I got this idea from “The Encyclopedia of Needlecrafts” book that I have been using for countless times to create various items out of my spare time. So, here’s my point, why not start a business, or if you have your own, add and offer crochet, knitted, patches, cross-stitch and other needlework techniques items for a change.

Crochet works and photo of the author

Crochet and Knitting

Crochet and knitting are an amazing ways of creating unique and trendy items with just a hook and yarn. And, the basic stitches we know can be adapted to various uses and eccentric materials. Here are some tips on what items you could make out of your hook, yarn and creativity.

1. Coin purse, cell phone bags and pouches – these are similar in patterns, it would only vary to sizes, designs and yarns you prefer to use and make.
2. Baby blanket – Your unconventional baby blanket would brighten any nursery and could make it a perfect present for a baby.
3. Bags – Bags could always be created trendy for your holiday get away, and you could make different kinds of bags according to your preference.
4. Coasters and Placemat – Yes, make a stylish pairs of coasters and placemats that would brighten your dining table.
5. Scarf – Make a scarf and accessorize yourself.
6. Rugs – Crochet and knitting are one good ways to create your presentable and classy rugs.

What other items can you think of?

picture courtesy of "The Encyclopedia of Needlecrafts"

Patchwork

Patchwork is good way of creating classy personal items. Here’s the catch, you could start your small business forming patchwork from cloth and garments scraps. So, lift your butt, scavenge your closet and your storeroom, and you might find some cloth and garment scraps that you may use.

To refresh your mind, patchwork is a form of needlework that involves sewing together your pieces of fabric into various larger designs from different sizes and shapes. It’s easy, inexpensive and creative right? So, what are we waiting for, let’s get it on! Be creative and make your own patchwork:

1. Cushion and pillow case
2. Bed sheet, blanket and quilt
3. Table cloth and mats
4. Rugs
5. Bags
6. Pin cushion
7. Baby booties and mittens
8. Stuff toys
9. Book cover
10. Frame 
11. Accessory box

Cross stitch

Cross stitch is easy, enjoying and stylish work and design you could make. The good thing about this is, it isn’t only for displays, and instead you could create useful items from it, offer some and add to your list of small business venture ideas. This might work for you. Refer from my above mentioned items and create your own cross stitch styles and designs as well.

Establishing your own small business is not as easy as you think, but with passion and creativity, everything is possible. You must plan and think a thousand times before starting your own business so you could avoid failure. However, as they say, “fail a thousand times and succeed a million times”.

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Peanut butter is one of my favorite sandwiches filling ever. And, my mother is the best one to make this special peanut butter. And, I have borrowed her recipe and will share it to you, this might useful to you. The good thing about this is you can easily and inexpensively make in your own kitchen. And, if you are desperate thinking what business are you to put up, then this might be one for you. Why not, inexpensive, easy and you could make it in just 10 minutes.

Here are your ingredients in making your own special peanut butter:

• 1 kg. Unshelled Peanuts
• 225 g. Butter/Vegetable Oil/Peanut Oil (of your choice, but my Mom uses Dairycream or Anchor Unsalted Butter for better taste)
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 1 ½  cup (or depending on your taste) Brown Sugar/Honey

Here are the steps in preparing your special homemade peanut butter:

1. On a baking pan, spread your peanuts and roast it in an oven in medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, but wobble them every 2 or 3 minutes to make sure it won’t burn. Then, remove the peanuts from the oven after roasting, and allow it to cool for few minutes.
2. After cooling the peanuts, pour the peanuts into a food processor or blender, allow it to grind the peanuts for 2 – 3 minutes or until the peanuts will be totally fine crushed. If you don’t have your own food processor or blender, you may grind your peanuts at the market for only 20 – 30 pesos.
3. Remove the fine crushed peanuts from the food processor or blender and put it in a mixing bowl. Melt the 225 grams butter and add it on your crushed peanuts, and continuously mix the ingredients together.
4. For a taste, add the 1 ½ cup of brown sugar or honey, whatever you prefer. And, add 1 teaspoon of salt to complete your special homemade peanut butter. But, if you used a salted butter, no need for you to add some salt, or if you don’t prefer adding some it’s alright as well.

Wondering how much you will be able to spend on preparing your own peanut butter, here are the price lists of the ingredients as of May 2012:

• 1 kg. peanuts – ?40.00
• 225 g. daricream butter – ?45.00
• 1kg. brown sugar – ?58.00
• ½ kg salt – ?10.00

 Note: Prices may vary in different locations. Prices are based from Baguio City’s market.

You would just be spending ?153.00 for a kilo of peanut butter, and you may start your own small business – retailing peanut butter. Why not, right? If you could be able to acquire a supplier or having your relatives and friends as your buyers, then a thousand pesos would just be enough, inclusive of your bottle container. So what are you waiting for, if you are interested and desperate to earn, this might be for you. Easy and inexpensive, was this helpful?

At a press conference, President Benigno Aquino III was grateful for the Chinese ban and said:

“Thank you kung i-impose nila ang ban na ‘yan kasi konti lang ang mga mangingisda natin na pumupunta d’yan (Thank you if they impose that ban since very few of our fishermen go to Scarborough)”

However, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs stressed that Philippines does not recognize China’s fishing ban. DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said in a statement:

“Our position is we do not recognize China’s fishing ban in as much as portions of the ban encompass our Exclusive Economic Zone”

As DFA added:

“However, the President has decided that, in view of the accelerated depletion of our marine resources, it would be advisable for us to issue our own fishing ban for a period of time to replenish our fish stock.”

Because of Philippines standoff in Scarborough Shoal, fishermen fear to go near the vicinity of the sea because of China and Philippines’ dispute of claiming Scarborough Shoal.

Here are few of the top reasons to start your own small business:

1. You become your own boss – Who wouldn’t like to be your own boss? Many entrepreneurs wanted to take control and make their own decisions. Why not? When you become your own boss, you as well control your own destiny. In other words, business venture saves you from working for anyone else. Meaning, owning a business will allow you to take control the culture of it. You get to decide what, when, where and how you are going to steer your business’ future.
2. You do what you want ­– Owning a business will allow you to do what you’re interested in. In other words, being an entrepreneur allows you to choose what kind of business you start-up, where and how. The best part is, you get to work on your passion and enjoy what you do, no matter how busy and challenging it is, you don’t get so stressful since you make a living doing on what you love.
3. You take your own risk – Indeed, owning a business will give you risks. But, with great risks comes with great reward, agree? In other words, the higher the risk the higher the reward. And, owning your business will give you confidence, since you take the blame on risk you engage in. You get to learn from your own mistakes and not from others’ anger. You learn to recognize and assess good opportunities from bad ones. And, the good thing about it, taking risk will provide you better ideas and strategies, and pride to what you have achieved.
4. You really wanted to earn profit – Most of us wanted to earn a stable income, and being an entrepreneur will let you earn not just a stable but with continuous increase of profit. But, it all depends on how you take control your business. Plan and anticipate well future’s issues and troubles, consumer’s needs and demands, financial management and don’t forget your marketing. Small business indeed requires all of these to ensure continuous success.
5. You own your time – Are you tired of stressful deadlines? Then, why not venture your own business. You might not be aware that you could be a good entrepreneur. Owning your business will allow you to utilize well your time and not stressing yourself on meeting countless deadlines. Of course, owning a business will require deadlines as well, but you would be meeting your own deadlines, and you know better what to do since you control the flow of your business.
6. You get to decide on your own – Being an entrepreneur allows you to decide on your own on what, when, where and how to do your business. You wouldn’t be stressed from someone rebuking you to do what you think is the best and good for the business. As an entrepreneur, you can bet that each day will be filled with new opportunities to challenge yourself, be creative and learn something new – ideas and strategies.
7. You choose people you wanted to work with – When you work for someone else, rarely that you choose the people you work with. If you get troubles working with your team, there is a high possibility that you fail to do your job well and get stressed working with them. But, it’s the other way around when you own your own business, since you may freely choose the people who will work on your business. Having good relationship with the people on your business will result to “job well done” and quality work, since peace in mind will remain on you and your people.
8. You get things done faster – When you decide for your own business, working would be easier and faster. No arguments, no waiting and no delays, since you do the things immediately with no one slowing you down. Meaning, quotas will be met well and with more time to do other works on your business.
9. You envision easier – Owning your own business will let you envision easier because you plan your road-map to success. This would be the sum up of deciding on your own, taking the risk on your own, having your own time and getting things done faster, the result would be envisioned future’s plan and strategies.
10. You may freely choose a second career – Well, if you don’t fancy giving up a regular income, you may always get the best of both worlds and stay as an employee while running your own business. Lovely and seems easy right? Well, what you must do is proper time management so you may always have adequate time on both careers. A little piece of advice, choose a business venture that you’re interested in – your passion, so it would be easy for you to work for your business, since you enjoy it and you are expert about it, then stress could be avoided.

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This is good news! Grab the opportunity and open your small business for this coming rainy season, answer your consumer’s concerns and earn profit. Then, what business opportunity might be good for you to start with? Here are some business ideas you could choose from, and these might be a good catch for you, so what are we waiting for, let’s get in on!

1. Stylish Rain Boots – Gone are the days that people uses the traditional rubber rain boots. What people seek are products that would match their own fashion, trendy and stylish. So what’s the catch, just like Plueys brand, why not create your own design and style of rubber rain boots that would suit Filipino taste. If not, you may be one of the Plueys brand distributor to start this business opportunity this coming rainy season, be one of their partners and import their products. You may leave an impression, “stay comfortable and celebrate the rain”!

2. Hot Food Desert or “Merienda” – Rainy season is paired with chilly weather conditions. Most people would prefer to snap in hot places and to take a break for a hunger filling meal or in Filipino parlance or should I say the borrowed Spanish term – Merienda. So, why not take the chance to plan your desert house and offer various hot snacks – arrozcaldo, champorado, noodle soup, ginataang bilo-bilo or rice balls in coconut milk, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and whatever hot meal and beverages you may want to offer.

3. Synthetic Coats and Jackets – Synthetic coats and jackets would be useful during rainy days. And surely, people would seek for such that would prepare them throughout heavy rain falls and storm. So why not open your synthetic clothes and garments boutique and start your own business!

4. Rain Armament Accessories – If you would want a larger market share then why not combine the stylish rain boots and synthetic coats and jackets, and even add some products such as umbrellas, rain coats, and other useful accessories and garments that would make people comfortable and protected, then start your own business with Rain Armamanet Boutique.

5. Drying Station – This might be funny, but yes, this could be useful and convenient to people who got soaked by a sudden downpour and needs to go somewhere or meet someone – a client or a friend. You could provide the general market a drying area where they could be able to dry their clothes, garments and valuables in a few minutes. If they were able to open a Breastfeeding Station for breastfeeding mothers, then why not open a Drying Station!

6. Foil Pack Bags – Who doesn’t want starting his own business, with a minimum budget, from recycling foil packs into bags, pouches, mats, etc.? The good thing about this is it wouldn’t just be a business for rainy days, instead for all season, and you wouldn’t be spending too much capital on it since you would just gather used foil packs from tetra pack juices. All you have to do is to unleash your creativity to craft the foil packs into useful stuffs especially that foil packs is a water resistant – bags, folders and pouches. Amazing right?

Do you have more something in mind?

I have watched several news update on TV, and while reading the newspaper, Manila Bulletin stated on their report that:

Several travel agencies in China have suspended tour packages to the Philippines after the Chinese government warned its nationals to stay off Philippines streets ahead of a protest rally in front of its embassy in Makati City today.

According to Maria Victoria Jasmin, Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation, China ranks 4^th in the Philippines top tourism market which makes them one of the important markets of the country. But

As of yesterday, 10 tour groups consisting of 25 to 75 tourists have already canceled as well as over a hundred chartered flights from Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

Chinese authorities have also increase inspections around Scarborough Shoal Territory which make most Fishermen near the place to stay off and to use the rich resources of Scarborough Shoal. One fishermen interviewed on the news update of GMA news said:

Natatakot na po kaming pumalaot dahil maraming nagbabantay na Chinese Navy at minsan na rin naming nasaksihan ang gulo ng Chinese Navy at Philippine Navy.

Fishermen feared to continue fishing in Scarborough Shoal due to the strict watch out of Chinese and Philippine Navy, although the both parties doesn’t prohibit them to go fishing, but fear grow in Filipino fishermen near the place, thinking that they might encounter an ongoing riot between the two parties.

Moreover, Manila Bulletin stated:

In another indication that Beijing is applying the economic squeeze on the Philippines, China’s food safety watchdog has ordered stiffer inspections of banana, pineapples, and other fruit imported from the Philippines.

Philippines have been one of the China’s major suppliers of bananas. And, due to China’s orders in food inspections imported from Philippines the rate of bananas export might be lower or even stopped because of the country’s claiming matter.

And now, because of the claiming issue of Scarborough Shoal, several business transactions between China and Philippines are suspended and troubled.

I always wanted to share my friend’s success story after hearing his life’s story and being proud of what he was able to achieve. Mr. Domingo Cabato has strived hard to achieve his dream and passion. Despite of his family’s financial difficulties, this has not stopped him from finishing his studies. He enthusiastically enrolled Computer Secretariat, a 2-years course at AMA CLC in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, near from his home place Abra, thinking technology has been rapidly changing and the course he enrolled in would be useful. However, his dream and passion never change, he still wanted to pursue his dream and after finishing his studies he worked at Manila as beauty assistant and started to learn hair and beauty techniques.

From his experience working at Hortaleza Manila in 2006 to 2008 and at Nelia Nails and Beauty Centre, Lucky Plaza, Singapore in 2008-2010, he was able to save his salaries and thought of putting up his own business. In July 18, 2010 his long-time dream was attained, Mr. Domingo Cabato started his beauty salon, using his savings, with 300, 000.00Php start-up costs, covering him all the labor, materials and equipment needed to complete his beauty salon. He decided to name his salon “Domingo Cabato Salon”, after his name.

Among his services available are as follows:

• Haircut – 60.00
• Hair Rebonding – 1000.00
• Hair Color – 350.00
• Hair Spa – 200.00
• Hot Oil – 150.00
• Hair Reborn – 500.00
• Semi Rebond w/ Detox – 800.00
• Hair and Make-up – 300.00
• Hair Perming – 500.00
• Hair Cellophane – 300.00

With these service offerings, Mr. Domingo Cabato is open for comments, suggestions and complaints. For complaints, he would repeat the beauty treatment for free for customer satisfaction and to maintain a trusted reputation. He as well used word-of-mouth marketing, referrals, tarpaulins, discounts, and service packages as his promotional tools to attract customers, and to maintain his consumers, he simply serve with high quality and excellent service, honesty and friendly attitude.

You might be wondering how and when I met him. Age didn’t stop him, from studying. To supplement and help his business idea prosper, he went back to school in October 2010 after putting up his business. He was 28 years old back then, he was one of my classmates in one of our subject in the University. We both took Business Administration majoring in Marketing Management. Knowing his age and after learning he finished computer secretariat, have worked and ventured a business, I curiously asked why he is again studying, and he told me:

Gusto ko mapalawak ang knowledge ko tungkol sa business para mas lalo ko pang mapalago ung salon ko. Alam kong kulang ang kaalaman ko tungkol sa pagpapatakbo ng business ko, at kung hindi ko gagawan ng paraan yun, baka dumating yung panahon na ung pinaghirapan ko eh mawala. At para marating ko itong buhay ko ngayon, dumaan muna ako sa butas ng karayom!

He wanted to educate himself that would help him develop and grow his business. He didn’t want it to stay as just simply Domingo Cabato Salon, he knew his weakness, that without business knowledge he thought that he might end-up losing what he worked hard for.

And, he was right! Educating himself would really make him successful. And, now I have seen the development of his business and services. I have seen that customers patronized and loved his creations. I myself have experienced and loved his works, I brought him my cousin, friends, sister and loved his service as well. Just what I have heard from one of the judge in Project Runway Philippines and I liked it:

If you’re doing what’s in your heart and what’s sincere to you, you will succeed!

Agree? You may visit Domingo Cabato Salon at Rm. 207 Dominguez Bldg., General Luna Road, Baguio City for more information.

How about you? What’s your success story?

An estimated 800,000 sari-sari stores hold the lion’s share of the Philippine retail market.

Looking around would explain that a number of sari-sari store retail outlet are present. In your residential places alone, how many sari-sari stores can you see? In my place, within 50 meters away from home, there are 3 competing sari-sari stores. Why many of them venture into such business sector?

Sari-sari store is one of the easiest business ventures anyone could engage in. Especially now that Puregold Price Club, Inc., one of the country’s leading supermarket chains, which provide convention to these sari-sari store owners to guide them manage well and help them develop their sari-sari store business. Manila Bulletin’s report said:

Puregold Price Club Inc., one of the country’s leading supermarket chains, is committed to support the sari-sari store sector as it once again gathers sari-sari store owners during the 7thTindahan ni Aling Puring Convention from May 16 to 19 to give them numerous benefits and opportunities, and help them succeed in their businesses.

This is an amazing break to sari-sari store owners around Philippines, especially those owners and entrepreneurs aggressive in growing their own businesses. And the good thing is, to reach out and assist various and more sari-sari store owners, Puregold Company’s convention is held in two venues for convenience and accessibility: the World Trade Center in Manila, from May 16 to19 May and in Camp John Hay in Baguio City, from May 16 to 17.

Besides, Puregold Price Club, Inc. as well uses this as their promotional campaign not for the end-user but for sari-sari store owners who serves as their primary distributor. Through Puregold’s convention to help these business owners and entrepreneurs, the benefit of acquiring and maintaining more buyers to their supermarket would be potentially achieved, since these sari-sari store owners would be purchasing from them giving them several benefits. As stated in Manila Bulletin’s report:

The holding of the annual sari-sari store convention is just one of the many support activities of Puregold for its Ka-Asenso members or Tindahan ni Aling Puring members. The other benefits are Kitang-Kita Case at Kitang-Kita Packs, Super Suki SIM for instant and additional business loading, Ka-Asenso Booklet, KAINdustriya for karinderya and canteen owners and caterers, Barangay Asenso Caravan, Grand Ka-Asenso Salo-Salo, Store Paint or Store Signage, Aling Puring account representatives services, Gold Card, co-marketing activities with suppliers, and Negosyo seminars and trainings.

This is good strategy that Puregold Price Club, Inc. is organizing they have been continuously promoting their products and would as well increase their sales, while helping small business owners and entrepreneurs.

I have been reading manila bulletin and one of their article caught my attention, their report about small and medium enterprise turns aggressive in marketing. This article interests me since lately I wrote “Why You Must Invest on Advertising?”, encouraging business owners and entrepreneurs to spend money on promoting their businesses, and now manila bulletin have just reported the growing number of participants and exhibitors in the various trade fairs being conducted in different venues in Metro Manila and in the provinces. Amazing right? Since people nowadays are getting educated about doing marketing and its benefits, they have now or might be you as well adopted promotional tools that would gain wider exposure and continuous increase in sales.

As per manila bulletin:

“Small and medium enterprises are adopting an aggressive stance on their business outlook as they are no longer averse to spending for marketing to gain wider exposure and new markets for their products.”

What does this mean? SMEs are now well informed about the benefits of doing marketing on their business, they are now insistent on using promotional tools to publicize their business and acquire new markets for their products. If you have not yet utilize various promotional tools, then what are you waiting for, a number of your competitors might have been participating on various exhibitions and trade fairs, and you have been left alone.

This is good news as well to advertising companies and other business owners that would have an interest to invest on such activities. Why? You already have wide range of clients and partners, since business venture and entrepreneurs are rapidly growing these days.

Manila bulletin in addition reported:

“ESQUIRE Financing Inc. (EFI) is dedicated to furthering the venture of growing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by offering specialized and fast business solutions to SMEs through the help of TRADECON, which has the expertise of bringing together the SMEs, distributors, suppliers and buyers together.”

Just to give you a glimpse of EFI, ESQUIRE Financing Inc. is one of the leading financial institutions for entrepreneurs and corporations in the Philippines.  The good thing about them is they have incorporated the growing concerns and needs of Small and Medium Enterprises. They have recognized that one of the most important needs of SMEs is a trusted financial partner who will grow and further establish their businesses. If you are very much interested on them and have not yet approach them, join their 4^th Philippine Small Medium Enterprise and Franchise Expo activity.

While, TRADECON or Trade Advertising Exhibitions and Conventions International, Inc. is a business trade shows and promotion services company, which will help you reach your ultimate and potential buyer and understand their taste, preference and needs.

Joining trade fairs could be a good source for your market study to determine the trend and manufacture products to your consumers’ preference and gain market strength. People as well noticed that these fairs are the perfect points of sale to introduce new products and attract potential buyers. Putting up your own business is not just simply business venture. Business venture must be paired with promotional tools and one effective way to expose your business and products is through business trade shows and exhibitions. Of course other means of promotion must not be overlooked, business promotions depends on what business you engaged in, what products you offer and when you must offer.

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Why? Your market is your primary goal – you must provide and satisfy your market’s needs, wants and demands so you would be able to sell and earn.

Target Market

Target market is a group of individual you have chosen and aim your marketing and distribution efforts. In other words, they are your potential buyers of your products, your future user and influencers. When you focus on chosen group of buyers, you will then save your marketing expenses and efforts from wasting your time on consumers who have no interest in buying from you. And, defining well your target market will help you keep your marketing organized.

It is important that you identify your target consumers for you to have concentration and a straight forward strategies, programs and direction which are your stepping stone to success.

General Market Description

Defining your general market will provide you a concrete outline about your business. Reviewing and evaluating your description would give you ideas on formulating strategies of marketing your business and products, and alternative approach for anticipation of success and troubles.

Your general market description must have a clear illustration of the following:

• Physical business boundaries of your market
• Geographic size and distribution of your market
• Names, properties, description and users of the product
• Number of households to be served
• Other communities affected by your business and market

Demand Determinants and Factors Affecting Your Market

Identifying demand determinants will guide you what, where, why, when and how will you offer your merchandise. This is necessary since this factors will give you a glimpse of your business future’s success and predicament, other than that, the factors will give you ideas to strategize on how will you work on your potential buyers and consumers, especially your primary goal to satisfy their need, wants and demands that would as well lead you to your objective – to establish your business and maximize your profit. Among the important determinants are the following:

• Population of your target market
• Income of your target market
• Price preference and purchasing power
• Changes in the user’s taste
• Government policies and budget
• Product alternatives

Demand and Supply Analysis

Demand analysis presents an estimate of the past, present and projected level of demand for the product to be offered. Demand indicates how much of your good consumers are willing and able to buy your product’s offering and price. You must not forget that, the higher the price the lower your consumer demands, while, the lower the price the higher your consumers demands.

Your supply as well indicates how much of your good producers are willing and able to offer for sale at a given period of time. In other words, supply analysis is an evaluation of the existing supply conditions – all you needed for the preparation and operations of your products, raw materials, water, electricity, machinery, etc.

You must never forget to assess your demand and supply conditions, since this will give you signs whether you are gaining or losing. If you have higher demand but lower supply, then you lose your earnings and might as well lose your consumers. And, if you have lower demand but with higher supply, you might as well be wasting your money since low demand and high supply will result to spoiled and out-modeled products which mean loss of earnings. That is why you must always balance your demand and supply to avoid lack and excess demands and supplies.

Marketing Strategies and Programs

Marketing Strategies are those you do to publicize and sell your products. This could be through well defined advertising, promotional campaigns, public relations, personal selling, pamphlets or coupons, free samples, etc. This various promotional tools will help you create customer awareness and attract potential buyers. But, this will depend of course on your product offerings and services, you must ensure that all your claims are what they could obtain on your products never mention anything that is not present on your products and services, or you would create a dubious reputation and might not be trusted anymore.

Why spend money on promotional tools? You may check on the article that I have previously written “Why You Must Invest on Advertising”, for more details so you would be well-informed about the importance of promoting your business and products.

Always remember that examining your market is important towards your success. Results of your study will give you well defined strategies and ideas on how to attract, maintain and stay profitable. Continue reading with us and share us your thoughts! Was this helpful?