Go and Multiply

A couple of weeks back, Go Negosyo signed into another new partnership, this time with Multiply. Multiply was one of the social networking sites that my kids used aside from Friendster many years ago. Multiply became more popular in the Philippines for online marketing since people used the site to advertise and sell things like an online retail store.

During the opening of Multiply’s new office, which they set up at the Hanston Square Building at the Ortigas Complex in Pasig City, I met the company’s new employees headed by Jack Madrid, its Country Manager, as well as the CEO and Founder of Multiply, Peter Pezaris. One of the commitments made by Jack and Peter was to see Multiply succeed in its new direction, that is building its online retailing business. To date, it has over 90,000 entrepreneurs using the site. 

My son and his cousin used Multiply to start their first T-shirt business, testing concepts while avoiding the commitments of leasing as well as other capital expenditures to put up a store. The partnership of Go Negosyo and Multiply will enable more entrepreneurs, to let them know that there are ways of starting a business without much capital. Constructing stores is expensive and Multiply allows them to test their business models to see if it will work, and, more so, build confidence as they see their products become acceptable to the market through online retailing.

A lot of young entrepreneurs need a platform like this to help them get started with their ideas, especially now that some of the younger generation spend more time on the Internet than on TV. Now that Multiply has spotted this opportunity with its growing base of online entrepreneurs, it is developing its interface so that it is more viable for e-commerce. Some of the features it will add to its website include product cataloging, a secure payment facility and an online shopping cart.

Our partnership with Multiply also presents a great opportunity to the OTOP entrepreneurs, whom we reach through our provincial caravans with DTI. As Multiply joins us in our Negosems, we can also educate small entrepreneurs on how to look at e-commerce as a viable means to reach a bigger market outside of their provinces.

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The partnership of PLDT SME Nation and Go Negosyo once again launched the search for the new Bossings for the year 2012. Recently, the big bossing of PLDT, MVP, hosted a nice lunch at a garden setting for all their Bossings and Go Negosyo trustees and entrepreneurs.

MVP is a big supporter of entrepreneurship development in the country. I thanked him also for bringing the NBA experience to many Filipinos, a great treat to many of the Bossings who where given free tickets to watch the games.

At the lunch gathering, MVP also called on the Bossings to help support the “Suntok sa Ginto” campaign, a project of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) to raise funds for boxing, the sport that could win our country its very first Olympic gold medal. Hapee toothpaste owner Cecilio Pedro immediately responded to the call and donated one million pesos to the foundation. I mentioned to MVP that maybe we should look into bringing in a top entrepreneur, someone like Richard Branson, Donald Trump, or even Facebook icon Mark Zuckerberg to also help promote our advocacies.

The rainy weather did not dampen the festivities of that day’s lunch gathering. Many of the 2010 and 2011 Bossings were there, including Mother Lily Monteverde and Roselle Monteverde-Teo, owners of Regal Films; Cristalle Henares of Belo Essentials; Island Souvenirs owner Jay Aldeguer, North Park owners Jenni and Paeng Soon; Generics Pharmacy owner Benjamin Liuson; Potato Corner’s Joe Magsaysay, Bo’s Coffee owner Steve Benitez; Hapinoy founders Bam Aquino and Mark Ruiz, the latter with his wife Reese Fernandez; R Lapid’s Owners Rey and Anais Lapid; Toby’s owners Bobby and Jojo Claudio; Ystilo Salon’s Vina Morales and Fred Moreno; SL Agritech Chairman and CEO Henry Lim Bon Liong, and Raintree Group President and CEO Annabella Wisniewski. Also at the event were Go Negosyo’s Felix Ang, Esther Vibal, Kenneth Cobonpue, Ray Gapuz, Waffle Time owner Johnny Que, and our friends from PFA Robert Trota, Yvette Pardo Orbeta and Bing Limjoco. PLDT Executives like Eric Alberto, Kat Luna-Abelarde, Gabby Cui, Ray Espinosa and others were there to support the 2012 Bossing Awards launch.

This year’s MVP Bossing Awards will definitely be a much bigger event. Just last Monday, Go Negosyo Executive Director Mon Lopez, together with Kat Luna-Abelarde and Gabby Cui, went to Cebu to launch the 2012 Bossing search in the VisMin regions and to create more awareness.

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Go Negosyo prepares for the biggest young entrepreneurs event on Sept. 23 at the World Trade Center. Our third Young Entrepreneurs Summit provides a rare chance to listen to the country’s best motivational speakers. Schools sending students should already call in. We would like our youth to have a mindset change towards a positive attitude in life.

The Philippine Star will also be recognizing 15 Young Starpreneurs, while PLDT will recognize three Junior Bossings. BPI Family Bank will also give an award for Business Excellence.

At the summit, we will also be introducing Go Negosyo’s seventh book, 50 Inspiring Stories of Young Entrepreneurs, featuring the success story of Mr. Mang Inasal, Injap Sia. Grab this rare chance to meet and listen to the likes of MVP, Gibo Teodoro, Brother Bo Sanchez, Mike Enriquez, Josiah Go, Roselle Ambubuyog, Henry Tenedero, Michael Lubrin and Phil Younghusband all at one place!

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Contact me: [email protected] or Joey Concepcion Facebook account. Visit www.gonegosyo.net. Watch the top rating entrep show GO NEGOSYO: Kaya Mo! on GMA News TV, Saturday and Sunday 8 to 8:30 a.m. Get daily Go Negosyo Text Tips in your mobile phone by sending GONEGO to 2910.