Country: (UAE and Philippines)
Entrepreneur: (Lawrence Anthony Ignacio – General Manager
Helen Andrade – Operations and Events Manager
Brian Carl Campos – Department Head- Photography)
Company Name: Timeless Elegance Event Managemen
Website: www.timelesseleganceae.com
Business Sector: Events Management

Founded with the Filipino community at heart, Timeless Elegance Event Management (TEEM) has over the years broadened its services to meet the demands of clients from all walks of life in and outside the UAE.

From weddings, parties, corporate events and much more – the company cover all aspects of event management not limited to photography, videography and styling.

It was in 2015 when ambitious individuals namely Anton, Helen Andrade and Brian Carl Campos from diverse backgrounds, decided to merge their talents together to become a one-stop resource for personalised events needs.

To date, TEEM has had the pleasure of being part of celebrations of individuals including destinations shoots in Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe, as well as that of government and private entities, helping make these special occasions all the more memorable.

Likewise, the company has never forgotten to give back to the community by staging and participating in various programmes that promote the spirit of altruism and events that put forward Filipino culture and artistry.

Moving forward, TEEM is looking to boost even more its presence in the scene to give clients the best possible experience that will last a lifetime.

Formula to Success

Like most of us Pinoy expats, we dream about having our own business.

It’s just a matter of getting out of your comfort zone and facing the challenges. Once you get started, and like what I’ve said, opportunities are limitless. You just have to maintain focus, take advantage of the continuous learning process, and laugh it off while learning from your mistakes (and there will be plenty).

The very first time we presented a project in front of a CEO and his team of managers, we were sweating in buckets. But we managed to pull it off and the feeling was exhilarating!

Just continue your focus and stay positive .

Read more on Pinoy entrepreneurs:

Pinoy Entrepreneurs: Fourté

FEME branding forum for Filipino entrepreneurs

The post Pinoy Entrepreneur: Timeless Elegant Event Management (TEEM) appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Illustrado FZ LLC 

illustradolife.com

creomad.com

Lalaine Chu Benitez

Founder & Managing Director

Mon Benitez

Co-Founder & Creative Director

Business and real life partners Lalaine and Mon Benitez have been building brands in the Middle East for multinational and local companies for the last 20 years, originally from the corporate side, and in the last decade as entrepreneurs running their own agency.  Typically known in the market for Illustrado Magazine, their company also provides advertising and marketing services including strategy, campaign creative and design, to social media, content marketing, production, web development, digital marketing, and etc. Drawing from the rich multinational experience of its core team, as well as its top-notch talent network in the UAE and beyond, Illustrado has the ability to deliver big strategic and creative edge, typically the domain of multinational agencies and mega-budget brands.

The company has worked in fields as diverse as consumer goods, electronics, fashion and luxury, pharmaceuticals, food, hospitality and tourism, B2B, real estate, CSR, advocacy marketing, furniture and banking, etc.  Their client portfolio includes Bayer, Nikon, Giordano, Casio, Private Collection, Swiss Arabian Perfumes, Horizon Foot Cone Belding, Apparel Group, Landmark Zenath Group, Ayala Land International, Global Hotel Alliances, InterCon Hotel Group, among others.

Ex-Leo Burnett Creative Director, multi-awarded ad man Mon Benitez shares, “To remain competitive and relevant in the market, we need to be, not only aware and equipped with new technologies and trends, but we also need to truly live in today’s world.  Communication is changing so quick these days, professionals cannot afford not to learn new things.”

Ape Creative

theape.co

Rollan Rodriguez

Founder & Design Director

Pushing the prolific boundaries, as well as innovation by art, is what Ape Creative is all about.

Avidly purveying a perspective that is dynamic and vibrant to the lowbrow art movement in the region, Rollan Rodriguez is the founder and creative director of Ape Creative – a UAE based full-service studio specializing in design concepts, brand identity, illustration, and experiential design, driven by a team of fearless creatives.

Armed with more than a decade of experience in graphic design, advertising, and the visual arts, Rollan has also spearheaded the Dubai based art collective, The Brownmonkeys.

Having worked alongside big brands like Nike, Nandos, and Red Bull to name a few, Rollan and his team have discovered that discipline, creativity, and vision are what principally constitute the foundation for an outstanding outcome.

Wjacob

wjacob.ae

Marcus Dela Peña

Founder

Initially starting out as a boutique design studio in 2012, advertising agency Wjacob has expanded over the years offering below the line creative solutions such as graphic design, corporate branding and identity, and more recently integrating web design and development.

For founder Marcus dela Peña, continually innovating and evolving with the ever-changing times remains central to the brand. As for their formula for success, Marcus attests: “Collaborate. Most of our big and successful projects stemmed from the willingness to accept the help of others and help others in return. Innovate. Re-invent yourself. Learn new things. Develop and explore new ventures. Have faith. Have faith in God; in what He can do through you to help others. Have faith in yourself. Believe in the product you are selling.”

Alpha Media

alphamediaproduction.com

Oliver Serrano and Ernesto Flores

Founders

For over 15 years now, Alpha Media Production has been creating quality audio-visual content for the region.

Headed by entrepreneurs Oliver Serrano and Ernesto Flores, this full-service media production company has made it a core priority to provide clients with compelling visuals that leave a lasting impact. Catering to several production-oriented needs, including photography, videography, and event coverage, Alpha Media Production, with their team of creatives and producers, seamlessly take any project from concept to completion.

Operating in the media and entertainment sector, Oliver and Ernesto share that continually striving for excellence on a daily basis, forging and consolidating relationships, as well as resilience when it comes to growing from our shortcomings, are all vital to success.

Creative Comic

creativecomic.ae

Jruzz Merca

Founder

Catering to both businesses and individuals alike, Creative Comic, founded and run by Jruzz Merca, specializes in providing top-notch photography and videography services. Jruzz shares: “We aim to help our clients to express a meaningful message or represent themselves through a creative and unique approach that aids in elevating their brand. It is our task and mission to show the world what your brand or event is about.”

Since coming to Dubai back in 2007, Jruzz has worked alongside numerous companies as a photographer and videographer until ultimately choosing to set up an enterprise of his own. Establishing as well as sustaining a business here in the UAE, as multifaceted as that sounds, starts from a mere vision, says Jruzz: “Coming to Dubai with nothing, all I had then was a dream to someday put up my own company. From that thought, I became persistent in doing everything possible to achieve my goal. My advice: don’t just dream, work for it! Always find ways to improve yourself by learning new skills that will eventually pay off in the grand scheme of things.”

Milo Torres

milotorres.com

Milo Torres

Founder

There is no deficit in talented Filipino photographers and visual artists in the Gulf, but few have reached the level of success and relevance that Eng. Milo Torres currently has.

As a freelance digital media creative under the Dubai Creative Cluster Authority, Milo offers services of which include commercial photography, event coverage, company profile design and development, and web development, among other things. He has had over 13 years of success in designing various materials for an impressive lineup of clients, including EMAAR, Dubai Duty Free, and Air France to name a few.

Acknowledging how becoming a thriving businessman is no easy fete, Milo yet shares that it is universally achievable: “To start and run a successful business entails many complexities, yet the fundamentals are simple – maintain a positive attitude, stay informed with the current market, know your customers, and keep monitoring all monetary transactions. More importantly, give your best shot in everything that you do.  If you can take this simple advice, you can be a successful entrepreneur.”

Chris Calumberan FZE – UAE

chriscalumberan.com

Chris Calumberan

Founder

Chris Calumberan FZE provides professional imaging production for commercial, retail and corporate clients. Their specialties include editorial photography for and videos for various campaigns, from marketing collaterals and catalogues, tailor made for various client needs. Since marketing is an increasingly diverse field, Chris Calumberan FZE has continued to provide event coverage for various occasions on different platforms.

“The UAE market is so diverse that there is a lot of space for improvement for ourselves in the business,” Chris notes. His approach to success centers around the principles of focus, solution, and abundance. By focusing on what really matters, clients become loyal, guaranteeing sustained business and growth. “Loyalty produces referrals and creates revenue. Having the resources to study our competitors is ok in exchange of cost, but focusing in what matters can create more income for the business.”

Staying humble and having reasonable expectations is another core quality that Chris encourages, as company growth is all about setting achievable goals and visions. Sticking to your goals also helps you practice practicality, he adds: “There are plenty of jobs for everyone.  Think abundantly and try to avoid lavish expansion because it is an overhead that you may not afford in the future.”

Hyku D Photography/Soultrap Studios – UAE

hykudphotography.com

Hyku Desesto

Founder

Hyku Desesto is a renowned commercial photographer in Dubai, with two brands under her name.  The first company is Hyku D Photography, a multi–specialty photography house that covers campaigns, events, interior, lifestyle, fashion, food, weddings, portraiture and nightlife photography. The second is Soultrap Studio, her professional video production team.  Both companies exceed in producing high quality photo and video content for brands, businesses and individuals.

“Clients love working with us because we have the experience and foresight to devise from start to finish the output our clients really need.  We also always give them more, without having to ask for it.”

Hyku’s method to success lies within strategic planning and having a practical mindset. She emphasizes on spending only when necessary, and selecting and maintaining investments wisely in order to get the most out of your choices in the long run. Hyku also encourages building relationships with  clients to guarantee quality service and effective communications. “I always say to our team that we are only as good as our last project and to always challenge ourselves to be better. Our work speaks for itself and it’s great relationships and word of mouth that has brought us to where we are now.” 

Great Image Middle East FZ LLC

greatimageme.com

Flariden Dela Torre 

Founder 

According to Flariden Dela Torre, “ Your passion and whatever is in your heart should be your type of your business. Business is not all about the money, but it is more of what you love to do. You will not succeed in business if your main goal is only to gain profit and money. Business should be balanced. It should be the thing you always wanted to do and always wanted to improve upon. It is your partner as well in having a happy personal family life.”

Since its establishment in 2014, Flariden’s company Great Image Middle East LLC has become a trusted and reputable company in the UAE for wedding and corporate photography, with their specialization including advertising, food, lifestyle and corporate portraits, to architectural and interiors.  The company has also added videography to its portfolio of services.

With their roster of clients including corporations and government departments in the Middle East, as well as companies from the UK, Germany and Singapore, the company endeavors not only to capture, but to present images at its very best as they believe in elevating photos from a piece that you can hang on a wall, to an impressive picture that’s worthy of inclusion in a website or social media page.

Niche Modeling Agency – UAE

nichemodels.co

Renelyn “Glitzy” Robles

Founder & CEO

The UAE’s first fully Filipino-owned modeling, production, and events agency, Niche Modeling Agency, was founded in 2017 both with the ambition to provide the market with local high caliber models and talents, and to challenge the negative generalizations associated with the industry and women in general.

CEO Glitzy Al Banna, alongside her team, aspires to introduce a new breed of modelling agency that redefines industry norms. With Dubai being the multi-cultural melting pot it is, Niche Modeling Agency not only provides its clients with top-notch models for print, editorial, and video campaigns, they too promise to deliver a highly diverse selection of talents that wholly represent the UAE in a global arena.

Not only have their endeavors as a company given many models opportunities, but they too have empowered other talents in the industry, including photographers, stylists, hairstylists, makeup artists, many of whom are Filipino.

Anna Model Management – UAE 

annamodels.com

Anna Liza Llagas

Founder & CEO

Anna Model Management, established in 2016, was founded by seasoned Filipina model, Anna Liza Llagas. Having graced several runways and fashion spreads in the past, Anna’s transition towards the more commercial side of the industry was fueled by her advocacy to provide both models and clients with respect and professionalism, taking into consideration their needs and goals. Anna Model Management offers a unique range of models for commercial, runway, and editorial projects.

As for what it takes to run and sustain a business, Anna shares: “Setting up a business is like going back to school – you have to be knowledgeable in every field – management, accounting, marketing etc. – even if it means studying the basics. But ultimately, passion and hard work are what determines success. The most essential lesson I’ve learned from running my own business is that almost everyone encounters failure. But for those who choose to persevere and achieve their goals, a failure is nothing but a learning experience that helps one grow.”

RELATED ARTICLES 

From OF to Entrepreneur in the Philippines: Adjusting Your Mindset To Get Closer To Your Dream

Read more about Filipino entrepreneurs on Illustrado Life.

The post Filipino Entrepreneurs in the UAE – Advertising, Marketing & Production appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

CEO of Nena Cosmetics by Nena Brands, Inc.

My Enterprise

Nena Cosmetics retails a full line of make up cosmetics made with Skin caring formulations. With presence in USA, Asia, and Africa. High quality Makeup for every age, skin type and skin color. Products made in the USA.

I come from an entrepreneur family background so I always knew since I was little that I’m going to own my own business just didn’t know then what business.

My Passion is in cosmetics anything to do with beauty. I’ve been in the beauty industry for 26 yrs, 5 yrs of that as an accountant for an upscale distributor for Hair and Beauty products, 2yrs as a make up artist and 13 years in salon and spa management and 6 yrs today with NENA Cosmetics.

My start up capital was $100,000.00, The set-up was retail via online store, workshops and events. I conducted monthly makeup workshops teaching women how to do everyday makeup to evening make up and have the products available for sale at the premises. Reorders are done online. We also have distributors in different areas. We always collaborate with different, events, fashion shows, concerts etc. Our headquarters is in Highland Park, Illinois, we have a make up studio in south of Chicago and will be opening a retail store in June in the north side of Chicago.

It ain’t always pretty…

While being an entrepreneur does have its benefits, it also has its obstacles and challenges. When I first started out, I was a one-man show, responsible for doing everything, working really long hours, juggling numerous projects and having to constantly come up with new ideas. However, once you learn to overcome the challenges, you’ll be able to reap the rewards directly.

One definite advantage of having my own business is that I get to be my own boss. I have a lot of flexibility with my time, and even my earnings. But this is offset by long, unpredictable working hours, loads of stress, and the uncertainty of success.

Our journey, thus far

Nena Cosmetics now have a presence in 10 states in the US, all over Philippines and Africa. Current revenue of a little bit over one million and growing by 5% every year.

My advice to aspiring Pinoy entrepreneurs

Pick the right business and know everything about it. Do something you’re passionate about and love it, so you will just naturally succeed.

The post PINOY ENTREPRENEUR: Lorena Mondonedo Perez appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Luchie Suguitan, the “Cacao Doctor” by Kristine Abante

Pinoy Entrepreneur Luchie Suguitan

Calling all chocoholics and chocolate lovers! A  Dubai-based Cacao expert and chocolate-maker is on a mission to find and develop good chocolates and she’s inviting you to join her in the search.

Luchie Suguitan, who has transitioned from being a financial industry expert to a full-blown  “Cacao Doctor” has recently been doing rounds in the city, doing random chocolate tasting sessions with different crowds  to figure out which beans make good chocolates.

Suguitan, a graduate of Ecole Chocolat ,  the professional school for Chocolate arts, shares that the  real secret in the making of a “good chocolate” is in the cacao bean.

“Good chocolates can alleviate mood swings and primarily should have a high cacao content, at least 65%,” Suguitan shares, identifying the difference between good and bad chocolates.

“I think it’s a shame when companies label their products as “chocolates” when in truth some of them have less than 10% cocoa in it, then about 50 to 60% is sugar, then the rest are additives. “

Suguitan also notes that exquisite chocolates must use fine flavor cacao beans.

“This means, the beans that were used to make the chocolates must possess complex flavors. These notes depend on the region or country where the beans were grown and what their style of fermentation is.”

Pinoy Entrepreneur Luchie Suguitan

Last but perhaps most importantly, the Cacao Doctor believes that good chocolates are those that are sourced through fair trade.

Hailing from the Philippines, and both long-term residents of the UAE,  Luchie together with her sister  Iman, has also recently launched a social enterprise which encourages expats to invest in cacao farms in Southern Philippines .

“I’ve always wanted to create healthier yet still heavenly tasting fine chocolates, this triggered my initial interest, but later I learned further that only countries within the equatorial belt, such as my country, the Philippines, can grow cacao.  So I went back home, into the farms and I was greatly surprised that children of cacao farmers rarely get the chance to eat chocolates because of poverty. “

Together with other friends, their social enterprise dubbed as OFW para sa Magsasaka (Overseas Filipino Workers for Filipino Farmers) now supports cacao farmers in Agusan del Sur, Philippines, managing the daily operations of the cacao farm and providing training. The enterprise also encourages their stakeholders to learn more about Cacao and chocolate making.

If you want to learn more about good chocolates, the potential of cacao farms or simply just want to taste good chocolates for FREE, join their free cacao webinars and chocolate tasting sessions.

For more information, find them on instagram @cacaodoctor or follow them on facebook at www.facebook.com/ofwparasamagsasaka

The post Pinoy Entrepreneur Luchie Suguitan, the “Cacao Doctor” appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Adobo Authentic Filipino Cuisine – Muscat, Oman

Why did you establish your own business?  Can you tell us when and how you started?

I started Adobo Restaurant in March 28, 2014. I worked at Muscat Duty Free when I came to Oman as a Marketing Executive and decided to establish my own business along with the help of my Omani business partners, Ibrahim and Salim.

I wanted to serve authentic Filipino cuisine to the Filipino community, locals and foreigners in Muscat and the surrounding areas, and to become a introduce and popularize Filipino cuisine to other nationalities. We concentrate on dishes from the southern regions of the Philippines so as to offer something different from the usual fare of Filipino restaurants in Oman. These are dishes that I would normally cook at home. As our aim is to extend our customer base beyond the Filipino community, we are endeavoring to cook and present our dishes at a high standard of home cooking quality and family-style serving.

What was your start-up capital and your basic operations set-up?  (How did you operate? How many employees? What about your place of business?

The seed money for a business here in Oman is quite high compared to that in the Philippines. The capital paid for the essential infrastructure of the business, such as the restaurant seating setup, and kitchen and cooking equipment.

We started off with a staff of three, including me, and as the business grew, we were able to afford to hire one staff more after five months. As of now, we are planning to increase our staff with three more people coming in, after we get the Ministry approvals for Visa availability.

We are located in the Seeb area of Muscat, on a quiet street off the main road. The interior set up of the restaurant is very typical and traditional Filipino style where you will feel the atmosphere of dining in a bahay-kubo. There is also a collection of Filipino ornaments like ukulele, sungka, native fans and hats, lamparilya, and native plates.

What obstacles did you encounter?

The core problem is having to wait an entire year before the business plan could be practically implemented. There was also the issue of business partners; these were changed three times during the course of events. Next, we had to overcome the bureaucratic hassles involved in procuring work Visas for our Filipino staff contingent and securing the various municipality approvals regarding such issues. Also of prime concern was ascertaining tastes in the line of food and beverages.

Where are you now? How far have you gone? What are the landmarks in your business so far?

We started the business with four Filipino staff, including myself, and we are planning to soon employ more staff this year as the business grows and the number of our guests increase. In God’s will, we are targeting to expand in the next two years.

We are now in the stage of promoting the traditional Filipino way of eating—‘kamayan’ style. Along with this is the use of banana leaves in lieu of plates. We are proud to share Filipino food and culture to locals and foreigners, and to our kababayans who miss this style of eating now that they are away from our homeland.

We have a menu which offers a great variety of meat, fish, noodles, and vegetarian dishes, along with an assortment of desserts. As well as offering traditional Filipino drinks, we have been innovative in our concoctions by devising a number of unique blends based on different Filipino-inspired themes, such as the Mt. Mayon Lava, Boracay Island and Sandugo drinks.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an entrepreneur?

The disadvantage is that you’ll never know whether or not you will succeed. The risk factor is always there, as well as the vagaries of the marketplace.

However, there are also advantages, such as being able to set my own high standards and striving to achieve goals. It feels satisfying to see what you have accomplished. We at adobo AFC Restaurant are in the process of perpetual improvement and innovation, and we aim to provide quality service to our valued customers.

Would you encourage other Filipinos to go into business? What is your advice to budding Filipino entrepreneurs?

Yes, I would recommend that my fellow Pinoys to go into business.  For those who are willing to take a calculated risk and run the bureaucratic gauntlet, the rewards are great. But diligence, patience, hard work, sheer dedication, and perseverance are the qualities which are the ‘order of the day’ for any budding entrepreneur.

The post Filipino Entrepreneur – Dowel Deligos, Adobo Authentic Filipino Cuisine appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

With the growth of entrepreneurship in the UAE, a country with a vibrant SME sector accounting for 60% of the country’s non-oil GDP, Filipinos, who are amongst the largest expat groups, are catching on.  More options for start-ups including flexible free zone facilities offered around the emirates are driving more and more Pinoys to leave the workforce to start their own business ventures or go into self-employment.  Whereas, Filipino businesses tended to be community-focused serving the “kababayan market” in the past, a lot of Filipinos enterprises now serve the mainstream market and are present in sectors as diverse as food, fashion, health, hospitality, human resources, publishing, advertising, education, wellness, retail, franchising, real estate, financial services and etc.

Still, notwithstanding local incentives and lower barriers to entry, the ups and downs of both local and global economies have kept entrepreneurship the hallowed ground of the bold and the fearless.  Illustrado speaks to six seasoned Filipino entrepreneurs who talk about how their companies where able to survive and thrive despite the market’s highs and lows, and how entrepreneurship is really not just about business plans and numbers – it is also about sheer guts and dogged determination.

Meet our panel of entrepreneurs:

LUCILLE ONG – Design Unlimited LLC

Former PBC Dubai Chairman Lucille Ong has been managing businesses in the market for the last 3 decades. Design Unlimited LLC, her latest venture, is an indoor and outdoor plant and maintenance provider for corporate clients. Introducing the company to clients in 2008 just before the economic crash, was tough, says Lucille, “but we just kept knocking on doors until they opened.” Now, Design Unlimited serves an esteemed roster of clients including malls, banks, hotels, among others.

 JOVY TUANO – Asia Gulf Trading

Former PBC Abu Dhabi Chairman Jovy Tuaňo set up Asia Gulf Trading in early 2004 in Abu Dhabi as a LLC importing Philippine contract furniture for the hospitality industry in Kuwait, Bahrain and UAE.  After ten years, the company has diversified into food, trading and real estate. As CPA and licensed real estate practitioner, Jovy has also recently assumed leadership of Megaworld International for the Middle East, India and Africa as AVP for Sales.

LEA CORDON ROUF – Spa Cordon

An hotelier and spa expert for the last 15 years, Lea Cordon Rouf launched her own brand – Spa Cordon in 2012.  An upscale ladies day spa, located in in Sky Gardens, DIFC, Dubai, Spa Cordon has won the Best Day Spa in 2013, at the Middle East Spa Awards, and was also awarded the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2014 and 2015. The spa boasts five treatment suites, an oriental bath, sauna, two steam rooms, whirlpool, a nail lounge and pre & post relaxation areas. It also features an interactive beauty spa bar, stocked with an eclectic selection of natural ingredients.

GUIL AFRIKA – OneCM²

Guil Afrika’s company OneCM² started as an interior design company in 2011 but later evolved to what they are today – OneCM² Advertising LLC, a one-stop creative solution agency – providing services from design concept to final installation delivery. In a world of “cut and paste” designs and a “follow the leader” branding, Guil says their agency sets itself apart through its innovative, creative, and unique design and implementation model.

MARIA ARANDA – Captain Potato Foodstuff LLC

Maria Aranda’s company owns the franchise brands Captain Potato and I Love My Crepe. A company established in 2009, starting with humble wheeled cart/kiosk operations, they now have 9 outlets currently operating in Dubai and in Sharjah.  Captain Potato is set to expand to dominate the market by opening 10 more kiosks all over UAE by the end of 2015.

CHRIS CALUMBERAN – Chris Calumberan Photography

Prior to becoming a professional photographer, Chris was involved in web design, and production management for TV commercials. As brand ambassador for some leading photography brands, he speaks in some major photography workshops.  His business, established in 2008, focuses on stills productions as well as videos, with fashion houses, advertising agencies and corporate offices as the main clients.

What’s the one thing that has allowed your business to survive and flourish all these years?

LUCILLE:  Keeping a continuous dialogue with our clients – basically listening to them and being around when they need you.

JOVY: It is doing business with a mission for the benefit of the community, environment and for yourself that extends to family, staff and stakeholders. I may have personally failed and lost some money, but my stakeholders have gained from my enterprise e.g. dependents of staff, suppliers, competitors and customers.

LEA:  Passion has given me the drive to succeed and be the best. I’ve taken everything I’ve learnt over the years, researched and learnt about the gaps in the market. I strive to give my customers an experience they can’t get anywhere else and am constantly trying to improve. I always ensure to train my staff regularly with new industry insights, or products and only employ those who show they are as passionate about their job as much as I am.

GUIL:  Pure determination to achieve what you believe in is the key to keep you standing in this warzone. Focus to fulfill your vision and mission. Dubai is such a huge and fierce market, you need to be ready for the battle.

MARIA: We have developed a solid and successful business model and a team of qualified people growing Captain Potato in the market. I surround myself with great people who support and trust me.  Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely job, but surrounding yourself with the best team enhances your chances to succeed, and it makes the process a lot more enjoyable.

CHRIS:  We survive because of passion and work ethics. Be on time, avoid over promising but exceed expectations. Other artists can be very talented but they can also be stubborn and all over the place. We are thankful that we continuously work on our talents and maintain the ideal work-relation status. If our work speaks for itself, it’s just because we keep our clients happy. Most of them are very willing to pass us on to their business network.

 How have you overcome challenges through the years?

LUCILLE: By never giving up on what we are truly passionate about and through sheer hard work.  By continuously looking for channels to improve and innovate so we can offer our clients better choices.

JOVY: Daily prayers for wisdom to know the difference between what I can do and cannot do.    The big challenge is understanding fast-changing customer behavior and offering the right product at the right price that gives you the highest yield possible.  With limited resources, we just had to offer high- value or high-yield products to good paying customers that accept what we can deliver in terms of volume.  As the saying goes, less is more.

LEA: Perseverance and faith.  I believe that challenges create the person you are today.  If one embraces them and takes a different perspective, it can bring out the best in you. Dubai is a somewhat transient city, with UAE residents and visitors coming and going on a regular basis. This is a challenge for us.  Our client base is always changing and evolving, and this is why it’s so important for us to be constantly educating our existing client base, including potential customers. It is also important for us to be an industry trendsetter and to keep raising the bar. It is this attention to detail and bespoke offering that really continues to set us apart from the competition.

GUIL: Challenges are always part of the game. You just have to play through it and be persistent. Keep calm and always keep the faith

MARIA:  We make sure we have plan for the next 6-12 months, as well as for the next 3 to 5-years which includes specific growth goals.  I really focus on opportunity and leave the setbacks.    I don’t worry much about things that could go wrong.  In business, there are so many things that could go wrong and it’s easy to be distracted by them. Instead, I focus on what I am doing right, and the problems I have will get resolved.

CHRIS:  Experience and efficiency always prevails.  Also, we keep moving forward. Failures will be present and will always be considered lessons learned. Brush it off and move on.  As the market gets more saturated and competitive, we do maintain our handful of clients that share the same vision and practices the same values. We keep our competition to ourselves. What we have done well today, we progressively do better tomorrow.

Filipino Entrepreneurs: Surviving and Thriving in the UAE

What’s the best thing that entrepreneurs can do when the market is down or when the going gets tough?

LUCILLE:  Tighten your belt, focus on your core business and be vigilant of your competitors.

JOVY:  Kill your ego and accept eventual market failure but do not give up.  Go back to basics.   Optimize use of current resources to generate revenue and minimize spending to bare essentials.   Re-invent and re-position your enterprise.

LEA: Always keep looking for opportunities.  They say that any business should have at least three legs to support it. It’s just finding the right combination of that would fit your organization and maximize it.  It’s really about going out there and seeing what the market is looking for.

GUIL: Keep your ears open and understand your clients’ needs. Focus on the most important issues and analyze it. The market is probably waiting for the greatest idea that is just within your head. Don’t think out of the box… think of what you’ll do with the box.

MARIA: We have to keep reminding ourselves that a good business with a strong, reliable source of revenue can stay afloat even in the roughest of times. That’s why, while we have the  chance, we need to test different income and revenue models, evaluate and simulate our business in different economic environments, and think of new methods to bring in more profits. When the economy is rough, because we’ve built a good foundation, we’ll be more optimistic and maintain the motivation that’s necessary to keep pushing forward.

CHRIS:  We should allow ourselves to get bored. This only gives us the opportunity to study, meditate and explore. Procrastination can be a good thing if you’re figuring out how you can finish a task efficiently. It gets so tempting to be frustrated when accounts are on hold, but that that is why we have to be prepared on lean days. “For the meantime, try to learn something new or teach something you know that you want to get better at.”

How about when the market is on the up?  How can entrepreneurs maximize benefits to their business?

LUCILLE:  Offer additional products and services that will enhance your clients’ brand and improve their image.

JOVY:  Maximize profits by positioning your products and services in the value chain within your business ecosystem.  You have to make yourself an indispensable part of the value chain.   Evaluate the risks and benefit of commercial agreements, without over-exposing your business to high financial obligations since creditors can be aggressive.  Stability, liquidity and profitability have to be sustained.

LEA:  Never be complacent. Even when the market is on the up and business is going well, there’s always room for improvement. We pride ourselves on attention to detail and offering bespoke and quality service for our customers, and this means a very rigorous training programme and constantly being aware of the market that you’re operating in, the changing demands of the customer and the competition.

GUIL: Take advantage of the opportunities and maximize your strengths. Keep innovating and create new ideas to keep you apart from the others. I love to fuse the old and the new and for me that’s a new design! Sustain what you are doing to keep the edge.

MARIA:  When applications for our franchise is high, we focus on getting deals and lease offers from various malls that help us sell franchises or open outlets.  I maximize my time reaching clients and customers who really need our system, products and services, and will pay for them. We improve our system further and sell at a good price for us to get good premiums.

CHRIS:  Being double booked is a positive problem. The discipline of organizing is a virtue. This is when we need to be physically healthy and mentally sound, when traits of leadership and experience are required. We need to learn how to delegate, negotiate and deliver. Defining priorities by negotiating contracts and who gets more attention. And as much as possible, avoiding compromises when it comes to delivery.

What are the qualities and practices that can truly help entrepreneurs in managing their business?

LUCILLE:  Working hard and being open-minded especially to new ideas and innovations in your industry. Your clients will appreciate them.

JOVY: Entrepreneurs should have spiritual guidance and wisdom to do the unthinkable; self-assessment of resources and self-realization of skill sets; clear shared vision and mission – you and your people should know where to go and how to get there; the drive to win and willingness to accept and learn from failure as steps to success; and an understanding of customer behavior and market demand. You should also build personal equity, character and reputation; excellent planning and negotiation skills, while learning project management skills, developing cultural intelligence (CQ) in addition to EQ and IQ, as well as people and leadership skills – talent management.

LEA: Generally speaking it’s about constant education, partnered with growth and knowledge.  These days there are so many avenues to obtain information, such as the internet, courses, webinars, conventions and so much more. It has never been easier. Dubai and the UAE, in general, really foster innovation and entrepreneurship. It’s a wonderfully creative market and a fantastically supportive environment for start-ups.

GUIL: The most important thing is hard work and integrity. When we started this business, we created a culture of “consistency” in the quality of work we do. I believe if you meet your deadline, you have fair pricing, and you do great after sales services, then everyone will be happy.

MARIA:  Learn to manage your time properly. I use 3 time management principles – Let it go, Keep it Simple and Move quickly.   Have discipline, be consistent and have faith.  I follow that inner voice inside my head telling me that everything is happening the way that it is supposed to. Faith tells me to keep going – that this will all work out, that the stress and sleepless nights will all pay off. Lastly, stay strong and be resilient. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart

CHRIS: Managing your own business becomes lonely at some point. You’re mostly making your own decisions.  Though, the best side of it is being in control and dancing your own show. We should look for mentors and role models to help set our goals and provide us advice when we’re faced in a difficult situation. Besides independence and control, entrepreneurs should also have initiative, dedication and the wanting to deliver quality not only just on the product but with service and client relations.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to start-up entrepreneurs?

LUCILLE: Never give up on your passion.

JOVY:  Kill your ego and be ready to be a one-man show – from driver, delivery boy, cashier, accountant, secretary, manager, etc.  Be ready to be insulted, discriminated and forget about yourself because customers don’t really care about you.   Customers care about satisfying themselves with your products and services. Discover your own talent and enterprise.  Discern your God-given mission in life by connecting the dots of your life from childhood until today.  Don’t be a copycat or be envious of your neighbors and friends.  Social media is good for understanding trends and consumer behavior.  Maintain a fixed income – keep your job during the transition to entrepreneurship. If your spouse is working, then you can take the plunge. Develop business related to current job, experience or passion and align with the current market demand.

LEA: Having a dream is where it all starts and where the passion will come from.  Ensure that your vision of the business is detailed and specific. Knowing what you want and knowing how to attain it will help you a great deal. When you are faced with hurdles or roadblocks, it’s this that drives the determination to push through and achieve your goals.

GUIL: Never ever be afraid of something big. Be passionate about what you do. Look for what the market needs. Be strong on what you believe in and follow your intuition.

MARIA:  Launching a startup is no cakewalk.  Be bold but humble, and have a positive attitude. You’ve got to take risks. Don’t underestimate your own value, and the value of pure assertiveness and passion. Also, there is plenty of room for error and there are tons to learn. No person can do it all. What is great about building a business is that you build a team, too. It is like a family. It is not about you, it is about the idea and building something sustainable. You need to let go of the ego, and let the idea grow.

CHRIS:  Adaptability is key when you want to pursue success both in life and in business.Win a person in less than 90 seconds, first impressions are important. You never know who might be your next big client.  When the going gets tough, never sweat the small stuff.

Would you encourage other Filipinos to go into business?  What do you think are the pre-requisites for people getting into business?

 LUCILLE:  Yes, definitely, but business is not for everybody. They must be passionate about their idea, willing to work hard for it even when it fails.

JOVY: Yes, but one has to understand the different roles and responsibility of stakeholders related to any business. Either you do it alone or share it with a corporate businessman, entrepreneur, investor, social entrepreneur who all think differently.  Your best friends and relatives can abandon you or become your competitor while, your worst friends can be your best customer.

LEA: I would encourage anyone to set up a business, as long as they have researched the market properly, created a business plan and are confident it is feasible. Dubai is a great market to operate it and is continuing to expand at a rapid rate, so there is a lot of support available for start-up companies.

GUIL:  Definitely! We Filipinos would like to assimilate even better in our adoptive countries. We need to step up from just being a professional who gets old and retires in the same position.  We need to move out from that thought. Trust your instinct and think that you will succeed. Entrepreneurs always take the risks, and whoever takes the risk, gets the big return.

MARIA: They just have to decide on what type of business they want to enter, and how the business should be. It has to be something of interest to the person and something that has the potential for long term growth. If they are decided, just go for it. Although it can be scary to go on your own, especially, if you’re leaving a steady paycheck behind, the idea of working for someone else for the rest of your life is more frightening. If you believe in your idea and are willing to work hard, sooner or later things will fall into place.

CHRIS:  Find your element. Discover that activity that leads you to flow. You will realize that you just enjoy what you’re doing. Just adding a bit of effort makes it more special. Once you find your niche everything else will fall into place. All of the sudden, the elements and requirements will align. You will notice that most of the problems and challenges have reasons behind them and eventually get solved on their own.

The post Filipino Entrepreneurs: Surviving and Thriving in the UAE appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.