The Filipino Entrepreneur

I’ve seen the topic in about.com regarding the 6 ways to make money this summer ( I only chose 5) . I’m not sure if all of them are applicable in this country but at least you will have some idea how to be your own boss this summer. The ideas are enumerated below and I made some changes to make it more confusing ( No, it’s only a joke) .

Go to public places where it is hot and help them to keep cool

There are many public places where there aren’t enough convenience store like beaches, resorts or other popular summer destination. You can try to sell cold bottled water, cold juice drink, sports drinks, cheap sunglasses, sun visors, fan or battery powered electric fan. Be imaginative and think of other things that people might need going to summer destination spots.

Lawn and Yard Care

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Below are the courses available at TRC (previously known as TLRC) this April 2008.

Setting up a Travel Agency
Lecture: role and functions of a travel agent, organizing the business, requirement for travel agency set-up, rules and regulations governing travel agencies, basic travel agency operations and office procedures, professional code of ethics, the travel agency and other providers of travel products - transportation, accommodations, etc.

Date: Apr. 4
Time: 8-4:30
Fee: 1,375

Jewelry Appraisal and Pawnshop Operation
Lecture: gold testing and diamond grading, pricing, valuation and identification of gemstones, government laws and implementing guidelines related to pawnshop operation. Hands-on: determining genuine stones and appraising of gold and diamond, plating of jewelry (gold to gold). Bring calculator.

Date: Apr. 5-6
Time: 8-4:30
Fee: 3,399

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I don’t know what to say if I will be happy for him or just say he is totally insane after winning the lottery and still going back to work as a burger flipper in Mc Donalds. Maybe he really do love his work or maybe he is just not ready to be an entrepreneur. Just watch the video after this jump……..

I think this newsletter I got would definitely add something to your coconut shell. This is not something new, in fact it’s an age old belief about how we should treat our customers but in this digital age, there are tools necessary for us to help us boost our business. Even if you are a small brick and mortar (real physical store, not an online store) retail seller, a tool like autoresponder (Aweber) is a big help to enhance your business. It helps us keep customers coming back by making follow-ups. But first you have to get their email address so you will know where to send those follow-up.

3 Tips for How to Keep Customers

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Sundried fish and fruits in the Philippines are common nowadays that is why Cebu has been famous for sundried delicacies like danggit and dried mangoes. But dried vegetables are not popular here maybe because we have an abundant supply of fresh vegetables. I’m not sure if it will be profitable selling dried vegetables because the time and materials spent on processing might not be feasible. But maybe with a little creativity by adding value to the product, you might sell it with a higher price than selling only fresh vegetables. For example, the food fish tilapia can be sold with a higher market value by converting it to marinated fish fillet, sausages or hamburger patties. Likewise you can also convert an ordinary vegetable like ampalaya or bitter melon into ampalaya chips by adding flavor like cheese or barbecue. Branding it as a healthy diet for diabetics, it might be a hit!

Sun drying of foods have been practiced by people since ancient times to preserve food in leaner times. There are many ways of food preservation like canning and pickling but solar drying is one of the cheapest way because you only need sunlight to petrify the food stuffs and a small investment in making the solar dryer. This summer is great for starting a sundried food business if you are thinking of having one.

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