S
Way to the Top
elling clothes, accessories and bags in a competitive market as Singapore, one must be an excellent trader. For FASHRUS’ owner, Jennifer Adeline Patungan, 37, nothing is impossible if you work hard. It is very difficult to sustain a business in Singapore,” Jen confessed. Her secret? She innovates. Unlike traditional merchandisers, she doesn’t settle for local suppliers. Instead, she goes overseas to look for items. This style does not only mean lesser cost but also ensures quality and relatively trendy items. Just like any Filipino entrepreneurs, Jen had her own tale to share in terms of the ups and down of her business. She started from selling watches and other “small” items and then eventually tried her current clothing line in 2004 at Little India, one of Singapore’s busiest districts. In 2006 when her business started to make waves in the market, she went through a lot of “belt-tightening” to save enough capitalization. She had experienced staying and living at her shop for more than a year to save rentals and utility bills. In later years, her efforts paid off. To date, she owns three stores serving three diverse markets at Buffalo Road, Tekka Center and Lucky Plaza. Jen first set foot on Singapore soil in 1996 to work as a nurse attendant. Over the years, she has managed to change her career path and was able to establish a name for herself in the Filipino business community. Asked whether she considers herself as successful now, she said: “At some
By: Bernard Balanquit
point, yes but I still have a lot of dreams to accomplish.” To her, Singapore opened a gateway to countless opportunities in the realm of business. Her contribution to Singapore’s economy has been recognized and she’s getting a lot of support from the government. “That is the advantage of doing business here. The government has put in place enough safety nets for investors. Dito, kahit maglakad ka ng madaling araw, walang gagalaw sayo. Isang pindot mo lang sa celfone mo, andyan kaagad ang pulis. Di nakikita ang ganyang serbisyo sa atin,” Jen added. Putting up a business back home is not in her priority list. “In the Philippines, there is no clear-cut support system for traders. Businessmen really have to take the risk. That is something traders do not want to jump into. Protection from the government is what they need,” Jen added. Singapore’s business atmosphere is the exact opposite. Hence, in just a couple of years, her prospect for profit grew in an unprecedented level. Jen does her share of public service as a form of giving back to Singapore by being an active volunteer in the Grassroots Residence Committee. Is Jen a Bagong Bayani? Yes, she is. “Masaya ako dahil kinikilala ako ng Filipino community dito,” Jen giggles. She is an inspiration to other struggling Pinoys and Pinays in the distant lands.
Visit us at any of our shop outlets: Lucky Plaza: #03-87 662 Buffalo Road: #01-21 Tekka Centre: #02-21