Makeup artist finds beauty in the food biz

MANILA, Philippines - One successful Binalot franchise belongs to Amanda Padilla. A makeup artist who trained at the Shu Uemura Learning Atelier and worked for Estee Lauder Philippines, Padilla knows a thing or two about beauty and aesthetics, but becoming a food entrepreneur was not easy.

Amanda says her passion for her craft is rivaled only by her love for authentic Pinoy food. A devout foodie, she admits falling in love with the Pinoy favorites offered by Binalot: delectable dishes paired with salted egg and tomatoes wrapped in banana leaves. 

Young and with a good head on her shoulders, she decided to invest in the food business. With her sisters, she searched for a business enterprise that would satisfy her gastronomic interests. While scouting for a possible venture, Amanda initially considered going into franchising. “Since this is my first business venture, I decided on getting a franchise because the framework on how to run the business is already in place.”

The business opportunity came when her aunt offered her a commercial space at the newly renovated University Mall on Taft Avenue. “We didn’t want this chance to go to waste,” she says. With guts, intuition and resolve, she pursued her own Binalot franchise after reading a great review in Entrepreneur magazine. “They said it was one of the best franchises available,” she says. “It fit my budget. I did not want to break the bank on a franchise fee. I believe in their product and advocacy. I like that they are trying to be a green fast-food chain.”

A newbie in the food business, she admits how opening her own Binalot franchise store on the second floor of University Mall on Vito Cruz, Taft Ave., Manila, became a work in progress and a new learning experience. “Opening this franchise has taught me so much from the technical side (planning, city permits, accounting, taxes) to quality control of food, to how to deal with so many different types of people. I’ve learned to be organized, hardworking, patient. Running your own business is truly a great learning experience!” she said after opening the store six months ago. The Binalot franchise, she adds, offers a great product that was already developed and actively promoted. Whenever you have questions or problems, they provide technical and administrative support.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, this is what Amanda advises, “Have faith in your product. Choose a franchise that you believe in. It’s very hard to be passionate about something you don’t feel strongly about. Be ready for bumps in the road. Things don’t always go as planned with things like construction. Find trustworthy, honest people to work for you. Trust me, this makes all the difference.”

Now with over 38 stores, Binalot Fiesta Foods will be joining the PFA franchise show from Sept. 23-25 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia. Many of the Binalot stores are franchised by entrepreneurs with multiple branches, attesting to its popularity as a Pinoy-branded franchise known for its use of banana leaves and Pinoy pride-themed dishes.

Visit www.binalot.com for franchise information and to find Binalot’s dine-in locations nearest you, or call 467-8888 for deliveries.