I get so many inquires from people wanting to know about business in the Philippines that seem to have done no market research or needs assessment as to what might sell here in the Philippines.
Except, of course the inevitable “How to I start and Internet Café”, which to me is a dead issue. I’ve written about it at least a dozen times now, and with the huge “uptake” of Internet enable mobile smart phones in the Philippines I think it’s a dead or at least dying industry.
But, Dave, I hear you say, how do I figure out what people are buying there in the Philippines.
Well I’m no marketing expert, but I do spend a lot of time in my local mall … and in bigger malls in the Metro Manila area.
A mall can tell you a LOT about what’s going on in business. Especially if you look closely at the stores that are open, busy with people and especially those who have been there for five years or more.
(by the way, this is a proven technique I don’t see too many people doing. Instead of jumping from one idea to another, you might want to adopt one of the oldest, proven tool to determine profitability .. look at businesses, o-line or off – that have been successful over a five-year or longer span. I wrote a piece on this about my Mom and her boss, Mr. Kron, who made himself a nice business this way, way back long before the Internet)
Anyway, what stores do I see busy, profitable and passing the “5-year test”? Simple. Personal appearance and beauty. It’s a big, big business here in the Philippines.
You can’t pass 10 stores in the mall without seeing 3 or 4 “beauty salon” type places.
Hair straightening, coloring, styling. Skin whitening (a HUGE market here in the Philippines). Massage of all types, and, of course, what goes along with them is the attendant, high-profit sale of lotions, potions, vitamins, health drinks and the other assorted Ki-kay supplies ladies just love to buy.
Want to know what’s missing?
Give up?
Fitness. Especially fitness for ladies-only.
Think Curves.
A Business Being Fit
Rather than the same boring gym, they created a fitness center specifically for women who wanted to get in shape and embrace their natural beauty and curves.
Now. a couple disclaimers here:
- Curves is a registered trade mark, used here here only for illustrative purposes.
- I have no connection, business or otherwise with the company
- I definitely don’t think anyone should copy anyone else’s trade marks or copyrighted work.
All that said, though..
A Curves franchise costs as low as $30-odd thousand, with equipment in the USA. Here in the Philippines (and yes there is one in Fort Bonafacio, Manila) I would guess it should cost less.
And without a franchise? How hard is it to design a fitness program FOR women, staff the place WITH women and make women BELIEVE you car about their health, even if your name was “Well Rounded” , “In the Right Places”, “Where it Belongs” or something else clever like that?
(I hereby release those names into the public domain, unless they are someone’s trademark I didn’t know about).
If one of them appeals to you, trade mark it and go make millions from it, I’ll be happy to see you succeed.
Takeaway:
Your takeaway from all this? My point?
Think about what people spend money on in the Philippines and what businesses prosper day in and day out, and then fill a need for a legitimate profit. Think past “putting up” yet another “computer shop” or Sari-sari store just because that is what you see other people doing.
Want to make money? Find a need and fill it. The results may amaze you.
Philly: New to your site. I clicked on the contact link to email you but it is not working. How might I contact you. Jim from Canada.
First thing I already planned to do when I move to the philippines is obtain a personal trainer. Thanks for the article. It makes sense to me.
Hi Dave,
I totally agree about the exercise potential in the Philippines. personally, I am an avid Crossfitter. Crossfit is a sport that in my opinion, mimics survival movements that the body can understand. Running, jumping, pushups, pull ups, strength training, rope climbing and so on. Its done with simple equipment like jump ropes, kettle bells etc. There is already a crossfit manila and it seems to be doing well, They charge 5000K/month and from the website they have lots of members. The other thing is nutrition. Filipinos follow the American curve on lots of things including the fast food trends and now, the health trends like a new awareness on fitness. Here in the states I give small seminars of whats called Paleo lifestyle which just means eating the foods our ancestors had and the benefit is tenfold. its amazing how much of the wrong foods cause severe damage to our bodies and I train people to eat the way hundreds of generations have eaten before us. I hope to have a crossfit style gym as well as give Paleo seminars to Filipinos and expats who want to loose weight and learn how to eat right. I agree that the market there in the philippines is virtually untapped. Giving a 2 hour Paleo diet seminar [lets say 750-1000P per person] to 100 people would help educate them and now I have a captured audience that might sign up for crossfit classes. If they dont I still earned 75,000-100,000P on the seminar alone. How many times have we seen some group seminar in a Mcdonalds where a pyramid scheme is selling their latest get rich quick potion? I went to one in Manila where they were pushing GoJi juice. That seminar was packed. Anyway, I would rather peddle health and nutrition and think there is a lot of potential in the Philippines. Keep up the good work Dave!
BTW, crossfit gyms here in the states usually have a higher female ratio because there aren’t any mirrors in a crossfit gym, and no socializing meaning its not a pick up joint where women get harassed by the local gym jock. You come in, you work out with an instructor led class, you leave. It all happens in an hour plus crossfit works and we all know women want to lose weight!