Finding work-life balance via Globe Business

MANILA, Philippines - Globe Business ambassador and entrepreneur Rex Puentespina has his priorities straight. He leads a busy life as head of their successful family business, Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants Inc. (POTPI), and he constantly looks forward to the moments outside of his work, when he is able to spend time with his family and pursue his hobbies and advocacies.

Puentespina does business in a way that allows him to maintain what he calls “work-life balance.” He does not allow himself to become so absorbed in work that he forgets to give care and attention to his family and his personal pursuits. 

According to him, achieving such a balance is not always easy to do, since his business can be hectic and stressful. “I go to the office in the morning and visit our branches and important customers in the afternoon. In short, I’m out on field most of the day,” he says.

Besides the day-to-day operations of POTPI, Puentespina has to deal with the problems that go with the business, like the delayed arrival of flights; crop quality problems, as well as delayed or advanced harvest.

To cope with his work-related stress, Puentespina says he makes it a point to spend time with his family at the end of the day. “Going home to my family relieves me of my stress. I also unwind by playing tennis or by going sailing every weekend.”

These days, however, he says he has new tools for minimizing stress and for setting aside time with family and hobbies — all these tools are based on modern telecommunications technology. He shares how modern telecommunications is helping his business, his family life and even his hobbies and other personal passions.

Flowers go digital

What is now POTPI started as an orchid-growing hobby of Puentespina’s mother Charita way back in 1977. Today, it is one of the biggest producers of cut flowers in the Philippines, supplying its products to major cities nationwide.

Like many other successful businesses, Puentespina is taking advantage of the Internet to make innovations in POTPI operations. “By innovating, we are able to better serve our existing customers and at the same time, expand our market base,” he says.

For example, POTPI now has a digital link with customers in remote areas through its recently launched website, www.orchid.ph. The website serves as the online presence of Puentespina Orchids and generates more business for the company.

“The website allows us to present products and services offered by Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants Inc., and Waling Flowers from Davao to a much wider market than ever before. It emboldened us to dream bigger for the industry that we are impassioned to serve,” he says. 

“We look at this information superhighway as a channel through which we can accommodate more cartloads of fresh, quality products from the outskirts of our islands, and deliver with speed and efficiency, to our customers in the metropolitan areas,” he adds.

The Internet adds to the advantages that POTPI has over the competition. Puentespina Orchids already has a loyal customer base that appreciates the service and quality offered to them by the company.

“Puentespina Orchids always makes sure that product quality is maintained. We see to it the flowers are fresh and will last so customers can enjoy them longer. Secondly, we give excellent customer service. We ensure orders are served and delivered on time. If goods are not available, we inform our customers ahead of time and give them options. This way they can adjust their requirements accordingly,” Puentespina explains.

He adds that POTPI also has a special pricing scheme that is friendly to its regular customers.

Another important service that POTPI provides is the great ease and convenience that customers experience when ordering flowers. This is also where the digital component of business operations becomes crucial.

“We have three branches. There’s the Manila Seedling Bank Compound in Quezon City; there’s also our branch in No. 910 Colbella Arcade in Makati; and the one in Dos Castilles Street in Dangwa, Sampaloc to serve our customers in Manila,” Puentespina says. 

“Our Davao City Office handles orders from the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Then there’s our website www.orchid.ph which is updated regularly for easy access and reference to products being sold. We also accept orders placed online,” he adds.

Business tools

Besides the Internet service, Puentespina also uses products and services from Globe Business to make his business operations simpler and more efficient at less cost. He currently uses the BlackBerry e-mail service, Business Plus package, and TextConnect service of Globe Business in his daily operations.

“The instant access to e-mail accounts through the Globe Business BlackBerry e-mail service gives me complete mobility. I’m able to stay on top of my e-mails while I’m out on field. I don’t have to go back to the office just to check e-mails on my computer. More time on field equals more quality time with customers, and that is very important to our business,” he says.

He adds that the Business Plus package lets him communicate with his personnel and clients instantly and reliably at lower cost.

“Globe Business created special postpaid plans for us that were tailored according to our needs. We now communicate with our personnel, customers and suppliers through unlimited texting and calls at an affordable price. Plus, we even get free phones. Definitely no more worries on exceeding our communication budget,” he says.

For instant mass communication with a large number of customers, Puentespina uses the TxtConnect service by Globe Business.

“Globe Business set us up with TxtConnect, a Web-based program that sends our SMS blasts to customers. It is now easy to broadcast relevant information to our customer base such as price changes, status of shipments, promos, stock availability, invites and even send birthday greetings with just one click. I’m especially happy that I’m able to save as much as 50 percent using this service. I might even use it for my organization,” he says.

Family and hobbies

All the modern telecommunications tools that Puentespina is using is helping his business in important ways. Since he started using the telecoms products and services of Globe Business, he has seen Puentespina Orchids benefit from improved efficiency, increased productivity and bigger savings.

But more importantly for him, these same telecommunications tools allow him to have more quality time with his family and loved ones as well as more time and energy for him to engage in his hobbies and advocacies.

Puentespina is a competitive sailor who has won prizes in national competitions for yacht sailing and hobie craft races. He is also the National Championship chairman of the Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Foundation (PHINSAF) which he says goes beyond just organizing sailing competitions; it also conducts socio-civic projects.

“With Globe Business helping me streamline our business operations, I now have more time to pursue my other passions — engage in competitive sailing, participate in medical and educational outreach programs in far-flung islands through PHINSAF,” he says.

Globe Business GPS Tracker

Puentespina doesn’t just need Globe Business for his orchid and cut flower business — he also relies on its GPS tracking service whenever he is out at sea during a sailing competition.

Globe Business GPS Tracker products were developed to help entrepreneurs track and monitor their valuable resources. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, they can easily track personnel, equipment, vehicles, and other moving assets in any part of the Philippines.

This same technology helps Puentespina whenever he goes sailing for leisure or for competition. Whether he’s using a yacht or a hobie craft, Globe Business GPS Tracker helps him find his bearings and navigate his way through the open water, the wind and the waves.

“Nowadays, GPS is indispensable to any sailor. In emergency situations, it may even spell life or death — if one either does not have GPS or one’s GPS device is broken or unreliable. Fortunately, my GPS Tracker is provided by Globe Business, and I enjoy the same reliable and dependable service when I use that as well as other Globe Business products,” he says.

Globe Business GPS Tracker is so reliable, it was used during the 12th Philippine Hobie Challenge, held last March 10-16. The GPS Tracker was used in all five legs of the regatta, which spanned the Coron islands near Palawan (first leg); then from Coron to Malcapuya Beach (second leg); to Malcapuya to Manligad Island (third leg); Manligad Island to Pangaraycayan (fourth leg); and Pangaraycayan to Miniloc, El Nido (fifth leg).

Helping quality of life

Puentespina adds that using modern telecommunications has also increased his quality of life.

“It is exhilarating to run a family-owned business and equally challenging as well, to not neglect the other parts of your life. Many say fulfillment isn’t just about money — it’s also about achieving and maintaining work-life balance. And most importantly, celebrate every available moment with my family,” he says.

Globe Business, the corporate arm of Globe Telecom, provides wireless and wireline solutions for a diverse set of industries, businesses, and commercial enterprises.

It assures SMEs of affordable, reliable and dependable services for all communication needs, both wireless and wireline solutions, to generate the highest possible profit at the lowest possible cost. 

For more information, call +632 730-1288 or log on to http://www.globe.com.ph/business.