Coca-Cola PH continues to empower micro-entrepreneurs, celebrates 500 graduates of training program with TESDA

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(MANILA, Philippines, 28 March 2023) – 500 micro-entrepreneurs were awarded Certificates of Completion for finishing the iSTAR Program in a graduation ceremony held at the TESDA Complex in Taguig City last March 22, 2023.

Launched in 2021, the iSTAR Program is the digital adaptation of the Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) Program, an enduring partnership between Coca-Cola Philippines and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which provides free access to training, resources, and peer mentoring to micro and small business owners to help them grow their businesses. The iSTAR Program has removed the limitations of in-classroom training and diversified its trainees by opening it to existing and start-up micro-retailers of all genders.

TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz (left) and Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario (right) also met during the iSTAR graduation ceremony to discuss plans to further expand and strengthen the training program.

Aimed at providing entrepreneurial training, sari-sari store owners and micro-entrepreneurs will be able to enhance their business knowledge such as online selling, inventory control, and planning; and gain access to microloans that will enable them to build their businesses further.

The iSTAR Program is one of the efforts of Coca-Cola Philippines in sustaining the economic empowerment of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. For over a decade, Coca-Cola's initiatives in this area have reached more than 270,000 women entrepreneurs in the retail sector across 17 regions and 81 provinces of the Philippines.

A must-watch series for business owners! Maya Business puts the spotlight on homegrown entrepreneurs with "Scale Up: The Show"

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In partnership with Shopify and PLDT Home Biz, Maya Business presents "Scale Up: The Show," the newest local series featuring 15 Filipino entrepreneurs going head-to-head for a chance to break out and ramp up their business.

Viewers will be treated to the amazing journey of the founders of Tatumi Arts and Crafts, Dimension Artisan Chocolate, Diwa Leather Crafts, AnthroServ Inc., RDC Convenience Store, Extreme Car Wash and Detailing, Jhopay Curbi Salon, Justine Kent B. Faustino (fitness supplements brand), The Art of Mar (stationery shop), Oh La. La. Crepe Cakes, Le Petit Bouquet Manille, Cactus and Canvas PH, Klik Media Group, GFF Bath Essentials, Ili Likhaan Ceramics.

In every episode, these inspiring entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present and get valuable advice from business mentors Boozy Co-Founder & CEO Miguel Guerrero, Tiny Buds Co-founder Lorin Tan, and Maya Chief Marketing Officer Pepe Torres.

Among the 15 entrepreneurs, five will be chosen as finalists and they will be granted P150,000 seed capital. From the five finalists, the Scale Up winner will receive the grand prize of P500,000, together with mentorship and support from Maya Business.

Scale Up: The Show teaser: https://www.facebook.com/ONENewsPH/videos/455460309342493

"Scaling up is one of the biggest challenges for small business owners. At Maya, we're addressing this by providing payment tools, business management solutions, easier access to capital, and a wider market through our ecosystem. Filipinos are naturally entrepreneurial, and we hope to inspire other aspiring business owners to make their move with Maya Business so they can grow their businesses further," said Pepe Torres, Chief Marketing Officer of Maya.

As the all-in-one growth partner of enterprises in the Philippines, Maya Business provides entrepreneurs with convenient digital payment solutions and banking services under one integrated platform.

For example, MSMEs using Shopify can avail of the Maya Checkout Plugin for seamless payment acceptance of credit, debit, and prepaid cards as well as e-wallets. They can use Maya Disbursements for their employee payroll and supplier payments.

The six "Scale Up: the Show" episodes will air every 7PM on July 18, July 25, August 1, August 8, August 15, and August 22. Catch them on the One News Facebook page and get inspired by the modern entrepreneurs' passion, hard work, and possibilities with Maya Business.

Maya Business is the leading digital payments processor in the Philippines, enabling all types of businesses to accept online and face-to-face payments. It is powered by the country's only end-to-end digital payments company, PayMaya Philippines, and Maya Bank for digital banking services. 

For more information and updates from the country's all-in-one money platform, visit maya.ph.

Ninja Van Philippines kicks off DIGeCONOMY Bootcamp Series

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Tech-enabled express logistics company, Ninja Van Philippines, continues to push its customer-first agenda to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in the country. With the launch of the DIGeCONOMY Bootcamp Series, business owners can learn valuable insights and first-hand knowledge from industry experts to help them overcome the challenges of transitioning towards digitalization and maximize opportunities in the digital space.

During the first learning session, speakers from the public and private sectors shared insights on how MSMEs can better build their brand online.

“The Philippines is the fastest-growing market in the region and this has been driven by strict lockdowns caused by the pandemic, which led to businesses having to adapt and shift their transactions online. Here at Ninja Van Philippines, it is our mission to supercharge MSME growth in the digital space. We believe that Filipino businesses can further reach their potential with the help of these advancements and technology,” said Sabina Lopez-Vergara, Chief Commercial Officer of Ninja Van Philippines.

Sabina Lopez-Vergara, Chief Commercial Officer of Ninja Van Philippines.

Through multiple legs, the DIGeCONOMY Bootcamp Series will follow the digital transformation journey of SMEs and MSMEs—from building and growing their brand online to maintaining brand affinity among customers. Last March 22, the first leg of the series already began with a learning session that centered on developing a customer-centric brand for MSMEs and its importance as well as the available tools and solutions they can utilize to stay competitive in the digital market. It featured Ms. Nelly Nita Dillera, CESO III, Executive Director of the Department of Trade and Industry - Philippine Trade Training Center (DTI-PTTC); Ms. Kim Sabala, Founder and Managing Owner of Cold Gold; and Mr. Edward Cruz, CEO of ATOZ as the speakers.

Government support

Venturing into e-commerce is more than just presenting and selling products online. DTI-PTTC Executive Director Nelly Dillera ran through the end-to-end e-commerce management services that MSMEs have to know. From marketing management to data analytics and customer service, all of which are important for their businesses to be successful.

“The PTTC-GMEA (Global MSME Academy) has programs that can assist you on the different processes that I’ve mentioned. Our coverage includes business development, accounting and finance, and other business functions that support MSMEs,” Dillera said. “You can also visit PTTC’s website for self help training programs and further assistance on how you can progress more in your business.”

DTI has also compiled a list of TechTools that MSMEs can use to boost their businesses including e-commerce platforms/resources, e-payment channels, digital marketing solutions, and logistics providers like Ninja Van Philippines.

Branding essentials

Once you have all the tools and training to effectively run your business online, the next thing you have to do is focus on your branding. Founder and Owner of Cold Gold, Kim Sabala, shared how she grew her businesses to what they are today by maintaining consistent branding across all channels using three essentials: brand guide, social media strategy, and content calendar.

A brand guide helps you define the essence of what makes you stand out from your competitors. It involves identifying your target audience, mission and vision statements, unique selling proposition, core values and brand stylistics. On the other hand, having a social media strategy is important in knowing what works for your business goals and what doesn’t through social listening and setting key performance indicators (KPIs).

“From there, we can test, refine and evolve our practices to better work for our goals. Not having a strategy is like shooting in the dark. When you aim for nothing, you hit nothing,” she said.

Finally, your content calendar must include the type of content you want to deliver to your consumers, your preferred platform/s, a timeline, and some key events to make your content more relevant. Once you’ve done all these, you can begin implementing your plan and growing your brand.

Customer journey

According to the CEO of ATOZ and long-time Ninja Van shipper Edward Cruz, one of the most neglected processes when it comes to e-commerce is mapping the customer journey. “For us in ATOZ, we make sure that every data that is coming in the platform has an engagement whether it’s pre-purchase or after purchase.”

Customer journey begins with awareness of the product, which is a customer’s first engagement with your brand. From there, you can deepen the customer’s understanding of who you are and what you offer through influencer marketing and more advertisements that will drive consideration and finally, turn customers to buyers.

After purchase comes retention. “After the customer purchases from you, you have to re-engage them because at the end of the day, the first purchase they make on your platform will not really result in big profits. But if you have good retention, it’s very easy to re-engage those customers through email, SMS and social media content,” said Cruz.

The customer journey ends with loyalty where businesses get to deepen their relationship with their customers and really drive home the message, they want to instill to their customer base. Mapping out the customer journey can help MSMEs deliver better customer service and maximize every customer interaction, which can be advantageous for their brand.

Watch out for the next DIGeCONOMY Bootcamp Series learning session for this leg happening in May! Visit facebook.com/ninjavanph for updates and more information.

GCash Digital Excellence Awards Recognizes 40 key pioneers in the Enterprise and MSME sector

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The pandemic has forced both consumers and businesses to change how they conduct their transactions. Business owners have had to adapt and innovate their services to cater to the growing needs of the “new normal.” This is why GCash has been committed to improving its digital products to cater to both the needs of Filipino customers and local businesses and enterprises who need future-ready solutions.

The GCash Digital Excellence Awards is an opportunity to highlight real-time and real-life innovation in the Philippine market. GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the country, wants to recognize the institutions that have taken significant steps towards revolutionizing digital solutions and implemented programs that help protect transactions and the delivery of their services.

Beginning last year, GCash has started recognizing partners in the public sector along with key individuals who have made impactful contributions in building a financially inclusive country. This year’s GCash Digital Excellence Awards extended the honors to innovators in the enterprise and MSME sectors for their various programs and initiatives promoting digital excellence.

The GCash Digital Excellence Awards was held last March 31, 2022, through an exclusive virtual event. The evening’s festivities were hosted by Gelli Victor, a seasoned host and fitness enthusiast, and Chito Maniago, VP for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs of GCash. Martha Sazon, GCash President and CEO, Winsley Bangit, G-Xchange President and CEO, along with Luigi Reyes, GCash VP & Commercials Sales and Operations Head also graced the occasion and addressed the awardees their special messages. 

Rico Blanco also dropped by to celebrate the winners with iconic anthems Pinoy Tayo, Antukin, and Your Universe

Three main awards were given this year to a total of 40 GCash partners. These awards include the Industry Pioneer Award, the Innovation & Growth Award, and the Transformative Ecosystem Award.

The Industry Pioneer Award was given to partners who embraced digitization, and changed the game with GCash in the early stages of its journey. The Industry Pioneers that were acknowledged believed in what GCash could be right from the beginning and have proven to pave the way in democratizing financial services for Filipinos.

Institutions recognized as industry pioneers include Max's Group Inc, Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (RRHI), Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc, ACADOPS (Academy of Operations Excellence and Services Inc), National Book Store Inc, Lalamove, Villarica Pawnshop, Inc., NCCC, Mega Q Mart, Farmers Market Araneta City, Puregold Price Club, Inc., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, REGCRIS GROUP OF COMPANIES, Tulay sa Pag-Unlad, Inc (TSPI), and Paynamics Technologies, Inc.

The Innovation & Growth Award recognizes organizations that have established revolutionary programs together with GCash. These programs have successfully delivered best-in-class solutions for GCash users. Companies who were given this award are institutions that have stood strong amidst challenges and continued to contribute to the exponential growth of Filipinos that utilize digital products services.

For this award, McDonald's Philippines (Golden Arches Development Corporation), DMCI Holdings, Inc. (Semirara, DMCI Constructions & DMCI Homes), Robinsons Supermarket Corporation, Nestlé, Philippines Inc., Chris Marr Corporation, Suyen Corporation, Angkas (DBDOYC Inc.), Pay&Go (BTI Payments Philippines, Inc.), New Las Pinas Market (New Las Piñas City Public Market), Ministop, Appboxo Pte Ltd, Concentrix Daksh Services Philippines Corporation, and BDO Unibank Inc. were recognized by GCash because of the specific initiatives and programs they spearheaded that stood the test of time.

Lastly, the prestigious Transformative Ecosystem Award was given to companies who have fully imbibed the digital lifestyle by integrating the various solutions of GCash into their ecosystem. These companies have quickly responded to changing needs of customers and are proven advocates of digital transformation. From MSMEs to Enterprise partners, the Transformative Ecosystem Awardees have revolutionized the way of life for millions of Filipinos together with GCash. Through this award, GCash recognizes the pioneering efforts in the use of digital financial products. Puregold Price Club, Inc., Classic Savory, Ayala Corporation, Unilever Philippines, Inc, Cebu, People's Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CPMPC), The SM Store, foodpanda, Direct Agent 5, Inc (DA5), Star Market, Generika (Actimed Inc), Booky, and ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PAYMENTS (EC PAY) INC. were given the Transformative Ecosystem Award in this year’s GCash Digital Excellence Awards.

Congratulations to all the awardees for successfully innovating their services to help uplift the lives of more and more Filipinos and inspire other institutions to follow suit.

World Vision and ComCo SEA join forces for Cause Marketing for Good initiative for MSMEs

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Global development and advocacy organization World Vision and regional integrated communications agency ComCo Southeast Asia through its Citizen ComCo initiative continue their mission of giving companies and brands opportunities to give back, this time with a focus on supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the Cause Marketing for Good Virtual Conference.

(From top left) World Vision Donor Education Specialist Caroline Veronilla, ComCo Southeast Asia Regional Integration & Chief Executive Director Ferdinand Bondoy, Lazada Strategic Partnerships Senior Associate Yshana Wong, AirAsia Head of Branding and Creatives David Viray, World Vision Resource Development Director Jun Godornes, World Vision National Director Rommel Fuerte and IdeasXMachina Group Of Hakuhodo CEO Third Domingo

Created and organized by World Vision and ComCo Southeast Asia, the Cause Marketing for Good Virtual Conference is part of the organization’s larger initiative to orient MSMEs on the value of cause-related marketing or CRM, which is especially relevant in today’s pandemic environment, and to equip them on how to champion social issues through their marketing efforts.

Happening on July 21, 2 p.m., the online conference will include sessions on defining CRM, CRM’s impact on sales from AirAsia, and how to use e-commerce to forward your cause from Lazada. There will also be a panel discussion on how to create effective CRM campaigns featuring experts and practitioners of the field such as ComCo Southeast Asia for public relations and Ideas X Machina for creatives.

The ongoing pandemic has had a massive effect on the economy, with MSMEs taking the brunt of this as they make up 99.5% of business establishments in the Philippines and employ 62.4% of the country’s workforce according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. MSMEs are currently facing huge hurdles to keep their businesses afloat, especially in the face of quarantine regulations and economic slowdown.

But with the challenge brought about by the pandemic comes bayanihan spirit – the value of Filipino community as they work together towards a common goal. This has urged individuals, communities, organizations, and even brands and companies, to band together and help each other during this crisis. It has also shown us how Filipino consumers, especially millennials and Gen Zers, are responding positively to brands and companies who support advocacies and stand for causes and values that they believe in.

According to the Global Millennial Survey 2021 by professional services firm Deloitte, millennials and Gen Zers are concerned about the positive impact of businesses on society. These generations of consumers tend to make decisions aligned with their values, with more than a quarter of respondents saying that businesses’ impact on the environment influence their buying decisions, expecting brands to be aligned with their personal values before they invest in their products or services.

In the eyes of consumers, businesses can and have the responsibility to do good – and doing good actually makes for good business. Through the Cause Marketing for Good Campaign and Virtual Conference, World Vision and ComCo Southeast Asia look forward to helping more MSMEs build strong connections with their customers through effective and sustainable cause-related marketing campaigns – ones that allow them to sell while also creating a positive social impact in the Philippines.

Participants may register for the Cause Marketing for Good Virtual Conference at wvph.co/CauseMarketingForGood.

To know more about World Vision and ComCo Southeast Asia’s partnership, visit www.worldvision.org.ph or follow World Vision’s official social media pages /worldvisionph on Facebook, @worldvisionphl on Instagram, and @worldvisionph on Twitter. 

For more information on World Vision Philippines and its other initiatives, call the World Vision hotline number at 8372-77-77 or Ms. Wichelle Cruz of Private Sector Partnerships Manager at 0917-511-6640.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

About ComCo Southeast Asia

ComCo Southeast Asia or ComCo SEA is a trailblazing and global award-winning integrated communications agency powered by the coalition of premier brand architects, inspired storytellers, and communication trailblazers in the region. Based in the Philippines with affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, ComCo SEA takes the lead in the innovation of premier brands and growth of up-and-coming businesses through the emerging global disciplines of New PR – a strategy based, content-driven, and channel-agnostic way of doing PR, and Smart Social – a holistic, authentic and integrated approach in the maximization of digital and social channels, to effectively reach and engage audiences and help influence change. To know more about ComCo Southeast Asia, visit www.comcosea.com.