Mommy Ginger
Let's talk about Business, Beauty and Babies!

#BOUNCEBACKFORBUSINESS: 1PesoHosting.Com

Businesses, especially those with no online presence, have been reading a lot about establishing presence online and how to build a website. When your building a website, you’ll need a hosting provider. Today, the featured local business for my #BounceBackforBusiness Series is 1PesoHosting.com.

Ginger: Hi Herbert! Can you tell us more about your business?

Herbert: 1PesoHosting.Com is a small web and server hosting provider that started around year 2002. We have hosted more than 1,000 websites and have clients in the SMEs, large enterprises, government and non-profit organizations. We cater mostly to Philippines based companies but also have foreign clients.

We are one of the cheapest providers with web hosting plans that starts as low as Php 100/month for a 4GB space and Php 350/month for unlimited hosting and our support teams are purely local. Our servers are located in the US, Hongkong and Malaysia and we provide domain registration services, shared web hosting, virtual private servers (cloud servers), dedicated servers, SSL and server management services.

Ginger: Why did you start your business and what was the mission behind it? 

Herbert: We started 1pesohosting.com because back in the days, web hosting in the Philippines was very expensive. We realized that by offering a US based server, would be able to help SMEs build and host their website at a fraction of the cost of doing it locally. Our mission is to enable companies bring their businesses online with the least cost and effort as possible. This starts with having an affordable domain and email/web hosting service.

Ginger: Can you describe your business model? How do you earn?

Herbert: All our services are availed via subscription and we accept credit cards, paypal and bank transfers/deposits.

Ginger: How were you impacted by this pandemic? How were you impacted by the Enhanced Community Quarantine? 

Herbert: Majority of our customers prefer bank deposits since their companies would issue checks to pay. Payments have been delayed and some potential leads/projects were put on hold therefore cashflow is very much affected. We pay our data centers and support staff monthly regardless of the situation so even if customers are unable to settle their bills on time, we still have to pay our bills.

Ginger: After this lockdown and pandemic is resolved, how can people help you moving forward?

Herbert: We are looking for more companies who are in need of our services. Some changes that we will be implementing for our business is that we will be promoting online payments more compared to bank payments. However, since majority of our clients are businesses who does not usually pay via credit card, we need to find ways to have businesses settle bills online that would be acceptable as per their accounting policy.

Ginger: What are the business lessons that you have learned from this? 

Herbert: Maintain better cashflow for situations where revenue will be delayed

Thank you so much, Herbert for sharing with us the story of 1PesoHosting.com.

Please visit them at http:/www.1pesohosting.com / and on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/1pesohosting

Stay Safe!

P.S. Please follow https://www.facebook.com/groups/BounceBackPH/ to see how you can support the Philippines.

P.P.S. Please follow #BounceBackforBusiness #GInspiration #GoLocalPH for more Local SME and Professional stories that we can support!

P.P.S. If you want to be featured next, please visit this link https://mommyginger.com/smes-and-professionals-unite-during-this-time-of-crisis.html and for Women Founders, please visit this website and sign up: http://startupwomenconnect.asia/

#BOUNCEBACKFORBUSINESS: Forest School Philippines

We’ve been inside our homes for a month now. Lately, I’ve been feeling the effects of staying indoors. It’s mostly affecting my mood. I can’t wait for the time when we can go outdoors and explore again.

Speaking of exploring, our children will need this, too. So today, for the local business that I want to feature, I interviewed Forest School Philippines. Honestly, this is the first time that I have heard of them and what they do is quite interesting.

Ginger: What is your Business? Can you tell readers more about it?

Forest School Philippines: Forest school is an approach that takes place outdoors where children are in charge of their learning through unstructured free play. As a result, children can think for themselves, speak their minds, and keep on getting up every time they make a mistake.

Ginger: Interesting! Why did you start your business? And what is your mission? 

Forest School Philippines: It started as a personal mission because I was stuck for the most part of my life. I was in a career that did not give me joy and meaning. Finding forest school was marrying the 3 things I loved–education, nature, and children. At the same time, we want children joining forest school to discover and unlock their own genius so that they can share their gift to the world.

Ginger: So how do you earn? Can you describe your business model?

Forest School Philippines: Profit-first. Zero capital (except for the UK training I invested in myself). I earn through weekly sessions, private coaching sessions, special events (birthday or summer camps) and speaking engagements.

Ginger: I know it has been tough for schools lately. How about your business? How were you impacted by this pandemic?

Forest School Philippines: Despite the fact that nature is good to boost children’s immune system, the children’s safety is utmost concern. All sessions were postponed to a later date.

Ginger: How can people help you moving forward? What kind of help are you looking for? 

Forest School Philippines: I need help in creating awareness about Forest School or forest kindergarten as an option alongside the other progressive or non-traditional schools. If Scandinavian countries have been practicing this for years, and they have the highest literacy rate, then they must be doing something right. I am also looking for forest school assistants and volunteers from different parts of the country whom I can train, so we can spread this movement fast.

Ginger: Because of the things happening now, what changes will you be implementing in your business? 

Forest School Philippines: Teaching people how they can do it themselves, as long as they have access to space and nature.

Ginger: Oh nice! Since a lot of business owners will be reading this, what are the business lessons that you have learned from this? 

Forest School Philippines: This is a season for planting. It’s a time to work on our marketing, revisit the processes, and strengthen the connection with potential clients.

Thank you so much for sharing your story.

If you all want to learn more about Forest School Philippines, please visit the links below.

http://forestschoolphilippines.com

https://facebook.com/forestschoolph

https://instagram.com/forestschoolph

P.S. Please follow https://www.facebook.com/groups/BounceBackPH/ to see how you can support the Philippines.

P.P.S. Please follow #BounceBackforBusiness #GInspiration #GoLocalPH for more Local SME and Professional stories that we can support!

P.P.S. If you want to be featured next, please visit this link https://mommyginger.com/smes-and-professionals-unite-during-this-time-of-crisis.html and for Women Founders, please visit this website and sign up: http://startupwomenconnect.asia/

What is Life All About? (My Easter Reflection)

We will all have our own definition of what life is. My personal take on what life is about is that life exists or we exist to be of service to others.

Looking at the great examples of Jesus, Mother Teresa and all other people you may think as admirable, they dedicated their lives to serve others. You need not look further since our medical professionals and most people now are all serving others now at the time of COVID-19.

We can serve others in our own ways. There are no clear rules on how to serve others. It feels better though when you do it wholeheartedly without expecting anything in return.

Yesterday, when my husband and I were talking, we touched on the question: “are we just pressuring ourselves to hit a target for the business?” We’re both doers, goal-oriented individuals and we thrive in such a fast-paced industry. Even in Stardew Valley (for those who play), after completing the Community Center, the next question we asked was “so what now? Let’s hit to achieve 1,000,000 in our wallet!”. Yes, we constantly have goals that we want to achieve both in life and in a game.

But that question really got me thinking. Why do we have moving targets? Our targets change because people and our environment change. Each one of us change consistently that our priorities change and our loved ones’ priorities change, too.

Staying indoors really made me think about a lot of things. How about you?

Have you find the meaning of life?

What is your life’s purpose?

How are you of service to other people?

If you haven’t found your life’s purpose is yet, it’s okay. Some people find it early in life; sone find it late in life.

I wish you all clarity of purpose this Easter. May you find inspiration in the darkest days. May you find life’s meaning, and may you find people who will support your cause and purpose.

Have a Happy Easter Sunday!

You may be interested to read my other posts about life:

Make me Love you More… (an Ode to Life)
Realign your Life
The Importance of a Life List

#BOUNCEBACKFORBUSINESS: Sarap Mag Biyahe (SMB) Travel and Tours Bacoor

One of the industries that’s greatly affected by the pandemic is the travel industry. Our local travel and tours business in the country will need your support after all of these. One of the MSMEs that I have talked to is Sarap Mag Biyahe (SMB) Travel and Tours – Bacoor Branch Services.

SMB Travel Bacoor usually offer Airline Ticketing (Phils. & International Destinations), Hotel Booking (Phils. & International Destinations), Sightseeing Tours (Phils. & International Destinations), Theme Park Tickets (Phils. & International Destinations), Travel Insurance (Phils. & International Destinations), Visa Assistance (Korea, Japan, China, Dubai, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Schengen, Turkey), Pocket Wifi Rental (Phils. & International Destinations), Car, Van, Mini-bus, Bus Rental (Phils. & International Destinations), Phils. & International Tours (FIT/Groups, Customized Tour Packages), Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions/ Events (M.I.C.E) Conference and Team Building / Company Excursion / Company Outing.

The have just recently started their business last February 8, 2019. Like most of these travel agencies, they earn service fee from the transactions.

Due to this crisis, they had to close their office. They haven’t gotten any sales since they have been no operations (No Sales) since President Rodrigo Duterte declared flight cancellations for one month.

SMB Travel Bacoor wishes that we could all help them out. We could help them and other travel agencies by not canceling our trips when we have bookings. Let’s just change the travel dates and save tourism!

“Many of us in Travel Industry might start with nothing if you cancel your trips. Save your desire to travel and let us assist you still after this challenge we all have right now. Another thing is and this is a fact, due to numerous requests, airlines will be taking up to 3 months to process refunds. But as we coordinate with them, changing the travel dates is allowed until June 30, 2020,” they said.

SMB Travel Bacoor continues on to assure us that we don’t need to change your travel dates and there is no need to rush in deciding when to travel again. SMB Travel says that they will be awaiting for your new travel dates.

This is good to know since I know that most of us will be raring and daring to travel once we wipe out and win over this Corona virus.

They also mentioned that this is the time that they are doubling up on their marketing efforts. They are also offering promo packages.

When asked about the lessons that they have learned from this pandemic, SMB Travel says that all businesses should save up as a contingency plan.

For future bookings, you can contact Sarap Mag Biyahe (SMB) Travel and Tours – Bacoor Branch Services via FB messenger (https://www.facebook.com/smbtravelbacoor) or email.

For now, stay at home and stay safe!

P.S. Please follow https://www.facebook.com/groups/BounceBackPH/ to see how you can support the Philippines.

P.P.S. Please follow #BounceBackforBusiness #GInspiration #GoLocalPH for more Local SME and Professional stories that we can support!

P.P.S. If you want to be featured next, please visit this link https://mommyginger.com/smes-and-professionals-unite-during-this-time-of-crisis.html and for Women Founders, please visit this website and sign up: http://startupwomenconnect.asia/

#BOUNCEBACKFORBUSINESS: Carsoncrest International School

With the spread of COVID-19, schools had to either close early or move their curriculum online. For my daughter, it was the latter. We had to set aside time to teach her the lessons given by the teachers. I actually enjoyed doing this with her. I immediately thought of how schools were affected (if they were) and how can we help these schools ran by our fellow MSMEs. For today, I’ll be sharing the story of Carsoncrest International School.

About Carsoncrest International School

Zeeka at Carsoncrest International School

Carsoncrest International School educates children of any nationality, race, or culture with programs ranging from preschool to senior high school.  It believes that children learn best when multidisciplinary, play-based, investigative, experiential, and practical approaches are used and supported with appropriate technologies that enhance the fun of learning and gaining knowledge. 

It also partners with parents to nurture their children into highly motivated, globally competent, academically excellent, and values driven lifelong learners.  Thus, it positions itself as a progressive institution that supports a multi-faceted philosophy in educating the young.  For its stockholders, it seeks aggressive growth and maximum returns at any location it decides to be.  While for its employees, it promises meaningful human development and adequate compensation.

I was lucky enough to talk to Carol Del Rosario, the woman behind Carsoncrest International School and asked her about running a business in the time of COVID-19.

Ginger: Can you describe your business model, Carol, and how were you impacted by the spread of the virus and the Enhanced Community Quarantine?

Carol: Like any school, we earn by collecting tuition fees. Right now, we can’t accept inquiries and enrollees in the school.

Ginger: How can people help you moving forward? What kind of help are you looking for? 

Carol: Right now, we are looking for ways to accept online enrollment. We’d also want to ask for people to spread the word about Carsoncrest International School.

Ginger: Because of the things happening now, what changes will you be implementing in your business? 

Carol: With these things happening, we’re thinking of implementing work at home or trying out home school (integrated with our curriculum) 2-3 times a week.

Ginger: What are the business lessons that you have learned from this? 

Carol: One of the things that we learned form this is that we should have contingency measures of moving everything online when situations like this happen.

Ginger: Thank you so much, Carol! I continue to wish you luck and success. I hope that parents consider enrolling their kids in your school. I’ve seen you and your school take good care of the kids who are there, and I’m sure parents who are reading this will want to support you after this crisis ends.

Let’s help support Carsoncrest International School. Please visit their website: http://carsoncrestinternationalschool.org/index.html

Instagram: https://instagram.com/carsoncrestinternationalschool

FB Page: https://facebook.com/carsoncrestinternationalschool

Twitter: https://twitter.com/carsoncrestinternationalschool

Stay safe!

P.S. Please follow https://www.facebook.com/groups/BounceBackPH/ to see how you can support the Philippines.

P.P.S. Please follow #BounceBackforBusiness #GInspiration #GoLocalPH for more Local SME and Professional stories that we can support!

P.P.S. If you want to be featured next, please visit this link https://mommyginger.com/smes-and-professionals-unite-during-this-time-of-crisis.html and for Women Founders, please visit this website and sign up: http://startupwomenconnect.asia/