Tourist influx spells positive sales for small entrepreneurs

CEBU, Philippines - Just days away from the Sinulog festivity with activities being celebrated for more than a week before the grand parade, small entrepreneurs are already taking advantage of the growing number of tourists in Cebu by selling their products.

As more and more decorations, stalls and activities being made near and inside the Fuente Osmeña Circle, small businesses, like those of Sam Peña’s little stall that sells colorful hats, necklaces, bracelets and other products bearing the “Pit Señor” greeting are being flocked by local and foreign tourists.

Peña said that he is happy with how business is going so far since more and more people are arriving everyday and tourists, who are usually in groups, buy a lot of his products as early as now.

According to Peña, he believes that the crisis has already passed and the public would not mind spending money for the Sinulog celebration.

He said that being in the business for more than 14 years now, he has noticed that even during hard times, people still spend during the festivities.

“ Para man gud ni ni Sto.Niño mam,” explained Peña who said that Sinulog is like Christmas wherein people spend more than anytime of the year.

He said that considering that it is also the start of the year, the buying public still has the confidence to spend for other things aside from necessities.

Peña said that since the Sinulog celebration has also been known as a grand celebration, people would want to have the feel of the festivities by sporting festival merchandise such as colorful hats and shirts.

Mario dela Cerna, a 24- year old student selling shirts with prints of Sinulog that he made himself said that shirts are the most sellable items during the festivities since it also serves as a memorabilia for the tourists especially the foreigners.

Dela Cerna said that last week, he already sold out more dozens of shirts to one groups of Korean visitors who came here in time for the grand celebration.

He said that he gives out discounts for those who buy in bulk and also gives discounts for young people like him who buys in two’s and three’s in one purchase.

The young entrepreneur said that he used to accept personalized designs for an extra price but does not do so now since it takes more time and money.

However, dela Cerna said that this has not decreased his customers since he makes it a point to make designs that are different from the others that are also selling shirts.

In the previous year and including this year, dela Cerna said that he has more customers though on the foreign market rather than the local, which may be due to the consumer’s tightening up on their budget.

He said that he is delighted with the presence of the foreign tourists in Cebu, which he noted have increased over the years since he started his business back when he was just 16 years old.

Dela Cerna said that this is the time of the year when his business makes good returns since personalized t-shirts don’t really sell during the yuletide season.

But de la Cerna said that he is worried with the growing competition as more and more entrepreneurs are seeing the popularity of personalized shirts. However, he said that the secret in the business is adding more art to the work, finding the perfect niche and not forgetting that the celebration is for Sto. Niño. — AJ de la Torre