Hardware and Construction Supplies

A Leap Of Faith

Before we started our hardware and construction supplies business I thought I knew at least half of there is to know about the business but when it was time to really start the store I found out I knew zit.  Why I decided to go through with the plan is probably due to my unwavering stubbornness almost to the point of stupidity. I call it guts which many people disagree. As it turned out guts paid off, we are now a proud owner of a successful hardware and construction supplies business.

Before me and my wife started the store of course we consulted a wide range of people about it. From friends to relative, to people engaged in the same business, to construction workers and even sidewalk vendors in our area. The consensus said you need a capital starting at 1,000,000php and that’s a lot of zeros. My wife and I is hardly making ends meet with our salaries working as call center agents. Needless to say we don’t have that much of a capital all we have is our burning desire to start our own business. We dreamed, on our bed, when we go out for groceries, when we eat, when we take our daughter to school almost to the point of obsession if it’s still isn’t. Every day we talked about it. Our main reason for starting a business as we said is for the kids. Working night shifts is not acceptable.  

How we get the start up capital was a big question mark but if you got a wife like I have, the answer is inevitable. Needless to say we secured a loan. Where? I’m afraid it not part of the subject matter here. I can only tell that it’s not a million or half of it. It’s just 450,000 pesos and here is where my stubborn personality comes into play. 

Of course it’s better to have more to start with than what we have. There were doubts and countless fights with my wife. Even my mother discouraged us, almost everyone. There were other ideas of course like a water refilling business which I’m already familiar on how to operate. We also have a family owned pharmacy. Why not one of the two or both? Again as I said I was stubborn all I have is gut feel that we could do it.