MaharlikaNews | Canada Leading Online Filipino Newspaper Portal The No. 1 most engaged information website for Filipino – Canadian in Canada. MaharlikaNews.com received almost a quarter a million visitors in 2020.
Small business owners, especially women entrepreneurs, are important to both their immediate communities and the local economy. Research shows that there are around 28,000 Women's SMEs (WSMEs) in the country or around one in four of all SMEs in the Philippines.
Entrepreneurs who are also mothers at home — the so-called mompreneurs — founded their businesses with the goal of improving their family's lives. These businesses encourage creativity and empower women to be financially independent.
The online community Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) is one such support group for moms who are starting their own businesses or scaling up their existing ones. MMPH has its own Facebook group and YouTube channel that feature posts and videos of moms sharing advice and best practices in online marketing and selling.
These mompreneurs have created intensely personal businesses and, as such, their dedication shows in their products — proudly handcrafted, each one never the exact same copy of another.
Here are four of the best handcrafted products from inspiring mompreneurs:
delivered to your inbox
1. Bible journals by Love, Mama V
For those who like to write down their thoughts and prayers during their regular Bible readings, Vannie Roxas' Bible journals are a great companion. Initially made for her own use, she started her business this year when her workload as a freelance social media manager became less demanding.
She joined a crafting workshop to learn how to print, and her husband's T-shirt printing business made it easier for her to start since they already had the equipment.
“At the workshop I learned that there are so many products we can do — it was a bit overwhelming. But I thank God because he led me to create products that are aligned with my passion and faith. I really use Bible journals to help my faith grow and I wanted to share it with fellow devotees who want to jot down their meditations.”
Roxas' also now offers a Prayer Journal, Biblical Affirmations notebook and other products to help her customers in their faith journey. She says she feels very blessed as the business gives them additional income.
The journals — simple, usable, thick and long-lasting — are priced at P220 each.
2. Handmade relief balms and salves by Nurture Moms Balms
Christine Joy Llameg sells homemade balms and salves that help treat annoying skin conditions such as rashes and dry skin. The healing salves are made with all-natural ingredients, such as essential oils and botanical extracts, and they also avoid chemical camphor.
The idea of making balms came to the mompreneur when she wanted to make one for a friend's son with G6pd or the lack of an enzyme (glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase) in the blood.
“Anything minty is not allowed to touch his skin so I first made a salve for him, and that sparked the idea of eventually selling them.”
The business also helps fund therapy sessions for Llameg's four-year-old daughter Irie, who's in the autism spectrum.
Llameg personifies the mom who never gives up no matter the odds. She shares that this is her third business idea after two failed ventures. “Life is really hard but when I think about my daughter, I feel like I can do anything.”
3. Realistic paper flowers by ICreate-paper flowers
April Baltazar's paper flower designs, which imitate popular flowers such as roses and daisies, give off a very realistic feel.
Baltazer started her business eight years ago after she stumbled on a Facebook post about giant paper flowers.
“I was intrigued, so I decided to try making them myself. Since then, I have been exploring various social media platforms in search of creative ideas and online tutorials to gain inspiration. The positive feedback and encouragement I received from my friends, family, and early clients played a significant role in shaping my current path,” she says.
Baltazar admits that the market is now saturated with numerous competitors, but “we are able to meet all our needs and wants solely by selling giant paper flowers. This business has truly helped my family financially.”
4. Polymer clay earrings by Cess's Official
Cess Tordes' handcrafted floral-themed polymer clay earrings are perfect to either accentuate a subtle outfit or complete a larger-than-life look. They're also great for all ages.
“I got the idea from Pinterest. I saw earrings that were so beautiful that I made some for myself. When I posted them on Facebook, a lot of people inquired where they could get them or if I was selling them. I couldn't do it full time because I work full time for an AU-based company. Making polymer clay earrings is both a side business and a hobby,” the mompreneur says.
She shares that the profit from the business goes to the schooling of her four-year-old daughter. “The income from the business is not a lot yet because I sell them at low prices. But the fulfillment I get from creating them and seeing them worn by women to important occasions in their lives like their birthday, graduation or wedding is very satisfying.”
These awesome products by mompreneurs from the Madiskarte Moms PH community show that there's no limit to the creativity and ingenuity of the Filipina.
*****
Credit belongs to : www.manilatimes.net
