How Joining Bazaars Helps Biz Owners Earn Up To Php 80K Per Day

Admit it: Filipino moms, especially new moms, love going to bazaars and mom and baby fairs to shop discounted items and receive freebies! But have you ever wondered what it's like to be on the other side?

If you are a business owner who dreams of selling your products in pop-up stores and joining big bazaars in huge malls and venues, then here's your sign to give it a try.

I started attending bazaars in 2019, two years after opening our small business Valianne's Trends. I felt inspired by other mompreneurs who are attending these big fairs. The first bazaar we participated in was at a mall in Makati. We didn't own a car, then but we took the leap of faith by traveling from Cavite to sell our products there. Fortunately, it was quite an opportunity that opened a lot of doors for our business.

^{The author with her family at their Valianne's Trends booth in a huge bazaar in Pasay City}

Joining bazaars: How they started vs. how they are going

We started with a cheap clothes rack and hampers we bought from Shopee until we saw the need to invest in making our booth look more aesthetic. The best thing about joining bazaars for me is that, as mompreneurs, we get to know our audience—what they need, what they like, or what we can improve in our products.

During a big mom and baby fair in Pasay City, I had the opportunity to talk to mom business owners and they shared their stories on how they got started in joining bazaars. 

'I involve my kids in what I do'

Riza Viaña owns a store catering to the needs of moms and babies called Your Genuine Value. Her shop provides high-quality baby bedding, cribs, and other essentials. She started selling bedsheets in 2013, but when she became a mom, her products also focused on moms. She started joining bazaars in 2018.

"I joined [bazaars] to share my love for creating safe and comfortable spaces for little ones, and to connect with parents looking for the best for their children," she said.

^{Riza Viaña, owner of Your Genuine Value, with her kids}

If you are a mompreneur planning to join fairs, Riza said that you can expect that there will be increased visibility, direct customer interaction, networking, sales opportunities, and exposure for your brand. There are also more chances for customer engagement and word-of-mouth marketing. However, she cautioned, it would also be costly, time-consuming, and competitive.

"The best thing about being a mompreneur is balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. Allowing you to pursue your passion while still being present for your family. It offers flexibility and allows you to set your own schedule. And one of the joys of being a mompreneur is involving my kids in what I do, especially when joining bazaars. It's a wonderful opportunity to share the experience and teach them about entrepreneurship while caring for them," Riza said.

'It's always a risk'

Suzette Goc-ong, the mompreneur behind Sew Childhood, sells kids' clothing. She started her business on Mother's Day in 2016. They began joining bazaars during the pre-pandemic times to increase their exposure. She revealed that joining bazaars in popular venues can be costly.

"It will require a big investment, so it's always a risk, but at the end of the day, it's always been a win-win for us ever since. Brand exposure to many mommy communities is one of the benefits as many influencers come and post on social media," she shared.

^{Suzette Goc-ong and her family at Sew Childhood booth}

When asked about the perks of being a mompreneur, she said, "I get to see and spend time with my children every day and witness their milestones firsthand."

'I ask for genuine feedback'

Mommy Karen Kaye De Regla is the owner of the Galacto Bombs, which offers homemade lactation treats. They sell pastries like cookies and bars that help boost breast milk production for moms struggling with low milk supply. She started the business in 2017 when her son was already a toddler. She was then a frustrated breastfeeding mom.

"Since I was out of work then, I had a lot of time in between interviews and waiting for job calls. So, I started baking in my sister's kitchen. Since I was jobless, I had to borrow Php 1000 from my husband to be able to start the business," Karen recalled.

"I started joining [bazaars] back in 2019 because I know that it's the perfect niche for my business. There, I will meet pregnant mommies, I can explain what my business is all about, and I can get them to taste the products for free. I can also ask for genuine feedback in bazaars, pwede makipagchikahan, and take pictures with the mommies. Aside from this, it's also for exposure; a way of showing the business to more mommies out there na previously hindi alam na may ganitong business pala na makaka-help sa kanila sa breastfeeding struggles nila," she explained.

^{Galacto Bombs' booth with owner Karen Kaye de Regla (center)}

Just like any other venture, joining bazaars has its pros and cons. An advantage Karen got was that she could bring the business to moms who prefer to shop physically.

"You can meet new people with the same advocacy. You get to meet other mompreneurs and share some tips with each other business-wise. Also, it is an opportunity to meet new people and start collaborations, plus, you can refer other businesses to other businesses, too," she added.

She continued, "Of course, the purpose of joining is to gain exposure, so you cannot expect all bazaars to sell. It's more tiring because ikaw magseset-up, ikaw magbebenta, while managing the business at home also. Medyo mahahasa ang vocal chords mo kaka-offer unlike kasi sa online na purely chats or via ads ang selling."

Despite these, Karen loves being a mompreneur. "The best thing about it is the MOM part. Since I am not constrained by a regular 9-5 schedule, I can spend time with my family or my son whenever I want to, and I can bring my family with me as well while managing the business, like in bazaars and booths. So, talagang more time with my family ang pinaka-perk of being a mompreneur," she remarked."

'Many follow our social media accounts'

Lara Christle Ching-Lua owns Swaddies, a local homegrown brand that focuses on offering baby essentials that will help parents navigate parenthood easily and hassle-free. They primarily create versatile and multi-functional products that are convenient for the family. Lara started it way back in 2018 when she and her husband, Michael, met. Although Lara is not yet a mom, joining bazaars gives her a glimpse of what's it like to be a mom. Lara considers Swaddies as her first baby.

"Our flagship products were the water-absorbent bedmats and infant swaddle wrap. It has become our bestselling product until now. We started joining bazaars hoping that more people would know the brand and get to see and try our products. By God's grace, we are still thriving and growing. All thanks to our dear clients and partners who trusted and supported us along the way," Lara shared.

^{Lara Christle Ching-Lua and her husband at the Swaddies booth}

Lara mentioned that joining bazaars allowed them to gain brand recognition and awareness. However, there are high rental or commission fees, and each bazaar is still highly dependent on foot traffic and the organizer.

"Marketing-wise, it has a contribution because every after bazaar, many people follow our social media accounts and online selling platforms. Plus, we get a lot of orders every double sale in e-commerce sites like Shopee and Lazada," said Lara. 

'You are the sole decision-maker'

Rodessa Reyes is the mompreneur behind Ava's Kitchen Lactation Spreads. These are spreads made for pregnant and breastfeeding moms, which she started in 2014. She began joining bazaars then. She also claimed that bazaars can help you reach your target market, but you should be ready for overhead expenses, booth rentals, and physical fatigue.

^{Rodessa Reyes, owner of Ava's Kitchen Lactation Spreads}

Despite this, she loves being a mompreneur who is active in online and on-site marketing. It gives her wings to do her passion. "[There is] flexibility of working hours, and you are the sole decision maker," she said. There is also freedom to run the business while having more time with kids and the family.

Important things to prepare, consider if you are joining bazaars:

1. Secure necessary business permits.

Before anything else, make sure you have the necessary business permits and licenses before joining bazaars. Big bazaars require these documents. Even online shopping platforms nowadays require sellers to legalize their shops.

2. Have ample on-hand products.

Make sure you have enough stock to display and sell. If you have many products, plan which best-selling items you will bring to the fairs.

3. Plan your booth well.

What experience would you like for customers to have in your booth? For newbies, you can start with simple shelf organizers or racks for your displays. You must also consider adding on-brand signage, lighting, and decorations to attract them to your booth.

4. Prep your marketing materials.

Joining bazaars is a way of marketing your brand. Prepare calling cards, promotional materials, payment methods, paper or eco-bags for purchases, and price tags.

5. Study the market.

As the face of your brand, be ready to present yourself to the public and talk to the public market. "Always pray for wisdom and discernment if the bazaar is worth the risk and investment. Also, prepare money and PR (public relations)," Suzette shared. 

6. Equip your staff.

You must prepare to bring manpower to help you set up and manage the booth. Make sure they are well-trained to interact with customers and respond to their questions.

Would joining bazaars be good for your business?

When it comes to the return on investment (ROI), the business owners we talked to revealed that there are low and peak seasons for bazaars. One mom shared that during low seasons, she would get around Php 80k, and Php up to 130k during peak seasons. 

For another mom, it's always higher than what they invested. Others, meanwhile say that they just breakeven. Nevertheless, joining bazaars remain to be a good opportunity to provide more exposure and brand awareness for the business, as well as interact with potential customers.

For more inspiring stories about moms who started their business, read here.