One inspiring success story of a sari-sari store in Barangay Maate, Famy, Laguna involves a determined and kind-hearted woman named Anabelle Resurreccion and her horticulturally talented husband, Cristan Resurreccion. They were dedicated and hardworking individuals who dreamed of improving their lives and providing a better future for their family. Despite the store being their primary source of income, they found it increasingly challenging to make a decent profit because of fierce competition and limited capital to invest in inventory and store improvements.

Determined to improve their situation, they decided to explore alternative ways to supplement their earnings. As they pondered different possibilities, they recalled Cristan’s passion for planting and gardening. They happened to know someone who owned a plantation in their area and wanted to share their love for crops and the wonders of nature with others. This opportunity seemed like a serendipitous gift, an open invitation to turn their dreams into reality.

With hearts brimming with enthusiasm and hands eager to get dirty, Cristan wasted no time formulating a plan. He knew that it would be crucial to have clear terms and agreements in place. He valued transparency and fairness and the assurance for a mutually beneficial partnership with the landowner. In terms of mutuality, a fair profit-sharing mechanism was established. A percentage of the profits generated from the plantation’s activities would be shared with the landowner to ensure a win-win relationship. The profits from the plantation became a valuable resource that could be utilized to expand and enhance their existing business, Anabelle Sari-Sari Store.

As the couple started to gain profitable sales from the plantation and store, Anabelle Sari-Sari Store also experienced its fair share of challenges and setbacks. They encountered a situation where they required additional funds to support their endeavors. Recognizing the need for financial assistance, they decided to explore the option of obtaining loans to fuel their business growth. Luckily, there is this firm in Famy, Laguna, that provides loans specifically tailored to farmers. This valuable service aims to support agricultural development and empowers farmers to grow their businesses.

Their story did not end there. As the pandemic unfolded in 2020, their store and plantation were not immune to its effects. Government-imposed lockdowns and restrictions led to a decline in customer footfall and disrupted the supply chain, making it difficult to maintain regular operations. The once bustling sari-sari store faced reduced customer traffic due to people staying at home and prioritizing essential purchases.

As years passed and the impact of the pandemic continued to linger, livelihood programs were initiated to support businesses severely affected. One of these is the Department of Trade and Industry’s Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB), which aimed to provide financial assistance, resources, and guidance to help those businesses recover and rebuild during these challenging times.

Fortunately, Anabelle’s store became a beneficiary and received their livelihood kits on December 20, 2022.

Looking back to the days when they had limited capital, now their investments have remarkably increased. A significant boost to their stocks happened because of combining the profits from the plantation and the assistance provided by the LSP-NSB in their sari-sari store. Now, they were able to create a powerful and sustainable business ecosystem. These resources became a testament to the couple’s dedication, entrepreneurial vision, and commitment to making a positive impact. They proved that a business model grounded in sustainability and community values could not only be profitable but also foster a sense of purpose and create lasting change.

“Kapag tinamaan ka talaga ng swerte, napakasarap sa pakiramdam. Pasasalamat at sinwerte ang asawa ko sa pananim, pinagpala pa at natulungan kami ng DTI. Abot-abot ang aking pasasalamat”, said Anabelle. ♦

Date of Release: 26 June 2023

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