Reaching for the Skyline

"Makati and BGC," Leo said to Maria, pointing at a map spread across their kitchen table, "It's a different world. High-end restaurants, corporate offices, people with money to spend."

Maria nodded, her eyes scanning the map. "It's a big step, Leo. Are you sure you're ready?"

"It's a challenge," he admitted, "but I think we can do it. We need to adapt, offer something unique."

Securing a location in Makati and BGC was a daunting task. Rents were astronomical, and competition was fierce. He spent weeks visiting potential locations, talking to real estate agents, and negotiating leases.

"Sir Leo," one agent said, showing him a small storefront in BGC, "this location is prime. But the rent… it's steep."

"How steep?" Leo asked.

"150,000 PHP per month," the agent replied.

Leo's eyes widened. That was more than his entire monthly rent for his storage and sales in Quezon City. But he knew the potential was there.

"We need to offer premium products," he told Ana, "gourmet dried fish, maybe even smoked salmon and imported delicacies."

He started researching high-end packaging, sleek designs, and eco-friendly materials. He also explored partnerships with high-end restaurants and hotels, offering exclusive deals and customized products.

"Imagine," he said to Ana, "our dried fish on the menu of a five-star hotel. That's branding."

He also realized he needed to strengthen his online presence. He hired a professional web designer to create a modern, user-friendly website. He also invested in targeted social media advertising, focusing on the affluent demographics in Makati and BGC.

"We need to segment our market," he told his marketing team. "We can't just sell the same dried fish to everyone. We need to tailor our offerings to different customer groups."

Expansion to Makati/BGC Expenses:

Monthly Rent (BGC location): 150,000 PHP Premium Packaging (initial investment): 50,000 PHP Premium Product Development (sourcing, testing): 20,000 PHP/week Website Redesign and Maintenance: 30,000 PHP (one-time) Targeted Social Media Advertising: 10,000 PHP/week Partnership Fees (potential restaurants/hotels): 5,000 PHP/week (estimated)

Increased Sales and Updated Capital:

The expansion to Makati and BGC, while expensive, began to yield results.

Weekly Sales:

Market/Grocery Sales (Manila): 65,000 PHP Online Sales (Manila): 50,000 PHP Market/Grocery Sales (Quezon City): 50,000 PHP Makati/BGC Sales: 80,000 PHP Total Weekly Sales: 245,000 PHP

Weekly Expenses:

Accommodation (Manila, 7 nights): 2,100 PHP Food (Manila, 7 days): 1,750 PHP Transportation (Manila, 7 days): 1,050 PHP Phone/Internet (7 days): 350 PHP Employee Wages (Ana): 3,000 PHP Packaging Materials: 4,000 PHP Delivery Costs: 7,000 PHP Shopee/Lazada Fees: 5,000 PHP Social Media Marketing: 2,000 PHP Storage Space Rental (Quezon City): 3,500 PHP Transportation (Quezon City):: 800 PHP Online Advertising: 3,000 PHP Content Creation: 1,500 PHP Partnership Fees: 5,000 PHP New Product Development: 2,000 PHP Loyalty Program/Promotions: 2,500 PHP Market Research Exploration: 1,000 PHP Dating/Gifts: 1,800 PHP Investment Platform Fees: 500 PHP Premium Product Development: 20,000 PHP Rent (BGC): 150,000 PHP Total Weekly Expenses: 217,350 PHP

Weekly Profit:

Weekly Profit: 245,000 PHP - 217,350 PHP = 27,650 PHP

Updated Capital:

Previous Capital: 551,250 PHP Premium Packaging (one-time): -50,000 PHP Website Redesign (one-time): -30,000 PHP Weekly Profit: 27,650 PHP Remaining Capital: 551,250 PHP - 50,000 PHP - 30,000 PHP + 27,650 PHP = 498,900 PHP

Leo was learning to navigate the complexities of the high-end market. He was adapting his business strategies, building a stronger brand identity, and forging strategic partnerships. He was reaching for the skyline, one premium product and one satisfied customer at a time.