This issue, SME Community Philippines features entrepreneurial husband-and-wife team Arden and Jen Siarot and their multi-awarded export firm Arden Classic Inc. of Cebu. Arden, the industrious son of working class parents, did not allow poverty to get in the way of his ambition and thirst for education. While holding down a full-time maintenance job to support his siblings, he also earned his engineering degree.
Later, Arden’s brilliance with machines and materials earned him the respect of employers and customers. To Arden and his wife Jen’s credit, what once was a small operation in the kitchen of a rented apartment, is now a multi-million peso export manufacturing company turning out items for the most distinguished shops, homes and offices around the globe.
This issue also acquaints our readers with Elaine Lasac, one of Plantersbank’s SME.com.ph web service customers. Elaine is the driving force behind Goldnest Inc., a small company in downtown Manila, which is doing brisk business delivering fresh from the henhouse one of the country’s favorite foods. Thanks to her pioneering venture into online marketing, Elaine has raised Goldnest to become one of the fast-growing brands of trusted quality eggs in the market, prized by restaurateurs, bakers and hoteliers alike.
Our third issue is dedicated to the “business of going green”. Through these reports, we hope to provide insights why ‘green is good’ for SMEs and how ’social mission’ can be effectively embedded into the company bottom line.
Meanwhile, Issue No. 4, now off the press, features entrepreneurs Martin and Hermelit Tundagui, whose company Ron and Mar Handicrafts in Baguio is literally carving a reputation synonymous with uncompromising quality and proud Cordillera workmanship.
Also in the new issue is Mindanao’s Presidential Awardee for Small Enterprise Pedro L. Barrios, who traded a career in banking to become a baker and then transformed his first business venture Manolette’s Bakeshop into the flagship of a chain of profitable undertakings in this promising region.
SME Community Philippines is a component of Plantersbank’s advocacy program for Enabling Entrepreneurs.
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