For a young couple in Tayabas City who were laid off from their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the business they started – a successful café – was a lesson in starting from scratch.
THE onset and spread of Covid-19 has tested everybody but some may have just found their footing to prove they have what it takes.
One example is couple Aljowin Martinez and Ynah Ragudo, both in their late twenties, who decided to change course and start anew from scratch.
“Dahil sa pandemic, na-lay-off ako sa casino. Umuwi ako sa Tayabas looking for new opportunity. Nagtinda muna ako ng rambutan. Napansin ko ang bilis maubos, siguro dahil nasa tabing kalsada.Then, my boyfriend and I decided to start a small business,” the budding entrepreneur Ynah said, beaming, at the start of the interview in one of the huts inside the 300 square-meter Café Mate at Barangay Mate in Tayabas City.
The young partners initially experimented with just double burner gas stove, lightings, bamboo table – and with that, Café Mate was born.
“Nag-start kami sa P180,000 na puhunan mula sa separation pay sa aming trabaho at lote na naipundar ko noon. Isa lang ang karpintero namin noon. Hands-on ang aking partner at isa kong kaibigan sa pagbubuo ng mga lamesa at upuan,” Ynah explained.
From such a beginning, Cafe Mate finally opened in February – Ynah’s birthday month.
From the very start, the business proved to be a success. “It was a blast. We didn’t expect na dudumugin kami ng tao. One hundred-forty cups of coffee were served. The coffee maker did not survive,” Ragudo said.
But she said there's nothing more invigorating than the smell of fresh coffee -- nor anything more frustrating than the sight of a coffee maker failing its task.
Support system
For both Ynah and AJ, their support system is their immediate family and friends whom they put their trust and look up to for guidance.
“Ibinili kami ng coffee maker ng aking kapatid worth P17,000. Hinulugan namin paunti-unti kasi hindi talaga puwede na walang kape kasi trademark namin ang kape,” said Ynah who apparently wants coffee as a simple lure to their business.
“Nakakatuwa kasi ang mga kaibigan at kapamilya namin, sila talaga ang isa sa naging susi kung bakit successful ang Cafe Mate, Ynah proudly said as she disclosed that they were given electric fan, design ideas, even their tables and chairs.
Gradually, the business grew, and the couple soon had to take on additional employees to keep up with the rising demand.
Creativity
Every business needs to get creative and find new solutions to customer problems.
The pandemic has given innovative, forward-thinking entrepreneurs a chance to shine and flex their creative muscles.
“Nag-isip kami ng isang bagay na wala ang iba at ito yong aming teepee tent. Some say our teepee tent is instagrammable. That has made us different from the rest of our competition in this kind of business,” Ynah said.
“You just have to enjoy conversing with your family and friends. Enjoy the serenity and simplicity of the place while having a cup of coffee,” she said adding that internet connection would surely intervene and disrupt the natural and personal vibes that coffee and conversation would allow for easy and intimate communication between friends and family members.
Scary
Fear, uncertainty and self-doubt are all raw feelings people experience when they consider the idea of starting their own business. It's scary. No doubt about that.
“Wala kaming day-off. Ang alam lang namin ay magtrabaho ng magtrabaho at mapaunlad pa ang aming business,” Ynah said with conviction and feeling hopeful.
“Para kaming Grade One na pinag-exam sa college. Kapang-kapa kami kung ano ang gagawin pero kung ikaw ay may matatag na paniniwala na magiging successful ang iyong business, walang imposible,” the young entrepreneur said.
She added that Cafe Mate requires an intense level of dedication which means sacrificing both time and money to make Café Mate what you want it to be.
Tags: #OpinYonQuezonin, #TayabasCity, #successstory, #CafeMate