Exporters urged to innovate

To stay afloat in the global competition amidst the worsening economic crisis, exporters urged their rank to focus on product innovations and designs.

“You have to open your eyes to a lot of prospects and opportunities. If we do not sell well in our regular line, we can innovate. Here in Cebu, it’s easy to jump from producing one craft to another because of the wide resources available for us so there are a lot of opportunities to diversify,” urged Cebu Gifts, Toys and Houseware vice president Pete Sepulveda.

He said that creative industries is all a matter of design and aside from that quality exporters should always strive to innovate their creations from time to time in order to get ahead in the global competition.

“In a time of crisis when you are pushed against the wall, you fight and force whatever it is that you can do to survive,” he added.

“It’s all about flexibility. To cut on cost I cut overhead, made production in the factory more efficient, streamlined, multi tasked my workers then I operated according to demand,” shared Jay Yuvallos Philexport Cebu president.

He said that the great challenge that should be faced by exporters nowadays is on how to regain its market position or if not slowly diversify their products and market so that the Philippines can increase its percentage of trading in the global export industry.

Currently, China composes the biggest percentage of the international export market but exporters collectively stress that Philippine products are still far more ahead than China products quality wise.

Reports have it that Chinese exporters are closing shop as an effect from the current global crisis.

Janet Chua, Fashion Accessories Manufacturers-Exporters Foundation (FAME) president shared that, “when I went to China, they had more factories closed compare here because they have been so affected with the crisis. Compared to the Philippines, China’s disadvantage is that they quickly mass produce so most of their buyers are afraid that they won’t get even because their products easily flood the market.”

Since our Philippine exporters use different materials compared to other players like in the global marketplace, Chua pointed out that despite the ongoing crisis, there is still a market for us and there is all the more reason for the exporters to improve their products.

And as their way to innovate, right now, FAME members are using their Go Green Program to promote their “green” products worldwide wherein their foreign buyers get to participate in their endeavour to save the environment and at the same time use this initiative as marketing collateral in their own companies.

Meanwhile, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF) president Eric Casas said it’s really to up to the person how he looks at the market adding that there is still untapped opportunities out there for exporters, they just have to harness their strengths and innovate to withstand the world’s current economic situation.

He said that there might be a slowdown in the global market right now especially in foreign markets that the Philippines is serving but there are still opportunity takers which see the Philippines as their major supplier, which our exporters can tap.

He said that the Philippines might just be a speck in the international market right now but this could be harnessed through niche marketing and being creative.

“There are countries especially in Europe that appreciate more creative designs. There’s always a market for everyone and exporters just have to find the right market for them,” Casas added.