December 20, 2023
OPPO Zero-Power Tag is Named to TIME’s List of Best Inventions of 2023 for Envisioning a More Sustainable Future
Christmas Deal: Give Love This Holiday with HONOR X8a’s Big Price Drop, now at Php 8,990 Only!
December 18, 2023
ARTBOX returns with ARTBOX AVENUE, uniting cultures and creativity in a tapestry of Urban Expression
Unlock Holiday Success: Discover How Pawning Can Be a Game-Changer for Small Business Owners!
Small business owners shouldn’t brush off the financial advantages of pawning this Christmas.
With the
holidays just around the corner, many small business owners are looking forward
to seeing a rise in their revenue. In fact, in the US, there has been a clear
trend of people turning to pawnshops at the end of the year to get
extra cash for their Christmas spending. However, even small business owners
must deal with seasonal financing challenges to cope with increased demand and
costs.
In the Philippines, businesses are required to provide 13th month pay, which means small business owners must manage their cash flow well and find immediate financing to succeed. For small businesses that need money quickly, owners can turn to pawning for quick and flexible financing during this time. Here are some reasons why pawning can be a viable financing option for small business owners this holiday season:
Pawning provides quick access to cash. Unlike bank loans that may take weeks to get approval for, pawnshops can offer fast and easy access to cash, with most even getting approved within the day. Such quick timing can be crucial for small businesses that need immediate funds to keep up with the increased demand and costs of the busy holiday season.
Pawning does not require a credit history. Credit history is an important part of most banks' loan application process. Without a credit history, a borrower has little to no chance of getting approved for a bank loan. PawnHero — a BSP-regulated online pawn shop — takes a different approach. With PawnHero, all you need is proof of income to use their services. As for the loan amount, it’s based on the value of the item to be pawned. This makes it easier for borrowers, especially small business owners, to have cash on hand instantly.
Pawning has lower interest rates than bank loans. In contrast to banks’ interest rates, pawnshop interest rates are often lower and friendlier to borrowers, making them a more affordable option for small businesses. In April 2023, the average interest rate for bank loans was 7.29%. On the other hand, PawnHero, an online pawnshop in the Philippines, provides one of the lowest interest rates in the country, starting as low as 3.5% per month
Pawning offers
flexible loan terms. Pawnshops offer a variety
of loan terms from short- to long-term, which lets business owners choose a
repayment plan according to their needs and budget. For example, pawning
tickets typically have a duration of 30 to 120 days, but they may be renewed if
needed. Combined with lower interest rates, pawning is definitely a more
practical financing option for small business owners.
Pawning has no
prepayment penalties. When banks offer loans,
their payment terms are often set in stone, which means borrowers can’t pay in
advance, even if they wish to, because they might incur prepayment penalty
fees. In contrast, pawnshops do not charge such penalties, so business owners
can repay their loans early without any penalty fees. So if revenue surges and
investment returns quickly during the holiday season, small business owners can
also pay off their loans immediately if they want to.
You don’t have
to leave the comfort of your home to pawn. Unlike
traditional brick-and-mortar pawnshops, PawnHero offers an online platform that
allows customers to pawn their items from home. The convenience of accessing
PawnHero's services anywhere, anytime, makes it a pawn shop like no other.
During the busy
holiday season, every minute counts when it comes to managing your small
business. That's why PawnHero is here to help you save valuable time and
effort. With PawnHero, you just need to take photos of your items, have them
appraised online, wait for quick approval, and schedule your item for free
pickup. Once PawnHero receives your item, you can instantly receive your cash
through your bank account — ready for your small business’s needs this holiday
season!
Hepmil Philippines Launches New Talent Programs to Bolster Creators’ Network Capabilities
Hepmil Philippines, a technology-driven media company that runs the popular digital content platform PGAG, has launched groundbreaking programs aiming to strengthen the capabilities and skills of hundreds of talents and creators under its network.
Hepmil Philippines is a regional arm of the Hepmil Media Group that manages digital content platforms such as SGAG and MGAG. The group's original content arm produces content that reaches over 30 million Gen Zs & millennials across the region weekly, while its creator network partners with over 800 of the region's top digital content creators who generate over 3 billion monthly views.
Hepmil Talents as TikTok Sellers
Hepmil Philippines has launched its social commerce solutions, allowing its content creators to explore other avenues to monetize their content. This initiative introduces a new incubation program focused on expanding their skills in social selling and forging partnerships with regional e-commerce brands to support their direct-to-consumer efforts.
Jel Directo, Country Manager of Hepmil Creators' Network, shared, “The unstoppable rise of TikTok Shop in the Philippines has brought a platform for our creators not only to elevate their game in content creation but also to increase their opportunities for monetized content.”
“Since this is fast-growing in the local market, we have trained our creators in effective live selling, live streaming, and also affiliate content building. With this, we continue to be partners of brands that are first-movers in the bottom funnel creator marketing able to support them as they speed up test-and-learn efforts,” she added.
Expanding Hepmil Creators’ Network in the Philippines
Hepmil welcomed accomplished creators such as Jico Umali (Jiconyo), Pipay Kipay, and Adam Alejo into its roster of talented exclusive creators under its digital creator community, Hepmil Creators' Network (HCN).
“We want our creator network to be represented by those who truly understand our passion and skill in content creation. With Jico as our homegrown creator in PGAG; Pipay known on TikTok for her comedy and wit and Adam Alejo, a YouTuber known for his most-watched idea-first challenges, we are able to showcase our ability to support brands in creating content that connects and matters to their audience,” Directo explained.
With a deep understanding of local culture, Hepmil and its partners are pioneering communication strategies tailored to engage this new generation of mobile-first consumers. Through organic integration into engaging content, brands can make authentic connections with audiences who want entertainment value.
Hepmil Philippines Reveals New and Relatable Showstoppers
True to its mission of empowering and supporting more content creators, the company has created a list of shows that offer entertainment and relatable contents for the audience.
At the forefront is "Oner Gang," an exhilarating travel show featuring social media sensations Jico Umali and Risha Rodriguez. Embarking on an adventure across the Philippines, each episode immerses viewers in the tapestry of local communities to offer an authentic glimpse into the nation's diverse cultures. From savoring delectable cuisines to exploring natural wonders, “Oner Gang” promises an unforgettable expedition.
Injecting humor into the lineup is PGAG's latest show, a workplace satire hilariously named "Sa Office." Starring a stellar cast including Eryka Lucas, Jico Umali, Al Gentrix, and Bert Javellana, the series provides a comedic yet relatable look at office life. Penned by Aly Almario (Alyloony), "Sa Office'' guarantees PGAG's signature laugh-out-loud moments.
"We continue to innovate new shows, with our partner creators, to bring engaging and entertaining content to our fans, new and old," said Erwin Razon, General Manager of PGAG and Bent Pixels Asia.
Established in 2018, PGAG is a marketing company based in the Philippines that connects with locals on a daily basis. It creates localized digital content for more than 24 million Millennials and Gen Z, particularly memes and videos, reaching over a few million Filipinos weekly through our four content distribution channels.
“The company's strategic partnerships with rising platforms like Oner Gang and PGAG offer brands a strategic entry point into the evolving realm of digital marketing. As the rules of engagement are being rewritten, Hepmil is poised to author the next chapter in the industry,” said Razon.
"We strongly believe in the balance of advertising and entertainment on content, a mindset that allows us to thrive in integrating brand messages seamlessly within our content, while maintaining the authenticity and entertainment that our fans love," he added.
ABOUT HEPMIL CREATOR’S NETWORK
HEPMIL CREATORS’ NETWORK (HCN) is a digital creator agency that connects comedy & entertainment creators across SEA with brands to co-create content or reserve ad inventory. HCN is the sister company of SGAG, and a subsidiary of Hepmil Media Group.
HCN was launched in March 2020 to provide business opportunities for independent TikTok content creators in SEA, while leveraging its expertise in comedy to mentor these talents. It also enables a fuss-free coordination for brands to ensure its campaigns’ objectives are met and brand-safe content is produced for millennials and Gen Zs. Powered by Hepmil’s servicing expertise and data analytics, we work with our TikTok creators to launch entertaining and hyper-localized content based on advertisers’ campaign objectives.
HCN’s network includes more than 100 TikTok and YouTube creators from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, with more than 25 million subscribers and over 40 million monthly views. It now has close to half of the biggest comedy and entertainment YouTubers in Singapore, including Wah! Banana (1.33M subscribers), Ryan Sylvia (1M subscribers), Naomi Neo (446k subscribers), Millennials of Singapore (197k subscribers) and Zermatt Neo (181k subscribers), making it the largest inventory for comedy and entertainment channels in the country.
Learn more about HCN and our creators at www.hepmil.com/creators.
ABOUT HEPMIL MEDIA GROUP
Hepmil Media Group is a network of technology-driven media companies that serves to better the lives of millions in Southeast Asia through content that engages and entertains. SGAG is currently the top comedy platform in Singapore on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, based on data from NoxInfluencer, Tubular Labs, and Cloutmeter.