Empowering CARD Micro Entrepinay to be the BEST ME

CARD Bank, Inc. recently held its first ever Micro-Entrepinay (ME) Conference with the theme: “Bida Best ME!”  at CARD-MRI Development Institute (CMDI), Brgy. Tranca, Bay, Laguna. One hundred thirty micro-entrepinays and selected CARD officers participated in the said conference.

The CARD Micro-Entrepinay (ME) Conference has been organized with the aim of empowering micro-entrepreneur members with knowledge and management skills that they need in building and growing their enterprise. This also serves as a venue for members to establish network with other micro-entrepreneurs potential clients.

During the conference, successful entrepreneurs where invited to impart their practical experiences in handling their businesses. CARD micro-entrepinay learned ideas on how to come up with a world class product out of local materials. They were enlightened on how to promote products to a much targeted market through effective advertising and product display as well as identifying the right distribution channels. Representative from DOST greatly helped them in understanding the proper food safety and handling as well as on different product packaging and design.

The conference also highlighted CARD MEs Nanay Maria Andal, winner of GNN Micro Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 and Nanay Felisa Rey GNN 2012 Malikhain Awardee together with Ms. Sherill Quintana, President of Oryspa Spa Solutions in a panel discussion dubbed as “D’Secret of ME Success”. The panel discussion inspired the participants to move forward and be strong despite of the challenges they had experienced in running their enterprises.

As the conference ended, the participants certainly walked away with enriched minds, inspired hearts and a renewed faith that with their continued partnership with CARD, they can definitely be the BEST Micro EntrePinays.

Here are some testimonials from the participants:

<>“Thumbs up po ako sa CARD Micro-entrepinay Conference. Marami akong napulot na magagandang tips kung paano ko pwedeng mapaunald ang aking negosyo sa maliit na halaga. Plano ko din kase  magdagdag  ng business, at magandang idea ‘yung sinabi ni Ma’am Anne ng Human Nature mga lokal na materyales na pwede naming pagkakitaan bilang sangkap ng nais naming produkto.

Nanay Mercy Evangelista
53 years old from Lusiana, Laguna
Business: Sari-sari Store
Member since 2008

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa CARD dahil ako ay napili na maka-attend sa ganitong natatanging conference. Hindi naman po sa pagmamalaki, bihira lang po ma-invite ang mga katulad namin mahirap sa ganitong special na conference, sa CARD ko lang po  ito narasan. Marami po akong natutunan, lalo na ang tungkol sa kung paano ko ima-market ang aking food supplements product. Gaya nga po ng mga example ni Sir. Mars, yung dapat gumawa kami ng flyers at tarpaulin na may kumpletong detalye at maganda sa mata. At hindi lamang po pala sa mga Mall ang possible naming pagdalhan ng aming produkto, magandang idea po na i-alok din sa mga opisina at iba pa.”

Nanay Chona Tiapson
49 years old from San Pablo, Laguna
Business: Food Supplements & Sari-sari Store
Member since 2006

“Sobrang saya ko ng maiparating sa akin na ako ay kasali sa mga a-attend ng Microentrepinay Conference. Interesado po talaga kase akong malaman kung anu pa po ang mga pwede kong gawing improvement sa mga ginagawa naming delicacies mula sa Pili, kaya’t hindi ko na pinalampas ang ganitong pagkakataon kahit malayo. At dahil po sa conference na  ito, nagkaroon po ako ng kaalaman kahit paano sa food packaging at kung paano mapapahaba ang shelf life ng pili products namin sa pamamagitan iba’t ibang packaging. Plano po naming makipag-ugnayan sa DOST na malapit dito sa Albay, upang maka-attend kami  ng training tungkol sa Product Packaging and Development. Sabi naman po ni Ma’am Grace, meron daw po, pwede daw kami lumapit sa regional office nila.

Nanay Marilyn Polsotin
43 years old from Morera Guinobatan, Albay
Business: Homemade delicacies made of Pili
Member since 2003