Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

I don’t know why everyone has suddenly got the interest to bake. Yesterday was weird because 4 of my Facebook contacts either texted, PMed and commented, expressing their interest in baking. Weird.

You see, baking is fun and therapeutic though I don’t think cleaning up afterwards is still fun hehe but making a business out of this hobby is certainly no joke. We’ve been in the business for like a year and yet we’re still learning the ropes. It’s hard. Harder than we’ve ever imagined. I did not imagine myself being in the food service industry but I guess this is where our destiny’s leading us. It’s tiring but very fulfilling once you get “thank you’s” from clients. I’ve had my share of not-so-good feedback but it’s part of the business. I acknowledged my mistake, apologized, learn from it and move on.

Anyway, will share with you some of the creations we made yesterday. All of them were mini cakes + 50 sugar cookies (photos to follow) that we started making last Thursday.

Disney Pixar Cars cake for Andre

Hello Kitty cake for Caine

Spa cake for Miles

Aside from these, I also baked an 8″ strawberry shortcake for my dear Tita (photos to follow). It was a first so my cake looks soooo ___________ but it was delicious! It would look like a wreck if compared to cakes in berries.com (have you checked out the Berries.com coupon code lately? you should!).

Anyhoo, to all those interested in baking, go! Who knows that might be your way to great riches

My all-time best seller are my super moist chocolate cake and cupcakes. I don’t know if it does really taste good or my clients are just so used in associating chocolate with cake. Given this, I can now prepare my cake batter with my eyes closed.

This weekend I gathered enough courage and purchased baking and sugarcraft books for inspiration. Crazy because books about baking are uber expensive but I have to buy it. It’s like I owe it to myself and to my clients. I have to improve my craft. I don’t have a culinary background nor the natural talent so it’s just right to read and learn right?

So there, this month I am planning to try out different recipes of cupcakes, not the out-of-this-world type but just something that I am not so used in making. Wish me goodluck! With the help of my newly purchased books, online tutorials and free PDFs (thank God for pdf page counters!) I know that every cupcake trial will be successful. I’ll be posting my trial photos on my food blog Project Happiness by Iris. Hope you’ll visit me there!

And uhm, by the way, if you want me to try out a recipe, please leave it here and I’ll be glad to link back

Ciao!

Receiving orders brings so much pleasure to a baker’s heart (and pocket!). It keeps our business growing and help us to do better. But receiving orders from celebrities is another story haha, especially if the celebrity herself/himself placed the order! Para siyang pi-nump yung dugo ko when I received this message a few days ago:

Yessss, it’s no less than the Quickfire 1-minute Wonder Chef, Ms. Rosebud Benitez!

It’s not everyday that a celebrity orders from someone, especially to nobody bakers like me. Honestly, this is the first time that a celebrity ordered from my humble bakehouse.

So the order pushed through no matter how hectic our schedule that week was hahahaha! Hubby was like “talagang isisingit mo ah” of course naman no??? LOL

So there, she ordered 20pcs of Angry Birds cupcake for her birthday =)

Click to see more photos of Angry Birds cupcakes

And the birthday girl with our cupcakes:

She sent me a message afterwards: “I love the cupcakes! Thank you! “

*tumbling Mommy Iris, tumbling!*

Photos grabbed from Chef Rosebud’s Facebook account

The renovation is almost done and what do you expect, the entire house is in chaos! The 2-week TAT given by the contractor lasted for what, more than 4 weeks? and we’re not even done yet! The most painful part of the whole thing is, we’ve paid them long ago, halfway through the entire contract time so I don’t know why they’d keep on delaying their work.

We asked for a 2-week turn around time because we knew that we already scheduled orders for July. It’s so hard to work in a disorganized area! But so far we’ve done it, we’ve been getting orders since July 1st ^_^

Here are some of our creations, to see more of our customized cakes and cupcakes, please visit http://www.facebook.com/phbakehouse?sk=photos :)

Anyhoo, we planned to do some cleaning today, another general one and I even planned to hold a garage sale BUT it’s been raining so hard kaya linis na lang. Who needs fat burners when you’re a baker, a nanny, a wife, a businesswoman and a internet slave at the same time? LOL How I wish it’s that easy to lose weight ^_^

I finally got the chance to check my DD’s cabinets and found out that she still has TONS of clothes in it after giving almost half of it to her cousin Lorraine.

So I sorted it out into branded and non-branded and posted the former on eBay! I need some moolah to buy her new ones, you know LOL

Lot of 8 Guess Gingersnaps Next Moose Girl 1T-2T Girls

• Baby Guess embroidered shorts – 24M
• Gingersnaps mini skirt – 12M
  
• Gingersnaps twirl skirt with nappy cover – 18M
  
• Moose Girl micro mini skirt – S
  
• Starting Out twirl skirt – 9M
  
• NEXT shirt 9-12M pink
  
• NEXT shirt 9-12M gray 

If you want to join the auction, please feel free to visit my eBay.ph page

USPS intimidates me –  a lot. When most of my eBay friends shop in eBay.com and have it shipped here via USPS, I prefer to shop online locally as I have heard horror stories of items being overcharged with country taxes and worst, “lost during transit”.

This month I decided to open my new online store, the Posh Baby Philippines boutique and for a start I imported items from the United States. I was apprehensive alright but I came to a point of panic so I told myself that this will not bring me anywhere. So I decided to give it a go. My supplier was very cooperative, thanks God. She told me the pros and cons of sending parcels from the US using USPS and since I was running out of cash, told her that I was willing to take the risk than pay $254 DHL shipping. I was saving a lot for the house and office renovation. Think about the new bed, chairs, floor stands and cabinets that we still need to buy, where on earth will I get the money for that? So there, I took the risk and told the supplier to ship the items via USPS. I paid $60 for the shipping alone.

The box was shipped June 7, 2011 and while it was on transit I asked around if somebody knows “somebody” from the local postal office and fortunately a dear friend told me that she knows a reliable guy from Philippine Customs. I know, i know it’s bad but do I have a choice? I need to know someone from the inside than pay lots of taxes (including hidden ones, under the table fees whatever you call it). So there.

The parcel arrived June 14, 2011 and it was delivered at home. How much did I pay? P1000 tax + P150 + P40 = P1,190

Today, I’m waiting for my parcel from China. It was shipped last June 23, 2011 so hopefully I’d get it this week.

I may not be a business tycoon now but I have the mind of one. Every economic downturn doesn’t stop me from pursuing my business dreams – I fail but I fight again. Being a business-minded person, I jump from one business into another – looking for the ‘right one’ but despite the success in one business, I always make sure that I have another business in mind ‘just in case’.

I’ve thought of franchising but the mere thought of the franchisee fees intimidates me. It is understandable why companies put up higher prices for their fees as it already includes the company name, a successful business model, training, stocks (for some) and unlimited advice from franchisors. In short, one will no longer start business from scratch. Everything will be offered to him in a silver platter, his only challenge now is to maintain the business and make it profitable.

Today, getting enough resources for a franchise is now easy with BPI Family Ka-Negosyo loans, and the good news here is: every availed Ka-Negosyo loan comes with a premium gift.

In the BPI Family Ka-Negosyo Loans new Real Thrills Promo, Ka-Negosyo will be giving away a FREE Macbook Air, a Samsung netbook or an Apple iPad 2 to availed loans from May 1 to June 30. Ka-Negosyo believes that these gadgets are needed in business expansion.

Here’s the table of loan amounts and their corresponding gift items:

Loan Amount                            GIFT ITEM

1. P1,500,000 to P2,999,999      Samsung Netbook

2. P3,000,000 to P4,999,999      Choice of Apple Ipad or Samsung Galaxy Tab

3. P5,000,000 and above           Apple Macbook Air

Amazing gifts, right?

Promo Mechanics

1. BPI Family Savings Bank’s (BFSB) Ka-Negosyo Real Thrills Promo is open to Ka-Negosyo
term loan applications received from May 1 to June 30 and booked until June 30, 2011 (Promo
Period).

2. Eligible Ka-Negosyo term loans with a minimum loan amount of P1.5M and a three (3) year term
will receive the above corresponding complimentary gifts during the Promo Period. Zero
Collateral Loans, Franchising Loans and REM-backed term loans are eligible.

Loan Amount                            GIFT ITEM
P1,500,000 to P2,999,999   Samsung Netbook
P3,000,000 to P4,999,999  Choice of Apple Ipad or Samsung Galaxy Tab
P5,000,000 and above           Apple Macbook Air

3. Complimentary gift will be in the form of a Gift Certificate. Prize tax on the complimentary gift
shall be shouldered by BPI Family Savings Bank (BFSB).

4. At the loan release date, client must fill-out the Claim Certificate. The claim certificate together
with the Gift Certificate will be handed over to eligible loan clients. Claiming Period is until August
31, 2011.

5. Claiming of Samsung Products will be at BFSB’s partner merchant stores: Abenson Stores in
Metro Manila and Emcor Stores in the provinces. Gifts are subject to product availability.

6. Claiming of Apple Products will be through Senco Link Technologies, Inc. BFSB will coordinate
with eligible clients for proper claiming and delivery procedures. Gifts are subject to product
availability.

7. For Tier 2 Claims: In case the chosen complimentary gift is out of stock, the available product will
be deemed as the complimentary gift under the promo.

8. In areas where no merchant partner store is present, BFSB will coordinate with eligible clients for
proper claiming and delivery procedures, subject to brand and product availability. Delivery costs
will be shouldered by BFSB. Claiming will be at the nearest BPI / BFSB Branch or at the BFSB
Provincial Business Center.

9. Each eligible client is entitled to redeem one item – whichever is of higher value during the Promo
Period.

10. Claims after 60 days or beyond August 31, 2011 shall be forfeited in favor of BPI Family Savings
Bank.

11. Pre-payment fee of 4% of the principal to be paid shall be charged for pre-termination below the
3-year minimum term.

12. Manufacturer’s warranty cards will be issued for all prize items. The warranty shall be in the same
packaging as the item. Standard retail procedure will apply.

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned one like me, this Ka-Negosyo loan from BPI Family will serve as a portal to our dreams!

To know more about the BPI Family Ke-Negosyo Loans , please log on to: http://www.kanegosyo.com.ph/
For the direct link to the application form, click here: http://www.kanegosyo.com.ph/loanapplicationform/view

My sister’s review is almost over so I am ironing out all the details for our new business. We’ll have the empty space on our front yard renovated into an office where we could receive clients. Right now it’s an empty space and quite ugh. Nevermind.

Moving on, once my sister’s free from her school and review obligations she’s willing to help me put up the new business, it’s an online clothing store, by the way. My husband’s willing to lend me money hehe. I’ve been dreaming about this business for so long so I know that it’ll be successful *insert positive vibes here*

I’ve been in constant communication with suppliers here and abroad via MegaMeeting video conferencing and with God’s blessings, I know that this business will prosper.

AJA Mommy Iris, AJA!

I’ve always thought of venturing into additional small businesses to keep us afloat. Now that we cannot accept that much order for our bakehouse, I have to think of ideas on how to generate additional income for the whole family.

I am always like this, ALWAYS looking for ways to earn extra.

What we have in mind is a printing business, my sister and I already started with business cards, tags and invitations and hopefully we can fully launch the online shop when she is done with the Nursing board exams. Our funds are limited so we need to look for promo items from suppliers. Good thing suppliers from Divisoria are very, very helpful to starters like us.

We also want to start printing personalized notepads and invoices but we still don’t know HOW. We’ve been researching online and offline about “other ideas for your business” but we just couldn’t focus mainly because I’m stuck in bed and she’s busy with her college graduation.

Hopefully we can start working on this mid this year

I am not a successful businesswoman yet so my ideas are still open for new businesses (but it all depends on how much money I have to invest, LOL)

Right now my sister and I are planning to venture into printing business cards, photos, stickers, PVC IDs and invitation cards. We already have a printer installed with continuous ink system, the papers we use, a few clients and a facebook page We are planning to sell it at a very low price. We already have the things we need and we no longer have to rent a space so I guess it is just right to pass our savings to our clients.

I am no business guru but I want to share some tips to fellow stay at home moms like me.

• Research. Before starting anything, RESEARCH. Make a feasibility study and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Anyway, Mr. Google is only a click away
• Know what the people around you needs. Like for example, on my case, my blogger friends and fellow sellers are always in need of business cards, my mommy friends are good market for invitation cards so I am positive that this business will prosper.
• Love what you do. In any business it IS important that you love what you’re doing to avoid burn out.

These are just basic tips. When it comes to costing, project plan preparations, do’s and don’ts in businesses, it is best to get knowledge from business gurus like gordon brent pierce.

Gordon Brent Pierce specializes in the following areas:

• Asset and investment assessment
• Business development planning
• Business staging
• Business implementation
• International Business strategies
• International business relations
• Corporate start ups
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Investment portfolio management
• Financing via debt and equity markets
• Finance syndication
• Public relations, media, and promotion

Investing on companies that will help know what to do and what not to do especially on the paper works (which can be a little time and money consuming) is one good move if you want to start your business right.