As a nursing graduate in Cebu, finding a job was very difficult except for the voluntary work Shaddilyn “Shadz” Esguerra did in 2016.
But instead of being discouraged, she decided to pursue business instead. Her family’s four-year-old bakery at that time was mismanaged so she asked her father if she could try running it, to which he agreed. Being a person she always counted on, her father fully supported her idea and gave her P100,000 capital.
With no previous experience in the industry, the health care alumna nervously did her best from day one with only two elderly employees.
Things did not get easier in her first five months into the business. However, even when things were tough, Shadz did not give up. To keep things afloat, she eventually got a part-time nursing job at night. Being a woman of determination, she also started peddling to sari-sari stores and school canteens all the way from Northern to Southern Cebu.
She risked so much in shipping her products which cost more than the returns. Some customers even started complaining about her crumbled delicacies. In desperation, she decided to put up a street stall in Colon Street, the oldest street in the Philippines.
Shadz had to ask vendors if they could lend her space where she could set up a stand for the time being. As agonizing as her situation was, she held on to it as her last hope, although, in those sleepless and long cold nights, she also had thoughts of giving up too.
Months passed and her uncle’s driver happened to see her one night laying down, resting by her street-side stall. The driver then told her relatives about what he saw. Shadz felt that she was quickly judged by the packaging of her products and was told that they were not as saleable as she thought them to be. This became an eye-opener for her. It was the pivotal point in her business.
She then decided to restart everything by improving the packaging, quality, quantity, and system of her business. Slowly but surely, the business began to grow and eventually enabled her to hire more employees. The timing was even perfect when someone contacted her about buying her products, who became and remains to be her biggest client to this date.
She joined DTI’s Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) Program which opened more opportunities for her and the business. She learned to balance the package and quality of her products. During the lockdown, Shadz has strengthened her social media and e-commerce presence as well due to certain limitations in Pasalubong Centers and bus terminals where she sold her products such as rosquillos, salvaro, galletas and otap.
“Looking back, I am surprised at how I was able to fight through the storm. Perhaps, God only allows struggles in your life that He knows you can handle.”
Interested buyers and distributors may reach them via their Facebook page: Twilight Delights. For more information on local products and produce proudly made from Cebu, visit the DTI Cebu Facebook page. ♦
Date of Release: 22 December 2020