought that they are young but they found that their skills and backgrounds complemented each other.

Entrepreneur 8: WALDEN CHU

WALDEN CHU

Business: Red Box Karaoke

              Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Category: The Young Millionaire

From working in New York as a financial analyst, he finally decided to go home last 2001 to be able to help in their family business. Together with his brother they formed a corporation with several other investors and their first venture was the Banana Leaf and Curry House, one of their favorite restaurants in HongKong.

When Banana Leaf and Curry House has already been established, they decided to venture into two more business the Red Box karaoke and the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

Entrepreneur 7: STEVE BENITEZ

STEVE BENITEZ

Business: Bo's Coffee Club

Category: The Young Millionaire

Steve Benitez started in business at Ateneo de Manila University thru a "rolling store". He stores different items in his car and sold it. The idea of putting up his own coffee shop is when he hang around the coffee shops during his travels abroad. He got the idea of having coffee in the Philippines instead of those abroad.

He attended coffee industry conventions and trade fairs in Europe and the U.S. and decide that there is a niche that he could tapped back in the Philippines.

Entrepreneur 6: JONATHAN JAY ALDEGUER

JONATHAN JAY ALDEGUER 

Business: Islands Souvenirs

Category: Young Millionaire

It as one of his travels in Baguio City when he discovered that souvenir industry was virtually unheard. And when he did a backpacking trip in Europe he started collecting T-shirts from all the cities that he has visited. That gave him the idea to also collect shirts on the places he visited in the Philippines. But he found out that the shirts he bought in Baguio were the same one he purchased years ago. That's the time an idea of putting up a souvenir shop is born.

Entrepreneur 5: VICTOR TAN

VICTOR TAN - Betting on Teamwork to Succeed

Business: Bobson

Category: From Rags-to-Riches

"I supported myself tutoring grade-school students,printing T-shirts intended as Christmas giveaways, and working as a salesman for a hardware store."

Entrepreneur 4: ALEXANDER CRISOSTOMO

ALEXANDER CRISOSTOMO - Finding a Niche in Distribution

Business: Biocare Inc.

Category: From Rags-to-Riches

"When I was young I never once imagined myself getting rich. Each time I saw an airplane flying I'd wonder if I'd be able to ride on one someday. That was my dream"

Entrepreneur 3: LES REYES

LES REYES - Hitting the Right Track at Age 40

Business: Reyes Haircutters

Category: From Rags-to-Riches

At the early age of 4 years old his parents got separated and Les was the youngest of the 10 broods. They were only renting a 15 square meter room near the San Juan Market. he went to school everyday wearing the same shorts and shirt. His brother Ricky Reyes (one of the known stylist now a days) would always wash it every night so he's got something to wear. One night they even have to sleep in a parking area because they failed to pay for the rent. His mom sold everything that can be sold just to earn money even the soft drinks can that she picked up everywhere. At the age of 10, Les was already a businessman selling newspaper, ice candy, cigarettes and even hang out in the market to sell vegetables. And if there's nothing to sell he followed women who are carrying "bayong" and said "carry?" and if they would let him they're going to give him 5 - 10 centavos.

Entrepreneur 2: FILEMON BARBASA

FILEMON BARBASA - Mining a Rich Lode of Old Magazines

Business: Filbar's

Category: From Rags-to-Riches

"With my first salary I bought my mother and father a hankerchief each. Yun lang ang nakaya ko kasing bilhin."

After graduating from Colegio La Purissima Concepcion in Roxas City, Capiz, in 1973 with a Commerce degree, he worked as a stenographer and only earns P100.00  Then he decided to leave for Manila as advised by his father to look for a better job with good compensation. He rented a room from his aunt that costs  him P32.00 per month and when it rains the room gets flooded.

Entrepreneur 1: ALVIN CARRANZA

Alvin Carranz - BILLBOARDS DO THE JOB

Business: Macgraphics Carranz International Corp.

            Cafe Lupe

Category: From Rags-to-Riches

Everything started when he borrowed a car from a friend and accidentally wrecked it. In order to replaced it he decided to quit school and luckily he was able to land on a job from a friend as a salesman for an architectural signage company. Then by chance he start his own billboard business at the age of 18. He borrowed P5,000.00 from relatives to start up the business. In wanting to look mature for his age he wore a fake eyeglasses and lugged a briefcase on client calls. He found a vacant grassland along North Expressway and used the down payment from his first client to pay for the lease.

SUCCESS SECRETS OF THE COUNTRY'S 50 TOP ENTREPRENEURS

I had this book for years already and I was able to read it for 2-3 times already .. It about the story of 50 Entrepreneurs here in the Philippines in different aspect and category and they are:

GNOMEO & JULIET

An animated version of Romeo & Juliet .. When I first watched it I find it not amusing .. :) .. so I tried to watched it the second time around after hearing my friends saying it was good .. and this time another lunch break movie and i liked it .. :) .. Red vs. Blue .. Montague vs. Capulet .. The Montague's in blue garden while the Capulet's in red garden .. and they despise each other .. One night Gnomeo the son of Mrs. Montague bumps into Juliet the daughter of Mr. Capulet who's in disguise at that time.

HOP

I don't have any idea what this movie is all about .. I just find it colorful so while having my lunch break I decided to watch it .. 

Love Will Keep Us Alive

LOVE WILL KEEP US ALIVE by EAGLES

I Spit On Your Grave

Get Here ..

GET HERE by: Oleta Adams

And One More Thing Before You Go

Author: Maria Shriver - a network TV news correspondent, earning numerous honors, including an Emmy and the prestigious Peabody Awards. Wife of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.