Tindahang Pinoy, Shopinas launched

At least 400 local exporters will have the chance to display their products nationwide.

This developed after the One Town-One Product (OTOP)-Tindahang Pinoy project has its national launching on Friday.

Products displayed at the OTOP-Tindahang Pinoy at the Town Bridges Center, Mandaue City will also be displayed at two other outlets in Davao and Clark, Pampanga.

Small and medium entrepreneurs have a chance of landing a national distribution of their products at Tindahang Pinoy, said Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo during Friday’s formal launching of the store at the Bridges Town Center, Mandaue City.

The 400 exporters being part of the project have also encouraged more small and medium enterprise entrepreneurs to showcase their products in the store, said engineer Ramir V. Bonghanoy, Cebu Gifts, Toys, Houseware Foundation Inc. (Cebu-GTH) president

The store is a joint project of the Department of Trade and Industry in Central Visayas and the Cebu -GTH, which managed the Mandaue City outlet.

The Store showcases and sells world-class products catering to local and foreign tourists. Around 70 percent of the products come from Central Visayas while 30 percent come from other regions.

The store also displays OTOP products, which are usually made of indigenous materials of different towns.

The OTOP project aims to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs in cities and municipalities.

Domingo said he can’t tell the impact of the store since it just started but records show that the sales of the store quadrupled since it opened last December.

Another reason for the increase in sales of the store is that it’s not only for foreign tourists but also for domestic tourists.

“Cebu has always a strong economy, due to its 20 percent to 25 percent of foreign tourist arrivals. That’s a very big part of the national arrivals and this OTOP Store will support that because this is supported by tourism as well,” said Domingo of Cebu being one of three pilot areas for the Tindahang Pinoy project.

Last Friday, Shopinas, the Tindahang Pinoy’s online store, was also launched.

Shiela Lina, president of Shopinas, demonstrated how the emarketing system worked.

She said you can shop online and the product will be delivered to one’s  doorsteps.

Shopinas partnered with Logistics companies Air21 that caters to all domestic deliveries and FedEx for international deliveries. /UP Intern Caryl Baylon and CNU Intern Mary Elaine Baring