Has Anybody Heard of Pinoy Scramble?

I wanted to set-up an Icebreaker Scramble outlet in the mall where I am located but I was told by Leasing that no-can-do coz Pinoy Scramble will be opening soon.

Pinoy Scramble? Another Scramble?

Just Got Back from Entrepreneurial Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Right Smack into the Aftermath of a Bungled Hostage Drama in Manila! . . . How We Seem to Always Screw Ourselves Up Bigtime and On TV . . . . . . Will Keep You Posted on What I Learned in Saigon. Stay Tuned.

(Manila, where else??? pic courtesy of sify.com)


(ho chi minh city pic courtesy of terragalleria.com)

Left last Sunday 1pm for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon for us oldies), Vietnam and got back Manila last Tuesday 1pm in time to read the shocking news about the Massacre of innocent tourists. Hay.

Don't Just Rely on Signages. Use the Power of Word-Of-Mouth

(courtesy of safetysign.com)

Imagine being relocated from a very high-traffic part of the Mall to a virtual DEAD ZONE and you can imagine the anxiety and worry that I went through when that just happened to my Lotto Outlet just last week.

To top it all, there are about 5 or 6 other lotto outlets within spitting distance (5o meters or less) from where I was located. The new site is exactly 80 steps (50 meters) away from my high-traffic site.

I knew my lotto customers will not be able to find me as they got used to just seeing my lotto outlet just upon entering the mall.

I placed a Tarp signage (in Bright Yellow background and Blue "Lotto" word across it) but only a handful saw the sign during our first 7 days and you know what brought my loyal lotto customers back , it was WORD-OF-MOUTH, to wit:

1. I stood on my old site and started giving out PCSO Lotto Playcards for them to place their bets and directed (escorted) them to my site;

2. The sales personnel of former

neighboring tenants who also pointed my lotto customers in the right direction;

3. Security Roving Guards also played a prominent role as many lotto customers asked the guards where my lotto outlet is now located;

4. And like a snowball effect, those lotto customers who were fortunate to find my lotto outlet during the crucial first 5 days also spread the word to their neighbors and friends who were also my lotto customers.

Signages are good but nothing like going out there and talking to your loyal lotto customers.

The Number One Lotto Outlet Sells P15 Million worth of Scratch It Cards

Do you know that the Number One Lotto Outlet which is owned by Mr. Lucio de Castro is targeted to sell about P15 Million worth of Scratch It Cards a year???

That means a lot of people are just
plain crazy about Scratch It Cards and this spells only GOOD NEWS for Mr. de Castro!!!

To learn more about Profit Margins on Scratch It cards and Learn How to Set-up and Operate your Own Lotto OUtlet, call pldt 514-2905 or text 0922-8831225 right now.

How Do You Sustain Interest in the One-flavor Scramble?

With so many brands of Scramble (and with different spellings) but all having the same Strawberry flavor, am concerned about the following:

1. Will not the customers tire of it? (Even Zagu has had to come out with a steady stream of flavors though cookies n cream, chocolate and buko pandan remain the bestsellers)

2. The add-ons try to differentiate but overall, it is still the same taste and add-ons bring the price closer to P20 or more (or just P10 shy of Zagu Baby Z)

3. Would it impact negatively if one was to change the strawberry base to chocolate?

4. Would changing the milk powder sprinkle to another ingredient make it different?

5. How about offering a premium scramble with brownie toppings?

Day 9 at the New LOTTO SITE

(pic of new lotto site-- bigger and i have the whole place to myself)

1. Am slowly getting my Sukis (loyal lotto customers) back. (Some admitted to going to the other lotto outlets when they could not find my new site but once their friends and neightbors told them where we were, THEY ARE BANK AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS)

2. We did lose some impulse lotto players but have gained some new lotto customers especially those in the surrounding shops (national bookstore, medical city clinic and car owners as am at the foot of the walkalator leading to the carpark)

3. I still get some customers approaching me and asking where is my lotto outlet.

4. Still need to do a lot of WORD-OF-MOUTH CAMPAIGNING as well as GOING THE EXTRA MILE (like accompanying lotto customers to my lotto outlet).

Heartening is the concern expressed by the following regarding the impact on my sales:

a. Mall Administration Management and Staff

b. Support services such as Security guards and janitors

c. Banco de Oro tellers

d. Fellow tenants

e. Last but most importantly, my loyal lotto customers who show empathy to my situation and are showing their support by taking extra steps just to patronize my lotto outlet

I thank the Lord and my crew for lifting me when I felt so worried with the poor turnouts during the early days.

2 Days to Go to Ho Chi Minh City

(pic courtesy of QT Luong)

Yup, I will be going to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon to the colonialists) with a former client and we both will be
(pic courtesy of qt luong)

visiting a factory and some friends to check out what things we can bring over to Manila to sell.

When the Mall Tells You to Move Your Lotto Outlet, You Move

It's been 7 days since we had to move our Lotto outlet from a high-traffic space to a very-low traffic space and I can tell you it has been a nerve-wracking 7 days.

There are 5 other Lotto Outlets within 50 meters from where I am and I was worried shit (pardon the expression) that all my customers would not know where I am or not approve of my new site and MOVE TO MY COMPETITORS!.

Here are my notes:

1. Despite a very visible tarpaulin spider standee at my former site stating "LOTTO PLAY HERE. MOVED TO FRONT OF METROBANK AND NATIONAL BOOKSTORE" and a very visible ARROW sign right smack in the middle of the tarp, very few people notices the signage.

2. It's been 7 days and I still have loyal customers still telling me they cannot find my lotto outlet or they had to roam the floors of the mall before they found my lotto outlet.

3. Most effective method was when they asked the Roving Mall Guard who pointed them where my lotto outlet is.

4. Next most effective method to locate my lotto outlet is when I, my physical body, stood at the former site and giving out Lotto Playslip Cards. I BECAME MY OWN HUMAN TARPAULIN STANDEE.

5. Since my loyal Lotto customers got used to seeing me drinking countless cups of coffee at the Red Ribbon Resto across my former lotto site, I decided to eat lunch everyday there in plain view of all and my customers would approach me and ask, "Where is your Lotto???". (p.s. I gained obscene wait doing this.)

6. I also escort my lotto customers and even help them carry their shopping bags just to make sure they do not get lost looking for my lotto outlet.

Is Locating at the LRT Worth the Rent???

As I was on looking for possible food cart locations, I started looking around the LRT stations for Locations and here is what I noted while at the LRT Carriedo and new Balintawak Stations, to wit:

1. Rent is maybe P24,000 per month and up



2. People are in a hurry to ride or disembark that I do not know if there is still time for them to eat at the many food carts there



(many people but do they have time to buy what you are selling??)

3. Peak hours are 5am to 9am while the rest of the day seem pretty dull



(few students on weekends equals poor sales?)

4. Since most riders are students, expect very poor traffic on weekends


(are people in a hurry to leave the LRT station?)

5. Logistics-wise, bit hard as no water and sewer lines i.e you have to bring your own drinking and washing water containers up and down the flights of stairs

6. Note one Scramble outlet had to pull-out of one of the LRT stations after a few days, poor sales was the reason.

From Scramble to Scrumble to Crumble: Same Product at An Even Lower Price!!!

As I was afraid of, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO OFFER A LOWER SCRAMBLE AT A SOMEWHAT GOOD QUALITY, enter SNOWFLOW ICE CRUMBLE or Scrumble. . . .

I spotted this new version of the Scramble called Snowflow Ice Crumble at the LRT Carriedo Station. The taste is somewhat better than the others though not as creamy as the Icebreaker Scramble, and get this, selling for an even lower price : P6 - P10 - P15.



(pic of menu showing Selling Price lower than other Scramble outlets-- START OF PRICE WAR? )



(pic of P6 cup serving of Snowfloe Ice Crumble; visual appearance not as appealing as Icebreaker Scramble but their milk powder tastes good)


They have 2 other branches: Tutuban and Recto. I still do not have details but they are open to franchising.

Target market are the students traveling on the LRT and HORRORS!! the most saleable serving is the P6 small cup with P4 choco kisses toppings. How will the franchisee survive?????????

A Scramble Question: How Do You Maintain the Low Price Without Affecting Franchisee Profit Margins?

I was at a photo shoot with other newbie photographers and I met this guy, also Richard, and he was a Marketing Consultant and we got to talking about the Scramble phenomenon.




(Picture of Manila Scramble kiosk by foodtriptayo.com)

My concerns:

1. The Main Selling Proposition is a Cool Drink at a Really Low Price. With retail price at P7-P10-P17, how do you keep it at that level with rent and CUSA going up every year (and if the mall sees you are making a lot of money, they might even increase beyond the 10% or even ask for percentage of sales) and minimum wage in Manila is now more than P400/day?

2. If selling price goes up to P20 or P25, will that not be too close to Zagu at P30-P36 in a bigger cup size?

3. How about the traditional Gulaman drink at P10/8oz cup sold with the favorite siomai?

4. When Dunkin Donut recently raised SRP of their donuts from P10 to P12 or 20% increase, the size still remained the same (which seems to be getting smaller) but the margin to the franchisee remained the same.

5. A Scoop of Milko ice cream is P12, Mang Inasal sorbetes at P10 and when Selecta does a promo, P5/cone!!! Are these competiting products to the scramble??

6. Plastic cups used for the scramble is petroleum based and gas prices have been on the uptrend. Scramble in the provinces use recycled plastic (just by looking at the inferior quality of the cups) but you cannot use that in the malls.

7. What if another scramble outfit comes up offering lower prices and having all outlets owned by franchisee to keep his cost down, will not that cause a price-war?

8. On the subject of rent, aside from paying rent for your food cart, you might be asked by the mall to pay another rent for your STORAGE ROOM (usually in the basement parking of the mall) where you keep your freezer or coleman/ice chest and other packaging supplies)

WILL APPRECIATE IF YOU AS THE READER CAN GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS BY CLICKING ON THE "LEAVE A COMMENT" button below the above Post title.

Scramble Update: Buzzbox or Buzbox Leads the Top Searches

Based on my fledgling blog analytics, Buzzbox Scramble or Buz box Scramble leads the Top Searches.

Since I started featuring the Scramble business, Scramble seems almost the only thing my readers are interested in. IceBreaker used to be the Lead Search 3 weeks ago and then followed by Buzz box and then Scramble King. And now, back to Buz Box Scramble.

It could be because many people go to Megamall and I think only Buzz Box or Buz box Scramble is there. It will be interesting to see if Buzz box can maintain their Top Search Position after Icebreaker opens in Megamall and exhibits at the Asia Food Expo in September, 2010.

Before you plunk down your hard-earned Life savings, wait and see who will survive.

Aug 12, 2010: We Have Finally Moved to Our New Site. A New Journey Begins.

Our Lotto Outlet has finally moved to our New Site and while we have more or less settled in, a New Saga begins. There is so much to do.

1. FIRST THINGS FIRST IS PROMOTIONS.

2. Install a bunch of Tarpaulins pointing where the New Site is.

3. Making myself visible in around the Mall so that my Sukis (loyal customers) can see and ask me where my Lotto outlet is now.

4. Escorting my lotto customers to the new Lotto Site

5. Going outside of the Mall like the adjacent Palengke (wet market) and streetside telling all my lotto customers that we have moved to a new site

6. Planning Promotional activities to be implemented during the start of operations of the new LRt Station.

7. Install Permanent Driectional Lotto Standees to point to the location of our Lotto Outlet.

How Come Seminars on How to Use Free Internet Marketing like Social Media Costs So Much??

I feel so frustrated. I just received another email offer from the IMMAP (an Internet Marketing Assn group) that talks about using free social media but the cost is P10,000 to P16,000.

Another email I got was from a famous pinoy blogger that I would have so much wanted to attend as I am a newbie blogger but the whole seminar course over a couple of weeks cost P40,000, which is the start-up capital of quite a few micro and small business owners.

I can understand its the knowledge of the person offering the seminar but that means only the Rich and Famous can benefit from it.

It would have been so beneficial if somebody could teach micro and small business owners ways to harness the powers of the internet for free.

With many would-be entrepreneurs discouraged from pursuing their dreams of being free from employment because of the high-entry fee (rent, franchise fees) and lack of knowledge (hey, am too old to go back to school), the internet certainly offers opportunities in terms of no-rent selling, free promotional activities & a wider global reach to customers.

But what to do if the meager capital of a micro business owner is not even enough to attend an internet marketing seminar?

This is What Happens When I Treat My Lotto Customer Right. . . .

I was at the bank this morning just before lunch and as I was transacting with the Teller, I heard my name called. I turned and I saw my Lotto customer.

He told me that with regards to that certain hard-to-get location for my lotto outlet that I have always wanted, he might be able to help as he put in an application for the space on my behalf thru a friend of his who happens to be a relative and if successful, we just might be able to do business together.

Nothing is definite yet but the fact that my lotto customer would go out of his way to do that and is willing to do a joint venture business with me speaks volumes of the POSITIVE WAY our lotto customers think about us.

Confirmed!! Lucky Circle Corp. has Won the Contract to Set-up Lotto Outlets in all MRT Stations

Previously, I posted that a Big Group has won the contract to set-up and operate Lotto outlets in all MRT Stations.

Now it can be told, its Lucky Circle Corporation. For you in the dark about who is Lucky Circle Corp., they have the exclusive contract to set-up Lotto outlets in all SM Malls including Save More Supermarkets.

Lucky Circle Corp., in turn, is owned by the Pacific Online Systems Inc which has the contract to operate all Lotto Outlets in the Visayas and Mindanao areas.

Pacific Online Systems, is the largest seller of Scratch It cards in the Philippines and in turn again is owned by Belle Resources, which is into gaming and the Tagaytay Highlands. And lastly, the SM Group owns a significant portion of the shares of stock of Belle Resources.

The point I want to make is that Gaming, which includes Lotto, is BIG BUSINESS and that is why companies like the SM Group is into it. I understand Belle Resources is interested in buying into Pagcor, which has the Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City (Like Las Vegas, Philippine style) which is located near the Mall of Asia.

That is why, Lotto is still a viable business but you still need to do your homework.

If you are interested in my Consultation on How to Set-up and Run a Lotto Outlet, call me at 514-2905 or text me at 0917-5240965.

Not so New News: Siomai House in all MRT Stations

Cementing their hold as being the pre-eminent Steamed Siomai Franchise, all MRT stations are now sprouting Siomai House outlets.

Watch out and be prepared to be massacred if you set-up another brand of siomai outlet opposite a Siomai House outlet.

Tomorrow, My Lotto Outlet Moves to a New Site Within the Same Mall

With much apprehension and having gone through a couple of challenges, I will be transferring my lotto outlet about a couple of meters from my present site.

Apprehension because though it is but a few meters away, the flow of mall traffic and the complexion of the type of mall traffic will change.

While everybody tells me my "SUKI" or loyal Lotto customers will still seek my lotto outlet out, I am afraid of losing my IMPULSE BUYERS.

Not many people think there are Impulse Lotto customers but there are:
1. People who do not really bet but see that there is a long line of lotto customers at my lotto outlet

2. People who do not normally bet but will bet small just to try their luck

3. People who happen to pass-by my lotto outlet on the way to Red Ribbon and Chowking (as I am in between both high-traffic fastfood chains)

4. Rich people who never bet but cannot resist betting because they happen to see my Posting showing that the Jackpot has now reached P200 million

5. Office workers in a rush to get home but can spare a minute to make a bet

I will keep you posted on whether the new site is better than the present site.

My Purpose of This Blog Is. . . .

Set-up a Business Network for the purpose of

1. Validate viability of a business concept with the Community of Like-minded would-be entrepreneurs and existing small small business owners

2. Share business ideas with the hope of setting-up joint ventures (especially since franchises are getting unaffordable)

3. Communicate sources of cheap funds and cheaper bank loans or banks that are more kind to small business owners

4. Learn Best Business Practices of fellow small entrepreneurs

5. Sounding Board of Franchises that are good to have and those to best avoid (I have heard comments like "its only the franchisor that is making money)

6. Link-up buyers and sellers

7. Looking For and For Sale Bulletin Board

If you wish to comment on the List or improve on what I have said, please click on the Leave a Comment button just below the title of this Post. Thank you.

Big Group Rumored to Have Just Closed Agreement to Set-up Lotto Outlets in all MRT Stations!!!!

Unconfirmed reports have it that a Group has bagged the contract to set-up PCSO Lotto Outlets in all MRT Stations.

With the set-up of all these PCSO Lotto Outlets, it will allow the Big Group to aggressively market its line of Scratch It Cards.

With All Scramble Makers Offering the Same Strawberry Flavor, Will Customers Tire of It?

They may have different toppings or Add-ons but they all have the same strawberry base. My questions are:

1. Will scramble eaters tire of it BY OFFERING ONLY ONE FLAVOR FOREVER?

2. Will offering different flavors like chocolate kill the product or extend its customer base? (Zagu started with a few flavors but started offering In-flavors like Cookies N Cream and it was a hit bestseller)

3. Or, will the low pricing for SRP preclude any additional flavors? (I came across a blog on the Scramble outlet that no longer offers the P5 cup)

4. Will going to the P30 level be bad for scramble or bad for Zagu?

5. The Teen market are faddish and finicky. How do we sustain consumer interests?

Yuppie Market presents The Scramble Clone Wars

If my post title sounds Luke Skywalker-ish, it is because I am a Star Wars fan and I especially liked the original versions--Star Wars, the Empire Strikes Back.

During the WOFEX 2010, there is this company called Ferna Corporation, a supplier of food ingredients. I understand from the Ferna Saleperson that they can provide the food ingredients to make your own Zagu or Scramble. In fact she showed me a bag of strawberry powder.


Chef Ronald of the Ferna Morning show was on hand fielding questions from a big crowd of would-be small business owners about products to sell using Ferna's food ingredients.


(Ferna's range of products from soft serve ice cream --think Mr softy, etc, shake powder -- think Zagu?, and other food powders-- Do-It-Yourself Scramble)

While it can be said that there is nothing like getting the original franchise (Icebreaker Scramble, Buzzbox Scramble, Scramble King) as presumably they have the system in place, some questions come to mind:

1. Wont the Scramble buyers get so tired with seeing so many brands of scrambles (both good-taste and bland-taste)?

2. Since Scramble has basic components, can't outfits like Ferna concoct the taste of any Scramble-type and copy it in a way that the customer can no longer differentiate? (Filipinos are known to be good copycats OUCH!)

3. Packaging will spell the difference but as I wrote in a previous blog post, Icebreaker Scramble and Scramble King have similar product and packaging appearances (http://wp.me/pBaHK-9F)

4. From the side of the cannot-afford small business owner, does it make business-sense to forgo the P200,000 franchise fee and have Ferna make your own Scramble and then, get a professional printer with a good graphic artist create a drop-dead bad-ass kind of packaging to wow the scramble crowd?

I might be inclined to get the Market leader of the Scramble craze based on taste, market reach which correlates to market promotion, quality of organization, efficiency of logistics and lastly, profit margin for me.

It is no easy thing to make your own product and brand but what if you cannot swing the high cost of entry of the franchisor?


I hope you guys reading this can send me your comments. See ya! http://wp.me/pBaHK-9F

Another Lotto Customer Wins P7,700 Playing Red Hot Seven Scratch It Card

Today August 9, 2010, a customer won P7,700 playing Red Hot Lotto Scratch It Card!!!!!!

Actually many winners today. . . Another won P1,000 playing Cash Extravaganza Scratch It card.

I am always happy when my Lotto customers WIN BIG in the Scratch It cards as it creates excitement in my Lotto Outlet. Many people keep on asking HOW MUCH DID SHE WIN? WHAT SCRATCH IT CARD DID SHE BUY? I WANT THAT SCRATCH IT CARD!!

Sargo Scratch It card is one of the lesser-know Scratch It cards but after somebody won P20,000 two days ago, everbody wants to buy one!!!

If you want to know how to set-up and operate your OWN LOTTO OUTLET, call me at 514-2905 or text me at 0922-8831225 and ask how you can avail of my consultation. I will discuss about the Lotto business based on my own experience as an authorized Lotto agent. See you.

The Scramble Business is Scrambling a Lot of Heads of Small Businessmen

Last week, it was Icebreaker. This week, its Buzz Box or Buz Box Scramble (which ever way you call them). What I am referring to are the search words my readers use to arrive at my blog.

Just like Icebreaker, BuzzBox Scramble is not into franchising. So far, it is only the provincial-based Scramble King that is accepting franchising (see my blog post at http://wp.me/pBaHK-9F).



It seems the heavy-weights in the Scramble business are busy setting-up franchises in the choice spaces namely SM, Robinson's, Puregold and other mall chains.

I am worried that I also plan to have a Scramble franchise but I may locked-out of most of the good locations. Poor me.

Is Earning a Net of P5,000/month Enough to Get A Franchise???

An ex-PAL stewardess but now a small business owner herself who is into making Premium Cakes for Corporate Accounts related this talk with a crewmember of a Native Delicacy franchise in a mall in Manila:

1. Average daily sales is only P3,000/day or P90,000/month

2. Rent is about P35,000/month

3. Assume Food cost is 30% or P27,000/month (which is on the low side of estimates

4. Salary of at least 2 crewmembers

5. Franchise package maybe about P350 to 500,000

6. Net Income is about P5,000/month.

According to the crew, the owner knows the income is low but gets it back by having several outlets.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS APPROACH TO FRANCHISING IS SOUND BUSINESS-WISE?

Homemade Ketsup is Big Business

Why not make your own ketsup at home and sell it.

Your Target Market is not the supermarkets where the competition is stiff and cost of doing business is high but rather to the following:

1. Palengkes (wet markets)

2. Buy1Take1 hamburger stands

3. School canteens

4. Carinderias catering to Jeepney drivers and office workers

Top Bakeshop Crewmember Wins P8,000 from Playing EZ2 Lotto Game at my Lotto Outlet

Today August 7, 2010 , the EZ2 2pm Winning combination is 9-10. With that, a Top Bakeshop Chain crew member WON P8,000 from her P20.

Actually, when she betted 9-10, the rest of the crew of the Top Bakeshop Chain outlet also followed moments after to bet the same combination of 9-10 but their bets were not entered as that combination had already sold-out before the 2 pm draw. Otherwise, the whole Top Bakeshop Chain outlet would have been all winners.

To know more about How to Set-up and Operate your Own Lotto Outlet and learn from the actual experience of a Lotto agent, call (+632) 514-2905 or 0922-8831225.

What is the Product of the Lotto Outlet and Why I Think It is Here to Stay!!

Is it the Lotto ticket?

Is it the PCSO Scratch It card?

Is it 6/49. 6/45. 6/55 or the EZ2 Lotto games?

It is none of the above.

The product of a Lotto Outlet is HOPE.

During the early days of my Lotto outlet, I used to interview my Lotto customers as I wanted to know more about them and my first question is "How long have you been playing the Lotto" and "Why play the Lotto". One elderly Office employee told me he has been playing the Lotto since it started in 1995 and he believes at his age and lowly position in the company, NOBODY WILL GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO A BETTER LIFE.

For as long as opportunities are hard to come by unless you are born rich, this is the reason why I think the Lotto is here to stay.

Some may say these Losers want the easy way out. Let me ask you, I keep on attending Expos, Franchise exhibits and other negosyo fairs and to get a good franchise, you need upwards of P200,000 if you factor in the franchise package, rent, CUSA, working capital for 8 months and capital expenditures for equipment. Now, how many of the Pinoy populace can afford P200,000????

Young Lady Wins P20,000 Playing PCSO LOTTO Sargo Scratch It Card at my Lotto Outlet

Today is August 7, 2010 and just a little after lunchtime, a young lady Ms. J with a lady friend bought a PCSO Lotto Sargo Scratch It Card for P20. After she had scratched the Scratch It Card, she coyly presented the Scratch It card to me.



She did not say anything about exchanging it for cash but she seemed nervous. I assumed she won a minor price and just wanted it exchanged for another Lotto Scratch It card. When I checked the Scratch It card to see if it is a winning card, I was surprised as she WON P20,000!!!!

This is the second month in a row that somebody won something big. Last July 3, 2010, another woman won P50,000 playing the PCSO Lotto Tic-Tac-Mu Scratch It Card.

THIS IS VERY GOOD GOOD NEWS BECAUSE WHEN MY LOTTO CUSTOMER WINS BIG THRU SCRATCH IT CARDS, IT MAKES THEM WANT TO BUY MORE LOTTO SCRATCH IT CARDS AND NOT ONLY THAT,
THEY ALSO WILL BUY LOTTO TICKETS!!!

Lastly, you earn better margins selling Lotto Scratch It cards.

To learn How to Set-up and Operate Your Own Lotto Outlet, call me at pldt (+632) 514-2905 or text LOTTO SETUP and your full name to 0922-8831225.

How About Supplying the Retailers??

I saw a booth by Joe Kuan. For those who do not know the brand, I use to eat hot mami along the roadside late nights after college (Yikes decades ago) long before Jollibee and Chowking became who they are now.

They used to have many outlets but now only 4 remain. According to their man, Joe Kuan is now supplying MiniStop and other convenience store chains.

Come to think of it, instead of having an army of tinderas, what if I just cook at home and supply the retailers? Another example is the company supplying pastries to coffeeshops like Starbucks, Seattle's Best and the like as these coffeeshops do not have their own bakeries.

AFFORDABLE SMALL BUSINESS IDEA: Great Tasting Hotdog That is not called Purefoods or Smokeys. And its CHEAP!!!!

There was a Tender Juicy Hotdog booth ==replendent in its Red and Blue colors but what caught my eye is another brand. (My sister who is into Merchandising calls it the REGIONAL BRAND), its Pampanga's Best Hotdog.

The guy tending the Pampanga's Best booth was selling cooked hotdog at P7 a piece. Granted the piece looked a bit shorter (a weenie, hehehehe) but it tasted so good. (See pic below and note P7 signage)



From my marketing friend, most of the growth in the hotdog business is not from the named brands like Purefoods, Smokeys or Swifts but rather from regional brands like Pampanga's Best.

I was thinking I could have a booth made for less than P10,000 by my carpenter, buy a used or fabricated hotdog grill at Quinta Market in Quiapo for P2,500 or so and ask some marketing collaterals (posters in laypinoy's language) and there, I now have a Hotdog stand minus the franchise fees!!!!!!!

Earn Extra Money: The Invasion of The Clones and other Look-Alikes

For those who want a Zagu franchise but can't quite swing the P300,000 plus plus investment, I saw at the Wofex 2010a supplier of tapioca pearls (sago in tagalog) and similar sealing machine as used by Zagu. In fact, the sample they had on display of a Pearl Shake plastic glass had the Zagu trademark Yellow/Black and the picture is of a pacman game icon.



There were the usual assortment of siomai franchises as the pic shows with a package of P88,888 (Lucky numbers) versus P250,000 of the leading brand Siomai House who was not on exhibit (goes to show they do not need the exposure).

Master Siomai was there. Henlin, who during their peak years never joined such expos, was there. Siomai House is now everywhere. Siomai House is killing all other siomai sellers in the SM and Robinsons Malls.

WOFEX 2010 WORLD FOOD EXPO: A WEALTH OF SMALL BUSINESS IDEAS

Today, I spent the better part of the day going over the many exhibits at the Wofex 2010 World Food Expo. The arrangement is a bit weird as the Expo is held at the SMX and the World Trade Expo. There is a free shuttle between sites but I wish they had consolidated in one area.

At the SMX was the infamous Turkish Flour exhibits (protests have been done at the SMX and at the huge newspaper ads in recent days about it being poison, tainted and what have you) and of course, the culinary contests. Poor the contestants as most of the people I think were at the World Trade Center where there are more things to see for small business ideas.

Aside from the restaurant and cooking equipment suppliers, there were franchise companies displayingtheir booths and franchise packages which I will discuss in next few posts starting with the Scramble King franchise in the previous post.

The Scramble Wars Rages On: Scramble King

Just attended the Wofex 2010 World Food Expo and I saw the booth of the Scramble King.

The owner of Scramble King missed a Golden Opportunity by not paying for a space in the Main Hall of the World Trade Center. As it were, they were located at the WTC Annex Tent that among the publications would you believe (Inquirer, Summit Publishing etc) unseen by the main visitor crowds. They could have gotten a lot of queries. Oh well.

My take on the Scramble King:

1.Their franchise package is pricey ranging from a full booth (2meter wide maybe) at P198,000 to a stand (1m wide maybe) for P75,000.

2. They claim to have 20plus outlets mostly in Tarlac and other provinces but will open in Manila in August, 2010.

3. Pricing and size of serving is exactly Icebreaker Scramble style (P7, P10, P17)

4. Of the Non-Icebreaker Scrambles, Scramble King is the most similar to the Icebreaker Scramble in terms of visual product appearance, preparation and even packaging.





5. The Syrups used are the same color and laid-out on top of the strawberry ice base just like Icebreaker Scramble.

6. I bought a P17 cup (pic above is what they actually served me). When compared to Icebreaker Scramble, the Scramble King tasted Icy or sherbet-like unlike the Icebreaker which was creamy, fluffy like whipped cream and had much much better mouth-feel.

7. I like the Icebreaker Scramble taste but others may prefer a sherbet taste.

When I asked the Scramble King guy what is the difference between Scramble King and Icebreaker Scramble, he answered with a short "ICEBREAKER SCRAMBLE WAS FIRST".

FOR READERS OF THE INQUIRER Aug 6, 2010 issue TODAY , THERE IS AN ARTICLE BY NED ROBERTO ABOUT AL RIES, MARKETING GURUS BOTH OF THEM, SAYING THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING FIRST OVER BEING BETTER. BUT WHAT IF YOU COULD BE FIRST AND BETTER???????????????