The previous year for the country and Filipinos
in general has been a taxing one. Not only did the Filipino people battle yet
another under-performing economy and face more political scandals and
embarrassments, but they also had to brave and endure a series of devastating
natural disasters.
Despite these adversities though, life went on and the
country got back on its feet.
Yes, the resiliency of Filipinos is still alive.
Now that another year and worries that plagued
people in the past have somehow been shoved to the background, it is now time
for Filipinos to step up again and try to make their mark in the
world—particularly in the business sector.
In fact, many Filipinos are very
enterprising. However, the important thing is not just to start out but to
sustain it and make it grow. The secret? Know the trends and the perfect
investment for you.
So, which industries should enterprising Pinoys check out
this year?
Here is a few:
Food Industry
It's not exactly a secret that Filipinos love
food. However, many have developed discerning palates over the years since
different types of cuisine have penetrated the country.
Fastfood joints are
still quite popular though. If you can't afford to buy a franchise from an
international chain, you can take a whack at designing your own. Many local
fastfood places have certainly made it work.
Another trending enterprise right
now are tea shops and cafés.
Young professionals who have irregular working
hours as well as teenagers are fond of hanging out in these types of place.
Having a quaint and charming décor and wi-fi access can also add further appeal
to business establishments like these.
Moreover, if you can offer the public
some innovative dining options, many would certainly be curious enough to check
it out.
Travel Industry
Contrary to a few decades ago, many Filipinos can
now afford to travel. In fact, according to an NSO report, domestic tourism is experiencing an increase in the last two years.
Moreover, many
independent travellers were taking trips for leisure, which clearly proves that
the average working Filipinos now can afford to spend.
How can you cash in on
this?
One obvious choice would be to set up a travel agency that offers
affordable and unique package tours. Popular tour packages now imitate
itineraries of backpackers travelling on a shoestring budget. You can also opt
to become a travel blogger, helping to advertise local tourist spots,
restaurants and accommodation to both tourists and locals.
Image by tec_estromberg, under CC BY 2.0 license
Tech Industry
You might not be aware of this, but there are
many good Filipino web designers and developers today. You can help them out
and, at the same time, help yourself by setting up a web design and development
team of your own.
Businesses now recognise the importance of a web presence to
have an infinite pool of clients, both locally and internationally. You don't
even have to have a physical office when you start. The team can work via
telecommuting.
Once your team gets enough clout and funds to afford one, you
can then set up a physical office space
so you can better supervise your team.
Note: Image is in the Public Domain
Retail Industry
Online shops are all the rage these days.
You can
easily set up one in your social media account, Facebook perhaps, or even on
your own website. If you opt to have your online shop on a dedicated domain
though, you'd need a great website design and social media accounts for
marketing.
If you want to try it out first without all these hassle, you can
try selling your products on online marketplaces, such as ebay.ph or classified ads, such as olx.ph (formerly sulit.com.ph).
Aside from the choices above, other industries
also worth checking are the marketing and health sectors. Marketing because
those new entrepreneurs would need help getting the word out about their brand,
and you can certainly help out by taking advantage of social media and
blogging.
As for the health industry, Filipinos today are more health
conscious, and any healthy product out there would surely have a dedicated
niche market for them already.
If you're not so confident about starting your
own business just yet, but you have money to spare for an investment, then why
don't you try investing in the Philippine Stock Exchange. After all, having a versatile portfolio is
always a good idea.
Author Bio:
Regus is an international provider of business
solutions to small enterprises as well as large companies around the world.
Among the services they offer are officespace solutions, virtual and serviced offices, meeting facilities,
video conferencing, mobile workforces and small business support programmes.