The group behind Suelas shares some sound advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

MANILA, Philippines - We would tell the young entrepreneurs of today to firstly be patient. Take this from a group of people who initially wanted to open a shawarma stand. Your ideas will come to you when you least expect them to, and sometimes when you are at the edge of despair. The important thing is to always be open to ideas: don't settle for "pwede na yan" or mediocrity because you'll never know when you'll have that chance to be great instead of just being good. Lastly, and we think that this philosophy holds true for every member of the Suelas team, is to remember to buy Filipino and be proud of it. All our products are made in the Philippines and it has been a source of pride for us to say that to every potential customer who inquires about our production methods.

In our opinion, Suelas could not have been made if not for the perfect execution of our suppliers and our Gawad Kalinga partners. The bags that every pair of Suelas comes in help generate sources of income for communities in Payatas and are a showcase of the quality of their skills. We believe that business is not only entered into for the sole expectation of profit, but also to help the community within which it operates and interacts with. We hope that this belief is translated into a greater sense of corporate social responsibility within the Philippine setting and we are therefore trying to help in our own small way.

 Get into something you really love and are passionate about, sell an idea you really believe in! Customers can and will know/feel if you’re into the business because you really believe in the concept, or if you’re just in it for profits. Your love and passion (or the lack of both) for any venture will really show in how you deal with customers, so it’s best to get into something that’s close to your heart.