Zilogs and Silver spoon: Juggling business ventures

Having more than one business nowadays is difficult to manage, not to mention the difficult balancing of things and the different demands each business entails.

However, with how Katherine Jao runs a business, it will surely change your perception about putting a sense of balance in a business enterprise.

Out of the blue, with no plans of really starting up a business Katherine Rose Jao, 28, said that she was just buying shaping dishes and other cooking utensils from one of the catering shops that has just closed since her family also loves cooking.

At first, they were just using the shaping dishes whenever they have a party at home. Then she thought, "why not open up a business out of the shaping dishes and kitchen utensils we have." Eventually, she did engage in the catering business.

Silver spoon catering has been operating for six profitable years now. For a start, Katherine catered only to a hundred people.

"A great capital is actually not needed for me, since I have a home space and my office is also at home" this was her approach to save her from spending too much on rentals because she felt that it was more important to spend on the staff than on other things.

She started and maintained 12 staff to help her to keep up with the business, including the cook, headwaiters, the ones assigned to go with her in the market place and the on-calls.

With the success of Silver Spoon catering, it''s not surprising if her business does not stop from there. January 10 this year, Zilogs Sizzling Plates and Tapsilog eating-place was opened by Katherine Jao with Franklin Veloso as her business partner.

"Akong staff for example, wala mi function/cater, wala ma''y kita ang mga on-calls." (If we don''t have a function/ catering, the on-calls won''t have any pay) Concerned with her staff, She wants to provide them with an everyday job; this was one reason that convinced her to push through with Zilogs.

"Our customers are mostly the employees from the call centers, the party people from Paseo and the students from the school nearby." she said.

Katherine shared that putting up Zilogs won''t be possible without the Paseo, the call center and the school close to their bistro.

"Dili ko mo take the risk nga mag-business diri if wala''y mga establishments duol kay dili man develop ang place, mingaw man." (I wouldn''t have taken the risk of having a business here if there were no establishments nearby because the location won''t be developed then it will remain secluded) she added.

"Gi-consider gyud namo first ang overhead, among gi-compute gyud tanan-tanan among kailangan kita-on for a day para maka ginansiya." (At first, we considered the overhead; we computed the total amount we need to get for a day for us to profit) Katherine said.

Handling Zilogs was easy for Katherine and her business partner since they already have an experience in dealing with this kind business with their first venture at the Katherine''s Silver Spoon catering service.

"Our prices are very friendly so ang mga mo anhi magbalik-balik gyud." Katherine shared with enthusiasm. As to where they are located, she made it sure that the food they serve would be easy on the pocket considering that most of their customers are employees and students who are most likely on a budget.

Zilogs is indeed a one-stop eating-place as what Katherine wants it to be. From the Sizzling plates, Zilogs house specialty, Zilogs meals, Merienda choices, noodles, rice bowls down to their desserts, salads and appetizers are well prepared by the hands-on owners, just thinking with these food makes ones mouth water how much more when one can taste it. Everything they serve would cost less than a hundred bucks, pretty reasonable.

"Everyone eats but people will always look for an affordable food." Katherine said. It won''t be hard to maintain this kind of business but one has to consider the location and one has to put in mind that they are dealing with food, it''s a risk for a business if there will be food poisoning, so one should be meticulous about it.

If one thinks that time has opened its doors for a good opportunity and a chance, one should really grab it. Take it from Katherine Jao of Silver Spoon Catering Service and the newly established Zilogs.