Tindahang Pinoy posts 12% growth

CEBU, Philippines - The Tindahang Pinoy in Cebu has registered a 12 percent growth since it started operations, owing to the heightened awareness of foreign and Filipino market to avail of the Philippine-made quality products made available on a facility accredited by the government.

The Tindahang Pinoy, located at the Bridges Town Center in Alang-Alang, Mandaue City, now houses 75 tenants from exporters to local OTOP (One Town, One Product) accredited products across the region, as well as neighboring provinces.

The facility, which is considered as one-stop souvenir shop, managed by the Gifts, Toys and House wares Foundation (GTH-Cebu), started with 45 tenants a year ago and now it has grown to 75.

In an interview with GTH-Cebu Executive Director Rosalinda L. Fuentes, she said that the help from the travel operators and the Department of Tourism (DOT) to promote the Tindahang Pinoy Cebu to its clients has contributed to the sales growth in the last couple of months.

According to Fuentes, the Tindahang Pinoy Cebu is still inviting tenants from all over the Visayas region to showcase their products, especially the delicacies and unique gift items to widen the customers’ choices.

Likewise, tenants from Tindahang Pinoy are now attracting institutional clients, such as those companies ordering bulk of unique gift items for corporate give-aways, thus helping the micro-entrepreneurs expand their market base.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) Regional Director Asteria Caberte reported that as of March of this year, the facility has generated a total of P300,000 in sales.

Around 70 percent of products sold in the facility are sourced from Central Visayas region, while 30 percent come from other regions in the country.

Products under the OTOP program of the DTI are also being made available to buyers.

The establishment of the facility is considered as one of the exporters’ saviors, while the sector is still suffering from slack demand from the overseas market.

Since its opening in December last year, Cebu GTH Vice-President for External Affairs Pedro Sepulveda Jr. said that the sales of the showroom are continually increasing since they are being aggressive in their marketing strategies.

The project aims to expand market access for micro, small and medium businesses. 

DTI and Cebu-GTH forged a partnership with DOT and the associations of tour guides and tour operators in Cebu for the promotion of Tindahang Pinoy to tourists.

DTI also tapped the GIZ, a technical agency of the German government, for the production of a video catalogue to promote the products of Tindahang Pinoy.

Caberte said that this facility has been able to provide export sector a ‘relief” and is strengthening its penetration in the local market, including tapping to tourists, during this struggling times for exporters.

The move was following the thrust of the Aquino government to help export sector thrive amid the weak global market via tourism.

The Cebu-GTH spent at least P2 million from the organization’s coffer for the facility.

Tindahang Pinoy is a depot which will showcase the world-class, export quality products in Cebu to be managed by Cebu-GTH in cooperation with the DTI.

In order to sustain Cebu’s prestige in quality, Cebu-GTH has made sure to strictly monitor on the products that will be made available in the exporters’ store. — /JMD (FREEMAN)