#week1-2

List of the insights that I gained from the interview:

1. N Jess General Merchandise

Knowing the story of how the N Jess General Merchandise came from, gave me some insights:

First is how a small thing can change to something bigger and be successful. Just like how they were just simply selling nails before, now  they have a bigger and broader range of different hardware materials. They are one of the proofs that even small beginnings can have the potential to lead to greater success if you put effort and strategy into them. 

Second is how they decided to let go as a wholesaler and focused more on the nails and then slowly expanding the range of the materials that they were selling, since it is more in demand. This just shows that there are really things that you need to let go of in order to grow and just learn to adapt based on what the market needs more. Learning and being able to adapt to new things and what people need can get the business into a long-term success.

And lastly, the risk that their family took when they decided to build this business so that her father would not return as an OFW is scary and, at the same time, amazes me because they have that motivation and also trust with their business. Doing business is really a risk, as we do not know if this will be successful or failure.

2. Happy Sip

The journey of the Hasan's sister on their business Happy Sip is inspiring and reflections, and these are my insights;

First is their decision on changing or having a new venture or business, since their first business, which is the ukay-ukayan, is not doing well, shows the important of being able to adapt and do a different business. It also shows that not all business will be successful, and learn how to explore other opportunities.

Second, their acknowledgement about the milk tea, that it is not a need for people but only a want. I agree with how they were able to recognize and understand what their product is to the market. This just shows that it is very important to know what the consumer or people buy and to be realistic about the nature of the product that you will be offering to them. Knowing these things will make you understand more about your consumers and also manage the expectations since there are times where there will be a slow season for it.

Lastly, them knowing that the milk tea is not a necessity and the sales may not be that big, but they are still selling it and continuing their business, shows their fighting spirit and perseverance. Also, having difficulties with the supplies and waiting for a month before having them takes patience and also being strategic with it, like for them, they ask in advance for it before their supply runs out. Despite these challenges that they faced with their business, they are still going and pushing forward.

3. AJ Water Refilling Station

Even though AJ Water Refilling Station is still new and starting, it gave me some insights that can help me understand more about business and also in life.

First is how Mrs. Jamito established the business so that her children will have something left to rely on in the future, which shows the importance of planning for the future for your family. Planning to start a business is not just thinking about its success, but it is also for the future security of providing for the family. It made me realize that some people plan and build a business for their family's future, but there are also others who build business as it is their dream.

Second, with how she acknowledges and thinks carefully that since her business is still new and she is just starting, she only has a few staff members. This shows me that it does not need to be grand or make a huge move to get to success right away. You have to carefully plan and take considerations of what situation you are in, and then slowly build and have a solid foundation.

Lastly, how saving money is one of the first things that you do if you plan to start a business. It is really very important to save money because you really need to be financially prepared, especially with the case of Mrs. Jamito's business, where the materials and equipment require sufficient capital. Before starting a business, you need to consider if you are financially responsible for being able to start it.

4. Jasmine Garden

Hearing, knowing, and also learning of how Jasmine Garden was able to keep going for more than 30 years gave me insights and also somehow knowledge of things that can help the business last for a long time.

First is how Mrs. Dap-og was able to grow and expand her business from selling a small amount and kinds of flowers or plants to now a thriving and also have landscaping business, which shows her passion and patience in growing a business. This is also a reminder that passion and patience are some of the keys to growing a business. Moreover, know ways that can help the business stay going and stay for a long time, and in the case of Mrs. Dap-og, she propagates her plants and then slowly grows and expands them.

Second, how it is also a good decision and move that they are extending their business to landscaping as it is also in line with their garden business. Doing this decision in your business can help it expand and also grow since it not only offers selling different kinds of flowers or plants, but also do landscaping which connects to having broader range of customers who may want or need to buy plants and plan to do landscaping.

Lastly, how she was able to show her passion and love in flowers and plants as she was joining a lot of competitions and displays in festivals. For me, it is also important to show the love and passion that you have, especially in the business that you have, since, for my belief, it somehow resonates with the overall aura of the business and also reflects how you are as an owner and person.

5. Aquarist Fish Shop

The story of how Aquarist Fish Shop first started gave me realizations and insights that can also help me understand the different reasons why business owners start a business.

How they turned personal interest into having or starting a business. This is also one of the reasons why people start businesses and how it can also be a significant role that you align your personal interests into your business. It does not only become your source of income, but it also gives fulfillment and happiness to you as a business owner.

The importance of having and building relationships with the suppliers. She gave us a glimpse of how their relationship is with their supplier, and it shows how they trusted each other and even helped one another in terms of their respective businesses. It is very important that you not only have a reliable and trusted supplier but also help you find connections and communicate with other trusted people that they know that can help your business grow.

- Hearing and knowing the story of their businesses strengthens my beliefs about humble beginnings, effort, strategy, risks, decisions, and even learning how to let go of things serves as a purpose in order to embrace growth and have new opportunities.

Me and my groupmates, Angel Jean Obsioma, Ian Gariel B. Ramas, and Francen P. Sellote, roam around the city to look for businesses that we can go to and ask the business owner or staff if we can ask a few questions regarding their business, so that we can gain knowledge and in-depth understanding about how business works, and we also asked permission if it is okay to take a picture.

Here is the list of the businesses we interviewed and the key information we gathered for week 1-2.

1. N Jess General Merchandise

The N Jess General Merchandise is a hardware business that is owned by Ms. Carmela Barton and her father, and was established in the year 2015. It is located in Door 3 Lacar Building, Zone 12 Upper Carmen, CDOC. Before it became hardware, the very first business that they did, with her family, was they were a wholesaler of Coke and beer. Additionally, they were engaged in the sale of nails. But because the nails are more in demand or needed than their coke and beer and the staff member that was assigned to their wholesale business failed to do his/her duty, they focused more on this. They are rolling the money that they got from selling nails to grow their business, but now it is in line with hardware. Their family also wants to build this business so that her father won't go back as an OFW, as it will serve his retirement venture.

Now that their business grows, aside from selling hardware, they also do partner contractors. They also have 17 staff. But she also said that even though their business is now established, there are really months that their business is slow in sales, but still they were able to pay their expenses. 

Then we also asked about how they were able to start or build their business. She answered that they first looked for a place or location as to where to put the business, a location where it can be seen by people, and then look for suppliers.

2. Happy Sip

Happy Sip is a milk tea business owned by two sisters, Rema Hasan and Merlyn Hasan, built on March 5, 2024, in Zone 12 Upper Zayas Carmen, CDOC. Aside from selling milk tea, they also have coffee and snacks. They solely own the business, as they don't have any partnerships, but they franchise it. They also have another business, which is an ukay-ukayan.

They came up with this business since their other business, ukay-ukayan, is not that good in terms of sales, so they did this business to have other income. We also asked the first thing they did to have this business, and Ms. Rema Hasan said that they first contacted someone on Happy Sip as they want to franchise it, as this business has a main store in Manila, and then asked a deal about the supplier. She also added that when they ask for supplies, they usually get those supplies, like around a month, since the supply is from Manila, and the delivery can usually take a month, and that is why they also ask for a supply in advance.

And lastly, she said that there are really times that the sales of their business are not that big since a milk tea is not something that people need on a daily basis, unlike rice that people really needs in their daily lives, as it is just a want and people do not crave for it every day.

3. AJ Water Refilling Station

AJ Water Refilling Station is owned by Mrs. Leonor Jamito and was established on June 28, 2024. It is located in Zone 12-C Uzlai Upper Zayas Carmen, CDOC. Mrs. Jamito shared with us that she put this business up so that her children will have something left or depend on, because we do not know when will be our last time on earth. She also said that there are only a maximum of 3 staff that she has, including her, as they are just starting. She added that you should just keep holding on, as there are really times that there are not that many customers, but there are also times that there are a lot. We also asked her about what she did first to put up this business, she answered that she saved money first, as this kind of business needs to have a large amount of capital because of the materials that are needed in this business.

4. Jasmine Garden

Jasmine Garden is a business owned by Mrs. Amelita Dap-og which was established in the year 1992, and the main garden is located in Gusa, CDOC, which where they are invited by the LGU so that they can help in the beautification of the place, but her and her family is currently residing in Tagoloan. Her business is about the different kinds or variaties of flowers, and also landscapping, which is where her son, Alejandro Dap-og is in-charge.

In the beginning of her business, she and her family, which is also the ones who's with her in managing her business, they only sell small amount of flowers. Additionally, she also said that upon raising her business, she first propagated her plants. And now, she can accepts suppliers of her plants regardless of how big the display would be.

We also asked her as to what is the first thing that she does to established their business, and she said that she looks for a perfect location as to where to placed it.

And she shared to us that their business is mostly invited and participated in several floral diplays such as festivals, just like the Kaamulan. They also joined in different contests and won some prizes, like Best in Flowering, and Best in Bonsai Plant. And in the recent Higalaay festival, she also participated in the display, located in the Gaston Park, and said that for them to join the displays, they must submit their business permit.

5. Aquarist Fish Shop

Aquarist Fish Shop is a business owned by Mrs. Devenia Socorro M. Chua, and their store was built in the year 2010 at Rizal Fernandez Streets, Barangay 1, CDOC, but they were already selling fish in 1993. Their business is not only selling different kinds of fish, but they also have different animals, accessories for aquariums, and fish foods.

They do not have any partnerships; they solely manage their family business. Their store only has 3 staff, which is also just her, her husband, and her son.

We also asked her what are the things that they did to start this business and why did they came up with it, and she answered that the first was to invest and then set up the aquariums since this is where the fish will be placed. She added that they also searched for suppliers, and then along the way, their suppliers will be the ones to contact them to ask if they still have supplies. She also said that they created this business so that they have income, and they chose to sell fish as his husband is fond of different kinds of fish.

Here is the link to directly access my insights.

Shek Coffee nailed it by combining two different business ideas into one, pulling in more customers, coming up new menu items and boosting profits. It shows how creativity can set you apart from the competition.

I realized that being a business owner isn’t just about the hustle—it’s about the sacrifices. Whether it’s time, money, or energy, entrepreneurs give their all, even when tough decisions come into play. It’s inspiring to see how their commitment pushes them forward, not just for their own vision, but for their employees and customers, too.

Take Avocalicious, for instance. They focus on the health of their customers, particularly moms and the elderly. By doing so, they’ve built a loyal following and created a brand that really cares for the community.

Another example is Healthy Basket, which teamed up with local bakers by supplying strawberries, proving that small businesses can thrive through collaboration and mutual support.

Horikohi’s coffee shop stands out, too. Even in a market packed with coffee options, they found their niche and ran with it, thanks to careful research and a family-first approach that makes their customers feel right at home.

Lastly, TwinDrops’ backstory highlights the importance of problem-solving. Despite early struggles with water supply and staff issues, they powered through, showing resilience and adaptability, which are key to long-term success.

The first week of Branding brought us to choosing our final logos and exploring typography. These are the final logo choices I decided. I thought them to be the most unique. I chose the salmon because of Reykjavik vast resource of Atlantic Salmon. I kept my shape angular and within a rectangle or square for most of my logos because Reykjavik is also known as the happiest country world because of their equality and conformity based on my research. This is what the meaning of the square and rectangular shapes are so I thought it to be the most appropriate shape. For the first typeface, I chose clean font faces with plenty of kerning. I was intending to depict the purity and cleanliness of the river. 

During the lecture we looked at how design thinking is used in the industry with IBM as an example.  The assessment was broken down for s into sections:

Inspiration

Ideation

Implementation

With each section looked at specifically alongside a critical analysis at the end to reflect on the project.

Examples were shown from students in previous years and notes were taken down on the parts I like most and the parts that I could do better.

“Empathy is about connection; Sympathy is about seperation” - Brene Brown

We went onto the feeling of empathy and how it differs from sympathy and went into it further by following a Crash Course video by Stanford University with someone in my class.

Throughout the video I realized that I share some of the same goals as the person who I was paired with, who I’ve known for multiple years and never knew until this exercise.