Story of the Filipino: Building an Enterprise

Summary

This video showcases the inspiring journeys of two entrepreneurs, Araseli Pasqual Tapia and Rose Anon Buan. Araseli, as the president and CEO of Charmed, Inc., emphasizes the importance of relationships, hard work, and caring for others in business. She shares how the company grew from humble beginnings to offering affordable, high-quality medicines. Rose, the sales and marketing director of Pampanga's Best, reflects on the challenges of expanding their family business, including securing loans for growth. Both entrepreneurs highlight the significance of faith, perseverance, and giving back to the community in achieving success.

Takeaways

• 😀 A strong relationship with a bank is crucial for business success, ensuring financial stability and operational support.
• 😀 In any business, it’s important to focus not only on profit but also on the value you bring to others, including your co-workers and customers.
• 😀 God’s provision is significant, but hard work, dedication, and love for one another are the driving forces behind business success.
• 😀 Charmed Incorporated was founded by a group of former employees from a pharmaceutical company, growing significantly since its inception in 2004.
• 😀 Charmed focuses on offering affordable, high-quality medicines approved by the FDA, ensuring access for Filipinos in need.
• 😀 Bank of Commerce has been a trusted partner for Charmed, providing essential financial services like bills purchase and facilitating payroll systems.
• 😀 Business success is also tied to discipline, including careful management of time, people, and finances.
• 😀 Overcoming competition and obstacles requires persistence and a commitment to providing value to customers, even during tough times.
• 😀 The business has grown from a small 50-square-meter office to owning its own building, reflecting its success and fulfillment.
• 😀 Modern Trade, a division of Pampanga's Best, succeeded by adapting to changing times, such as expanding into supermarkets and modernizing production with machinery.
• 😀 The family business of Pampanga’s Best is rooted in generosity, with the owners giving back to the community through various charitable programs and foundations.

Q & A

What is the primary value emphasized in Araseli Pasqual Tapia's approach to business?

Araseli emphasizes that business success is not solely about profit, but also about giving back to people, coworkers, and co-owners, and ensuring that everything is done with heart and dedication. She believes that hard work, love, and caring for others are essential elements for success.

What is the origin of Charmed Incorporated, and how did Araseli get involved?

Charmed Incorporated was founded in 2004 by a group of former employees from a pharmaceutical company. Initially, Araseli was asked to oversee the company due to her past relationship with these employees. Over time, she became more involved and eventually became the president and CEO of the company.

What role does Araseli's husband play in Charmed Incorporated?

Araseli's husband, Oscar Tapia, started the marketing arm of Charmed, known as Olt Ventures. While Araseli originally intended to manage the marketing arm, they both ended up joining the company and expanding their roles in its growth.

How has Charmed Incorporated grown since its founding?

Charmed started in a small 50-square-meter office space and quickly grew. Within a year, the company doubled in size. It expanded its product offerings from over-the-counter medicines to specialized products like antibiotics and cardiovascular medicine, serving a broad range of customers nationwide.

What is Charmed's core business philosophy?

Charmed operates with a heart, prioritizing the well-being of others. The company focuses on providing affordable, high-quality medicines to Filipinos, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to access essential medications.

What kind of support has Bank of Commerce provided to Charmed Incorporated?

Bank of Commerce has supported Charmed since its inception by providing various financial services such as bill purchase facilities, payroll systems, loans for auto services, and upgraded technology solutions like corporate internet banking to streamline operations.

How does the relationship with Bank of Commerce impact Charmed's operations?

The relationship with Bank of Commerce is crucial for Charmed’s liquidity, payroll management, and financing needs. The bank's support has enabled smoother operations and growth, including the quick processing of loans and facilitating the purchase of goods and services.

What challenges did Charmed face as it expanded, and how were these addressed?

Charmed faced challenges like competition and financial constraints during expansion. The company overcame these challenges by maintaining strong relationships, prioritizing discipline, and utilizing financial support from Bank of Commerce to fund its growth and improve its technology.

How does Araseli define success in business?

Araseli defines success in business through dedication, heart, and a sense of fulfillment from providing valuable products to people in need. Success for her is not just financial but also about making a positive impact on others.

What role does the Bank of Commerce play in the logistics of Charmed's business?

Bank of Commerce provides crucial logistical support by offering auto loans, which help facilitate the transportation of medicines and hospital supplies to clients. This support ensures that Charmed can efficiently manage the distribution of its products.