Being Miss C

CEBU, Philippines - It's not every day that you meet someone who'd quit her day job just to pursue her passion.

"I know it's crazy but it's worth it" , said Jemel Beth Pareja, a 25-year-old fashion entrepreneur and owner of Miss C's Fashion Boutique.

She started her online business in June last year. She was still working as a call center agent at that time. Six months after she opened her online shop, she quit her day job.

"Ni resign ko sa work December last year para lang ani. Gi compute nako ang akoang sales online kay Management Accounting graduate man ko. More or less same ra akoang income. Mas maka manage ko sa akoang time, less ang stress, wala pa gyud ko'y Boss, mao to ni resign ko. (I resigned from work December last year for this. I've computed my salary versus my earning since I'm a Management Accounting graduate and more or less, it's the same. I can manage my time, less stress and I don't have a Boss that's why I decided to quit. )"

It helped that her family is very supportive of her endeavor. In fact, it was her sister who encouraged her to sell her old clothes that she doesn't wear anymore. Her sister even opened an online account for her.

At first, she was selling her personal clothes. She eventually started reselling clothes from Bangkok and Manila. She also participated in bazaars. She decided to open her own shop since bazaars are not available all year round. She saved all her online earnings to put up her own shop in Gorordo Avenue.

She likes her current location because it's very strategic and it's near the road. She even shared that most of her walk-in customers come in because they like the display on the mannequin. Her regular online customers also don't have problems finding her shop. It was her loyal customers that really persuaded her to open a boutique.

She watches over her shop everyday from 9am-7pm from Monday - Saturday and 3:00-7:00pm during Sundays. She's very hands-on when it comes to managing her shop; in fact; she personally picks the clothes that she sells. "Ang important man gyud sa business kay kahibalo ka unsay latest, kahibalo ka unsay bag-o. (It's important that you know what the latest trend is.)"

Patience is also needed especially when you're starting a business. She shared that she also had experience with bad customers and bogus buyers. She advises that you really have to understand them and to just be patient.

In the future, she plans to add more items on her shop like bags and shoes; she will be renovating her shop to accommodate more items. While she also has a lot of offers of opening a branch in a mall, she declined because she wants to take things slowly especially as her business is just starting. What she will be focusing on is the renovation of her shop.

"Ma successful ra man gyud ka if you love what you're doing. If imoha jud ang line and you're putting your heart into it, diha jud ka mag-excel. (You'd be successful if you love what you're doing. If it really is your line and you're putting your heart into it, then you'd excel)" (FREEMAN)