The family has been into the metal crafts starting with semi-precious metal jewelry that they supply locally 30 years ago, now Austolia Jewelry Arts have evolved into a brand with a global market.
Austolia M. Simbajon’s family business used to be into making silver jewelry back in the 90s after her father-in-law, who used to work for an export company producing high-end silver jewelry, resigned from his job to setup his own business.
When the price of silver metals increased however, Simbajon said that the family decided to expand the business by producing components using other ordinary metals for exporters and other companies in Cebu.
“The price of silver increased making the business less profitable so we started to produce components that exporters especially those into fashion accessories use,” she said.
In 2007 the family had to fully take over a partnership that did not prosper leaving them with large stock of fashion accessories and components.
“That was the time Austolia Fashion Arts was born,” said Simbajon.
It was an exporting business born during the most difficult period for the market as the economic crisis started to hit the United States of America which was its biggest market then.
“We were in partnership with a friend who orders the components from us and sometimes the finished products assembled by us. Then she markets them to Italy. But because of the crisis, the partnership failed and we have to take over,” she said.
Simbajon said she had to learn about designs because of the new business.
The market was still suffering and soon she and her husband focused their attention on their new business Austolia Fashion Arts because they did not lose hope that there were still other markets they can tap for their products.
To compete and to minimize overhead expenses, the family decided to sell its property with their facilities in sitio Buyong, barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City and relocate to a smaller area in barangay Saac Dos in Mactan.
“That property in Buyong is about 2,292 square meters which we are still selling now at P25 million which we plan to use to finance our business more and join in more expos here and abroad for new markets,” said Simbajon.
The new 500 square meter facility in barangay Saac houses the firm’s showroom and production area.
They also cut down their workforce from 100 to 18 people.
“We had to cut manpower because the market is still very small so we are operating now on a slowdown mode but still good enough for us because we earn still and achieve profit to support our family and pay our people,” said Simbajon.
At present, Simbajon said that they have customers in Europe, United States of America, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Canada.
“The US and Europe market is still slow and we are still starting up in other markets. The domestic market however is doing good. I get a lot of buyers especially from Manila.”
Simbajon said that their revenue from the domestic market has helped a lot in offsetting their loss from the international market.
The family also joins major trade shows organized by the Department of trade and Industry Center for International Trade and Expositions and Missions to gain more local and foreign buyers.
“I often get to meet a lot of buyers there both domestic and foreign so for me trade shows help a lot as well especially when most exporters don’t have much budget to do marketing themselves abroad,” said Simbajon.
Simbajon said that she plans to strengthen her brand by producing more products that are relevant for their market.
“We are currently developing evening clutch bags make of wood, metals and shell in-lays which most of our market really like to have. New designs for our accessories are also being developed now,” said Simbajon.