00:00 We started with a 6,000 peso capital.
00:02 People are really doubting, "Why is it really 6,000?
00:06 It's very expensive to open a coffee shop."
00:09 I was a credit and finance solutions manager
00:21 at a software company in Makati.
00:23 I was employed there for almost three years.
00:26 Basically, I was working with several clients and teams.
00:29 Actually, that was one of my dream jobs before
00:33 because I was able to learn a lot in there.
00:35 I was able to apply my course when I was in marketing.
00:39 Last August 2020, when the pandemic hit,
00:41 I wanted something that could be a backup plan
00:43 if in any case I would get laid off or whatever happens to my work.
00:47 I was thinking to myself, "What could be a backup plan?"
00:50 I really wanted to have my own business,
00:52 but what business could I start with that is very low maintenance,
00:57 easy to prepare, and easy to launch online?
00:59 I thought of coffee because I love coffee,
01:01 and coffee is quite easy to prepare.
01:03 I started it since I had no idea about running a business.
01:08 Everything was like a blank canvas.
01:10 It's just, as long as I know how to do the basic math,
01:14 it could work for me during that time.
01:16 And then just, you know, eventually work my way.
01:25 The next challenge here is how will you sustain it?
01:27 How will you get more customers?
01:30 How will you market your brand well?
01:33 Because building face was the very hard part.
01:35 I wasn't able to identify my target market yet.
01:38 There were discouragements from people like,
01:40 "That will just pass, you're just lost now."
01:44 "But that will pass, you won't continue."
01:46 So I was having thoughts that,
01:48 "Will there be other people aside from my family and friends to purchase from me?"
01:52 As I was personally delivering the coffee,
01:54 I had coffee in my car.
01:56 And then the car suddenly didn't start.
01:59 I had to run to a battery shop to have the car jumpstart.
02:04 So it needed to be replaced.
02:07 So I thought, "The battery is around 5,000 to 6,000."
02:10 I didn't even do the ROI yet, I was still at a loss.
02:13 So, what was it? Will this really pass me or not?
02:16 Up to several trial and errors,
02:20 I was able to have that perfect blend,
02:23 where it's good enough to sell online.
02:25 I started posting on Facebook, sharing it to all of my friends.
02:29 People were able to love the coffee.
02:31 People were able to know more about us.
02:34 So that is when we were able to develop additional flavors,
02:38 additional items on the menu.
02:40 We were able to save a bit
02:45 to put up our own physical store below our condo.
02:48 It was a very small kiosk, but people were able to see us physically.
02:52 So it kind of boosted our credibility as well.
02:55 And that helped us gain more customers,
02:57 and also people interested to franchise our business,
03:01 to know more about our business.
03:02 And then that's where we were able to venture out
03:06 and close the year 2021 with 15 branches.
03:09 We started with only 6,000
03:18 because we did not have a physical store back then.
03:21 We just operated in a condo.
03:22 And then that 6,000, we bought a basic home coffee maker
03:27 that's just around Php 800 to Php 1,000.
03:30 Packs of cups and labels on it for us to market and put our branding on it.
03:36 We also bought 1 kilo of coffee grounds,
03:39 and a few milk and sugar syrup.
03:42 So I think that was very enough
03:45 to start with selling at least 50 to 100 coffees.
03:49 [music]
03:57 Our bestsellers are Vietnamese style and Spanish latte.
04:00 So the Vietnamese style is at Php 70 right now.
04:04 It's a brewed coffee served with condensed milk.
04:06 It's inspired by the authentic Vietnamese coffee of Vietnam,
04:10 but we tweaked it a little to suit the taste of the Filipino.
04:13 It's also a bit sweet.
04:14 And then we also have Spanish latte as one of our bestsellers.
04:18 Now that's a bit more premium compared to Vietnamese
04:21 as it's Arabica beans and being done with a commercial espresso machine.
04:27 [music]
04:30 I had a lot of realizations, especially during my But First Coffee journey.
04:35 I get to stick with our mission and vision,
04:37 which is to create job opportunities for people
04:40 or help people start their own business.
04:43 I get to offer people with good quality
04:47 and at the same time affordable coffee.
04:48 So it's like, don't need to break the bank just to get good coffee.
04:52 I really, I really value our customers
04:54 and I really want them to experience good quality of service from us.
04:57 That's why, you know, sometimes it's not all about the money.
05:01 Sometimes what matters the most is how you treat them.
05:04 My advice for those who want to put up a business in this pandemic
05:07 is I would definitely recommend you to start online
05:10 because every day people are on the web.
05:13 So they can see your products, what your services,
05:17 as long as you're able to market it very well.
05:19 Invest on yourself, invest in your knowledge,
05:21 invest everything that you can to make your business a success.
05:25 [music]
05:31 If you have an inspiring story like this,
05:33 email us at stories.onlygood@gmail.com
05:37 And don't forget to subscribe here on the OZ Channel.
05:40 Thank you for watching.
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