Mall owner holds sari-sari store fair

MANILA, Philippines - When she was still in grade school she would help her father in their small grocery store. Today she has a chain of malls throughout Region 1, and is sharing the secrets of her success with sari-sari store owners. 

Now a vice mayor of Dagupan City, Belen Fernandez is encouraging sari-sari store owners to strive to make it big through the three-day Sari-sari Store Fair, which ends today at the Jimmy L. Fernandez Center CSI Stadia, named after her father.

She said her purpose in staging this fair for the third year is to encourage more people to go into business, to be entrepreneurs and help pump up the economy.

“Did you know that we have thousands of sari-sari store owners in Dagupan City who help our city’s economy?” she told The STAR.

She said the fair is open to sari-sari store owners and all those who would like to start their own small business.

During the first Sari-sari Store Fair in 2007, more than 20,000 people, mostly small businessmen, and even housewives, learned the basics of starting a business while enjoying entertainment and discounts at the fair.

This year, she sent invitations to schools, especially those that offer business-related courses, so their students can have first-hand experience about starting a business.

Fernandez said she learned the nitty-gritty of the business at their small grocery store named City Grocery.

During her college years, she helped her dad in the business by handling the wholesale section.

After college, she put up City Supermarket Inc. (CSI) Mall in Dagupan City, and later opened other branches in Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Sur.

Fernandez is the president of their family-owned CSI Group of Companies, owners of Pangasinan’s biggest mall, the CSI The City Mall located in Barangay Lucao.

Beside it is the imposing CSI The Stadia where big events in Pangasinan like conventions and concerts are held.

She said patience, determination, industry and honesty are key to her success, and she advised small entrepreneurs “to spend within your means.”

“Whatever is your income, you must save some and spend the rest,” she said.

She added that CSI is successful because it is being a consistent price leader, selling goods at the lowest prices.  – Eva Visperas