For the love of
coffee
Jed
Jabines from Kapalong, Davao del Norte, found a business venture in a coffee
shop.
"As an entrepreneur, you must
know the business you are getting into because, above all, you should know your
strengths and weaknesses," Jed Jabines stated about the importance of
knowing one’s venture.
Jed, 35, is the second of four
siblings. Despite not being wealthy, their parents worked hard to raise him and
his other siblings and to provide them with a good life. His father worked as a
welder, while his mother was a housewife.
Due to financial difficulties, Jed
became a working student at a fast-food chain during his college years.
Fortunately, their employer prioritized their school schedules over work hours,
allowing them to balance work and education.
However, he chose to leave his job
in his fourth year as school requirements started to pile up. He eventually
graduated with a degree in hotel and restaurant management. After graduation, he joined a company as a management
trainee, but he quit afterward. His next job was at a coffee corporation, where
he stayed for three and a half years.
When their younger sibling died in
an accident, Jed resigned and returned home to Davao despite his desire to stay
in Manila. He had to tend to his parents, whose emotions were becoming
vulnerable.
As an unemployed person, he
ventured into the coffee shop business in 2015 with his sister.
While the idea was promising, it
didn't thrive in their hometown of Nabunturan. So, in 2018, they decided to try
their luck elsewhere, which led them to relocate to Kapalong, where they
experienced initial success that soon crumbled down because of the pandemic.
The decline in sales due to lockdown forces him to close his business.
Post-pandemic, he and his other
half invested in a pharmacy. Within three months of being an investor, they
noticed a decrease in sales because customers believe that a well-ventilated
pharmacy has far more expensive medicine than a typical one. With this, they
decided to pull out their investment and start their pharmacy called
"Botika ng Masa.”
Aside from the pharmacy in
Kapalong, they now have a branch in Gabuyan.
To ensure the sustainability of
their business. Jed obtained a PHP 100,000.00 loan from CARD SME Bank in 2022,
using it as a revolving fund for his pharmacy.
In 2024, they tried their luck
again in a coffee shop and obtained a loan of PHP 250,000.00 to CARD SME Bank.
They used the funds to purchase machinery and equipment to operate their
business.
"The idea is there, but we
also need the capital to execute our plan, so it is good that CARD SME Bank is
here to assist us,” Jed said. They named
their coffee shop "39ers,” catering to students with its affordable
prices.
Inspired by Dr. Jaime Aristotle
Alip and his advocacy of "one family, one graduate" to eradicate
poverty, all their hired employees were working students.
"Even though their parents are
there to support them, it is still better for them to have their own money as a
backup," he said. "It's our little way to help their finances,"
Jed added.
By hiring students, they can
support their education and empower them financially.
Jed’s story reminds us that there
may be delays in our success, but that does not mean we will not flourish.
Sometimes, life just reminds us that we need to pause for a while, and someday,
we will have enough time and resources to continue.
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