Yolanda-affected entrepreneur rises, now earns P100 - 300k through online business

Who would have thought that supertyphoon Yolanda, one of the strongest typhoons on record that lashed central Philippines, would push an entrepreneur to rise from the ashes and rebuild her business?

In November 2013, The Purpektion Shop owner Vanessa Tinitigan lost almost all of her products due to the flood brought about by the super typhoon. Aside from losing money, Vanessa also lost the trust of some of her clients who didn’t get to receive their orders.

Vanessa Tinitigan Yolanda entrepreneur
PHOTO CREDIT: YouTube/Shopee Philippines
This incident prompted her to close down her bazaar and Facebook business and search for greener pastures.

In the hopes of starting over again, Vanessa decided to work abroad. However, things didn’t seem to work out so she eventually decided to come home. Little did she know that she was destined for something greater in the Philippines.

“Pero umuwi po ako noon as in wala akong kita. So ang nangyari po noon, yung natitira kong stocks na hindi ko maibenta sa bang platform ipinost ko po siya sa Shopee,” Vanessa told ABS-CBN’s My Puhunan.

In a matter of 24 hours, buyers took interest in her products. This gave Vanessa enough courage to give business a second chance. However, she concentrated on online business particularly the Shopee platform this time.

"Inipon ko po 'yong pera. Araw-araw namimili ako kasi para mapaikot ko siya nang mabilis. Tapos after a month po, na-award-an po ako ng 'Shopee Seller of the month’, Vanessa happily revealed.

Vanessa even took advantage of her experience in her failed venture abroad to make her business grow.

“From that time po, nag-research po ako kasi, no'ng nabigo po ako sa abroad, sa skin care po iyon, sabi ko gusto kong magkaroon ng sarili kong skin care brand, saka po para ma-cater sa mga tao yung mura, affordable,” Vanessa said.

From earning P20,000 to P50,000, Vanessa now makes P100,000 to P300,000 a month. In the future, Vanessa wants her brand to be recognized internationally.

Towards the end of her interview, she encouraged millennials to take risk, overcome their fears and dream big.

"Normal lang pong matakot. Hindi ka po nangangarap nang malaki kung di ka po natatakot. Ang sa 'kin po, sipag lang po talaga at saka tiyaga. Kasi po ako nag-start po ako nang walang puhunan, kung di 'yong sipag at tiyaga lang po. Eventually po, everything will fall into place,” Vanessa added.


-- Mini, The Summit Express



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