Great Tabo opens prospects for small scale entrepreneurs

CEBU, Philippines - Small-scale entrepreneurs, retailers and exporters expressed hope that other business organizations will emulate the Great Cebu Tabo of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), providing them with an avenue of market exposure to gain new customers and increase their sales.

Aiming to promote Cebu as a potential shopping hub in the country, CCCI conducted the Great Cebu Tabo - “Tatak Cebu” weekend market from June 28 to 30 at Islands Pasalubong outlet across Magellan’s Cross in downtown Cebu in celebration of the annual Cebu Business Month.

Maylin Ligad,38, of the RetasoTingub Women Workers Association said that the Great Cebu Tabo has accounted a significant contribution to the organization in terms of providing them with market access.

The local association of 15 housewives in Tingub, Mandaue City produce recycled bags from the 500 kilos of scrap materials donated by Dedon Manufacturing, Inc. every two months.

Ligad admitted that they expect to increase their sales during the Great Cebu Tabo. They brought along 50 bags, 20 dozens of coin purse, and 30 assorted sling bags and hoped to earn P10,000 during the three-day sale.

“Maayo ang gibuhat sa CCCI. Dako kayo ang matabang ani para mailhan ang among mga produkto. Maayo pud unta mosunod ang uban ug magtukod og pareho ani,” (This is a very good initiative of CCCI. It helps us introduce our products to the market. We hope others will emulate this initiative), she told The FREEMAN.

She added that since members have found a living and an alternative source of income from the association, they aim to find other means to market their products aside from their display store in Tingub. She cited that they even sell in the sidewalk area in downtown Cebu and also accept orders.

They also participate in the Trash to Crafts livelihood project of IPI Foundation, Inc. that organizes exhibits every first Friday and first Saturday of the month at SM City Cebu.

These housewives produce bags sold P180 to P250, coin purses priced at P100 per dozen, and assorted sling bags sold at P50.  In a week, one can finish 10 pieces of bags. If fortunate enough, Ligad said that they could earn P20,000 in a month.

Belle Lago, marketing director and designer of L Cherie, commended the initiative of the chamber to give chance to small-scale entrepreneurs to showcase their products in the market especially to tourists.

For 10 years, she cited that L Cherie has been their family business, producing and selling fashion accessories for different market niches with prices ranging from P20 to P2,000.

Considering the three-day sale as a form of advertisement for their business, Lago cited that they indeed took advantage of the market exposure and occupied two stalls during the Great Cebu Tabo.

They have their main shop at Cesar’s Foodland Building in Banilad and a small display store inside a city mall.

L Cherie is also a small-scale exporter in Japan and United States. It is also a regular participant of exhibits and expositions. 

Meanwhile, IME marketing specialist Raquel Britania expressed hope that the Great Cebu Tabo will be conducted twice or thrice a year to further allow small-scale companies to widen their reach in the market.

IME is the national distributor of SAJI brand of noodles, cooking oil and margarine.

She also suggested that it will be held in locations that offer market accessibility and high foot traffic to attract prospective buyers.  She particularly cited open spaces as ideal venue like in Plaza Independencia.

IME regularly participates in food exposition to increase their market exposure. They recently joined the World Food Expo in Davao last June.

Committee chair Maria Camille Villareal-Aldeguer said The Great Cebu Tabo is part of the newly-launched program of the chamber which is the “Cebu in the Bag: Island Madness Sale” that is envisioned to be institutionalized as an annual event.

Intended to further attract foreign and local customers, the three-day exhibit served as a one-stop shop of the best of Cebu’s shopping choices such as products showcased by towns as part of the One-Town-One-Product of the Department of Trade and Industry, local retailers, exporters, market vendors, organic farmers and producers in the province.

Aldeguer further noted that the Great Cebu Tabo was designed to be an ideal avenue for these small-scale enterprises to showcase their products as part of Cebu’s pride.  There were 25 participants from the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. /JOB (FREEMAN)