In photo: Rizza Jaranilla Sta. Maria, owner of Craft. Create. Crochet Crocheted Fabrics Manufacturing (Hook It Up)

Rizza Jaranilla Sta. Maria, a mother of three from Pakil, Laguna, has always been concerned about providing safe and non-toxic toys for her children. In 2021, with limited resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rizza decided to learn how to crochet by watching online tutorials and using her mother’s old hooks and store-bought yarns. As she honed her skills, she began sharing her handmade toys on social media and soon received her first order from a college classmate. This was the start of her business, Craft. Create. Crochet Crocheted Fabrics Manufacturing (Hook It Up).

Rizza quickly realized that promoting and selling her handmade products would be challenging in a market dominated by cheaper, mass-produced alternatives. However, she persevered by focusing on maintaining the quality of her creations using only the best materials available and emphasizing the unique value of her products. She also offered customization options which added a personal touch to each toy. She actively engages to customers and promotes at local markets to showcase her eye-catching products. Soon after, her marketing efforts paid off and she started to receive more orders, expanding her customer base from Laguna to Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Las Piñas, and Cebu.

Rizza’s dedication and hard work were recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry – Laguna Provincial Office. She had been provided valuable support by becoming one of the beneficiaries through their Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) livelihood program. As a beneficiary, she not only received assistance in her business registration but also had a chance to attend various entrepreneurial seminars and received vital supplies including yarns and accessories at no cost. Through this program, she gained the knowledge and skills needed to manage and grow her business. Moreover, with the additional resources, she was able to ramp up her production and offer a wider variety of designs and colors to her customers.

Hook it Up product, Mini Me Doll.

In addition, Rizza’s creations were captured and featured in one of the Departments’ activities: #FlexPHridays Campaign. This is a Friday weekly habit of flexing photos or videos of a local product or service on social media as a subsidiary to the Department’s Buy Local, Go Lokal campaign, which promotes products and services of local entrepreneurs in the mainstream market. This had provided Rizza a significant boost in exposure to a wider audience, resulting in an increase in orders for her handmade toys. Since then, her business had grown providing her with a stable source of additional income and had enabled her to reinvest some of her profits back into the business.

Through Rizza’s hard work, her business flourished and attracted customers from various parts of the world. One delighted customer from Saudi Arabia purchased a 22-inch crocheted Mini Me Doll, while clients from Canada ordered a set of One Piece (popular Japanese anime characters) and a crocheted top. Another customer from Dubai requested customized characters of Rick and Morty (an American animated sitcom) and a client from the United States of America ordered a halter top. Her diverse customer base is a testament to the exceptional quality and reputation of her business within the industry.

Rizza’s journey from a mother searching for eco-friendly toys to the thriving owner of a crocheted fabrics manufacturing business is a proof of her unwavering perseverance, creativity, and the invaluable support she received from the Department of Trade and Industry. She takes great pride in being a PPG livelihood program beneficiary and a member of a community of Filipino small business owners who are making positive impacts on the local economy. Her story serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of passion, commitment, and perseverance in achieving business success. ♦

Date of Release: 19 May 2023

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