A Huge Step Forward: Project Bagong Araw month 4

September was an exciting month for Project Bagong Araw. The Hapinoy team started with the sari-sari store make-over while the Nanays (mothers) participated in a Tindahan (store) Brigade. Project Bagong Araw aims to assist Nanay (mother) micro-entrepreneurs in Leyte as they rebuild their businesses. The project will provide sari-sari store or small retail shop owners with business training, capital loans, and store makeovers.

The makeover provided the stores with a customized signage, canopy panels that also served as store covers, and screen structures. These installations improved not only the security of their stores, but also its appeal to consumers especially with the lively and festive colors of the signage and canopy. Aside from these, the Nanays also expressed how the simple store improvements helped with their confidence as a business owner.

To complement the store makeover, the training sessions focused on visual merchandising and included a hands-on activity for the Nanays during the Tindahan Brigade. From the training they learned about the importance of strategically organizing their store’s items in order to encourage purchase form their customers. According to the Nanays, organizing their stores also helped them in terms of keeping track of their inventory. During the Tindahan Brigade, the Nanays went to an actual store owned by one of their group members to organize the store and apply what they have learned together. The activity was not only helpful but also fun for the Nanays.

Nanay Bella Sadongdong from Tacloban, Leyte shares what she learned from last month’s activities. “I learned how to organize my store properly so they are visible to my customers and so it will also be easy for me to find what my customers are buying” (“Natutunan ko ayusin ang pagkalagay at pagkakaayos ng tindahan dahil sa mas madali makita ng customer ang paninda ko at pati na din ako madaling mahanap ang binibili ng aking suki.”) She already has a plan on applying her new knowledge on visual merchandising. “I will use visual merchandising to push items for babies and women since my store is near a hospital.” (“Magfofocus ako sa mga gamit sa baby at pang-babae para sa mabilis nilang makita ang hinahanap dahil sa malapit kami sa hospital.”) Nanay Bella, like almost all the Nanays loved the store makeover because it helped her business a lot. “Now I have a lot more loyal customers because of my wonderful and beautiful store! It’s become easier to attract new customers now because my store looks different and appealing after the makeover.” (“Marami na din akong suki dahil sa magandang itsura ng aking tindahan! Madaling makuha ang customer ngayon dahil sa kakaibang itsura nito dahil sa makeover.”) Nanay Bella would like to share some advice to other sari-sari store owners like her “You have to have discipline in maintaining your store. You have to love your store for your children and so that you can achieve your dreams for them. Even if you don’t earn a lot, as long as you love your store, it will love you back.” (“Kailangan magkaroon ng disiplina sa sarili sa pag aayos, kailangan mahalin mo ang tindahan mo para sa mga anak mo at matupad ang mga pangarap mo sa kanila. Kahit maliit ang kita basta may pagmamahal ka sa tindahan, mamahalin ka din ng tindahan mo.”)

Like Nanay Bella, Nanay Dolores Canario is also happy about last month’s activities. “I’m happy that I learned how to fix my store and even myself” (“Happy ako dahil natutunan ko ayusin ang tindahan ko pati ang sarili ko!”) Aside from the visual merchandising lessons, Nanay Dolores appreciates learning about how one should present themselves to customers. She believes it will help her a lot in gaining more loyal customers.

With their new and improved stores, the Nanays’ joy and excitement is undeniable. Not only did it make their stores more secured and appealing to customers, it also gave them a boost of confidence and a sense of pride as a business woman. They now have a stronger sense of ownership and responsibility over their business. Hapinoy and the Philippine Business for Social Progress teamed up with the goal of holistically empowering women micro-entrepreneurs to rebuild their dreams and this is a huge step towards reaching that goal.

This article was also published at:

http://www.pbsp.org.ph/news/a-huge-step-forward-project-bagong-araw-month-4/