The All-time Bestselling PCSO Scratch It Card is still the Go Banana of Pacific Online Systems!

There are more than 20 kinds of PCSO Scratch & KasCash Cards to play.

  For those not familiar with it, a PCSO Lotto Outlet does not just sell Lotto tickets--- they also sell scratch cards.

Scratch cards are colorful cards that a lotto customer has to scratch to reveal the winning prize.  It is very relaxing to play and cost in general P20 for most games.

Each card has a different game scheme, to wit:

1.  Some cards will win if you can find 3 of the same amount, you win the amount.  Some cards like the go Banana has a multiplier (X2, X3) which can right away double or triple your winnings.

2.  Others like Red Hot 7 require that you find 3 7s in a row (vertical, horizontal or diagonal like Tic Tac Toe) and you win the amount where the 7s are aligned to.

3.  Others like Sunny Money (look for a Sun) while Cash Carnival means you look for a ferris wheel.

The All-time Favorite Scratch It Card -- Go Banana!

  4. Right now and still going strong is Go Banana.  Normally a Game card will be played for a fixed period of time (maybe 2 months or so and it will stop) but demand for Go Banana is so strong that I think it is already in its 6th Series of Launching!!!

Lotto customers enjoy playing the scratch cards to kill time while waiting say for the wife to finish grocering or waiting for somebody.  For the oldies, it is a means to fill in their time now that they mostly leave without their family and are just with the maid.

For those interested in going into the Lotto Outlet business, I offer a One-on-One Consultation on How to Set-up and Operate Your Own Lotto Outlet.  Topics will include Site Selection, The Proper Way to Apply with the PCSO, How Much to Set-up a Lotto Outlet, Actual Operations, How to Attract Lotto Players, Hiring The Right Lotto Operator and How to Protect Your Business from Fraud and many many more.  I will share with you my Actual Experiences as a Lotto Agent.  My fee is only P2,000 per head.


 If you are interested in availing of my Lotto Consultation, you may text me at 0922-8831225 for details. See ya guys.

If you want to request for further information, send me a message or comment on the above post, please kindly click the "comment" button below this post.

As a NEW FEATURE ON MY NEW BLOG, I am conducting a Reader Survey on "Is Scramble a Fad?". On the Top Right part of this blog is my Survey Poll. Please click your choice and then click "Vote" button.

To see the results of the survey todate, just click the “Show Result” button

There is No Better Time to Set-up a Lotto Outlet than NOW!!! 6/55 Grand Lotto Jackpot Expected to Hit P620 Million!!! . . . Long Long Lines Continue At All Lotto Outlets Across the Philippines!!!!!

PCSO ad announcing estimate Jackpot for 6/55 Lotto Game

  Lines keep forming as early as this morning's opening of any Lotto Outlet across the country.

    Yup.  Nothing much to say after the above Post title.

Sample of PCSO Lotto playslip on top & Lotto ticket below

  Despite the odds of winning in the 6/55 Grand Lotto Game, I would say millions of people, both regular and first-time Lotto players--- rich and poor alike, are braving the heat by lining-up at the lotto outlet.

When the Jackpot was P495 Million, people said it could reach Half a Billion Pesos!!  That Level was breached last Monday when the 6/55 hit P543,000,000.  With PCSO estimates at P620 Million which is usually on the conservative side, the Jackpot just might reach a Billion Pesos!!!!!

Lines. . .  Lines . . .  And more lines.

Sample of Lotto 6/55 playslip where players indicate their number combiantions

For those interested in going into the Lotto Outlet business, I offer a One-on-One Consultation on How to Set-up and Operate Your Own Lotto Outlet.  Topics will include Site Selection, The Proper Way to Apply with the PCSO, How Much to Set-up a Lotto Outlet, Actual Operations, How to Attract Lotto Players, Hiring The Right Lotto Operator and How to Protect Your Business from Fraud and many many more.  I will share with you my Actual Experiences as a Lotto Agent.  My fee is only P2,000 per head.

Sample of Lotto 6/45 playslip

 " If you are interested in availing of my Lotto Consultation, you may text me at 0922-8831225 for details. See ya guys.

If you want to request for further information, send me a message or comment on the above post, please kindly click the "comment" button below this post.

As a NEW FEATURE ON MY NEW BLOG, I am conducting a Reader Survey on "What You Think Is The Hottest Small Business in Manila today". On the Top Right part of this blog is my Survey Poll. Please click your choice as the Best Small Business in Manila and then click "Vote" button.

To see the results of the survey todate, just click the “Show Result” button

Question: When is a Scramble not a Scramble? . . . . . . . . Answer: When It is a SCRAMBOI! Huh?

As part of the Scramble Bandwagon, Wynski is offering their version of the Scramble franchise called Scramboi and get this, they are offering it at only P50,000!!!


(courtesy of Scramboi Wynski Enterprises)

NOTICE ALSO THAT AT p5-p10-p15, THEY ARE OFFERING A LOWER SELLING PRICE THAN ICEBREAKER WHICH SELLS AT P7-P10-P17!!!!!

Whatever Happened to the Hong Kong Style Fried Noodle Craze???

If this year it is all about Scramble, last year was all about the HongKong Style Fried Noodles.

Remember Hong Kong Style Fried Noodles at the St Francis Square with their super-long lines of people waiting for their orders of P26 Fried Noodle topped with 2 pcs siomai and garnished with your choice of Spicy, Sweet soy sauce???

How about Taipan Fried Noodle that used to be in all the exhibits???

At the Food and Drinks Asia 2010 Expo at the World Trade Center WTC, I only saw one offering Fried noodle, see below:


(courtesy of Hongkong Fried noodle)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

PCSO Lotto Outlet : The All-Weather Small Business

It was very hot this morning but I noticed the Lucky Circle Lotto Outlet at the Ground floor of Megamall Bldg B (across the Dunkin donut ) was encircled with eager lotto players. When I got to my Lotto outlet, the story was the same with many lotto players lining-up and many others buying Scratch It cards but the weather is the opposite, it was raining really hard!!!

How about that? The Lotto business is weather-resistant and all-weather (the mall has a generator set in case of power failure). I talked to some lotto players and they said they have been betting on the same number combination since 1995 when the lotto in the philippines started and they have to bet every day as they never know when their numbers will win!

There is that fear that their numbers will win on the day they decide not to play (and this has happened to some of my Lotto customers already).

PCSO Lotto Outlet : Typhoon Ondoy & The All-Weather Small Business

It was the day Typhoon Ondoy struck Metro Manila.  Outside of SM North EDSA, flood waters were rising. The stretch from EDSA/Roosevelt Ave to Balintawak was experiencing floodwaters more than a 2-storey house high. People were climbing the still-under-construction LRT Roosevelt Station Rails just to cross over to Roosevelt Ave.  The Mall Admin Office where my Lotto was located finally announced we have to close by 5pm.

courtesy of Pinoy Gigs

When 5pm came and we started to close, customers who could not bet in other Lotto outlets due to the floods were rushing to bet with us and they were complaining WHY DO WE HAVE TO CLOSE SO EARLY!!!!

How about that? The Lotto business is weather-resistant and all-weather (the mall has a generator set in case of power failure). I talked to some lotto players and they said they have been betting on the same number combination since 1995 when the lotto in the philippines started and they have to bet every day as they never know when their numbers will win!

There is that fear that their numbers will win on the day they decide not to play (and this has happened to some of my Lotto customers already).

Are Franchises with a Proven Track Record of Earnings Just for the Rich and Super-Rich?

I had a conversation with a friend of mine taking his first step as a small business owner and since we cannot all be inventors, he said he is considering getting a franchise but there lies his problem:

1. Franchise fees and Total Investment Outlay is simply unaffordable for him (Ex Siomai House P250,000, Zagu P300,000 to P500,000, Dunkin Donut P200,000 to 500,000; Mang Inasal P1M or more)



2. Rent, CUSA, aircon and other charges in a good mall ranges from P25,000 to P40,000.

3. Add Security Deposit of 3 to 12months (P100,000 to P400,000)

4. How about Working Capital for the first 12 months of Operation?

5. There are ads on Entrepreneur Phils Magazine for siomai, waffle, noodle and what have you for less than a P100,000 but I do not see them in the known malls and am not sure how strong is franchisor support.

Maybe we are now talking about P500,000 to more than a Million bucks if we choose the established brands!!

For the small business entrepreneur with limited funds, what is he to do??????

I hope I am wrong.

Are Franchises with a Proven Track Record of Earnings Just for the Rich and Super-Rich?

I had a conversation with a friend of mine taking his first step as a small business owner and since we cannot all be inventors, he said he is considering getting a franchise but there lies his problem:

1. Franchise fees and Total Investment Outlay is simply unaffordable for him (Ex Siomai House P250,000, Zagu P300,000 to P500,000, Dunkin Donut P200,000 to 500,000; Mang Inasal P1M or more)



2. Rent, CUSA, aircon and other charges in a good mall ranges from P25,000 to P40,000.

3. Add Security Deposit of 3 to 12months (P100,000 to P400,000)

4. How about Working Capital for the first 12 months of Operation?

5. There are ads on Entrepreneur Phils Magazine for siomai, waffle, noodle and what have you for less than a P100,000 but I do not see them in the known malls and am not sure how strong is franchisor support.

Maybe we are now talking about P500,000 to more than a Million bucks if we choose the established brands!!

For the small business entrepreneur with limited funds, what is he to do??????

I hope I am wrong.

Why Should You Pick the Right Mall?

I was in a Sushi Restaurant in a new Mall in north of Manila. I met my friend who is planning to set-up a FX Terminal (see next post below). After the meeting, I stayed behind as I wanted to talk to the Restaurant crew considering we were the only customers and it was just lunch time!!!

The mall has been operating a few months and main customers consist mostly of agents from the nearby Call Center. The mall has a good assortment of food chains (all the big players and not-so-big players) present.

Before, the Sushi Restaurant was one of the early locators and because of the good sales, they started with a crew of 8. Prices range from budget meal of P69/serving to more than P100 for the other Japanese food dishes. That was before.......

When Mang Inasal Restaurant opened and offered their BBQ chicken at P49/serving, the Sushi Restaurant had to reduce their crew from 8 to just 3 guys. They wanted to do delivery service to the Call Center but they just cannot afford the manpower.

Most of the Mall locators are in food and they have built an open area to house more upscale restaurants. The tenant is hoping the mall could try to drum up activities and events to attract a bigger variety of customers.

It remains to be seen how long they can hang-on.

Small Business Idea: Operate an FX Shuttle Terminal

Today, I met a friend and we talked about his desire to operate an FX Shuttle Terminal. An FX refers to a type of utility vehicle that ferries passengers to and from destinations, to wit:

1. A FX Terminal Operator will rent two or more designated parking slots within the parking lot of the mall preferably nearest where mall goers will take the public transport.

2. The FX Terminal Operator usually represent the interests of a group of FX drivers (maybe 20 units or more)

3. The dispatcher and the FX drivers are equipped with walkie-talkie radios.

4. At any one time, there are only enough FX parked at the mall depending on the number of slots rented while the rest of the FX drivers are parked at a distance wherever an open space is available.

5. The dispatcher monitors the number of trips of each FX driver and collects his fees that are then remitted to the Terminal Operator.

6. To join a group, a Joining Fee is paid to the Terminal Operator as well as monthly dues and per trip charges are collected. These would be how the Terminal Operator earns in his business.

When is The Best Time to Start A Small Business??????

(Image courtesy of fotosearch.com)

Here are some answers from friends and not-so-friends:

1. When all my kids have finished school.

2. When I have retired.

3. When I have enough capital already.

4. When my OFW wife comes back from her overseas job.

5. When I have the guts.

6. When I see a sign from above.

7. When the economy improves.

8. When the global crisis ends.

And many, many more reasons.



The best time to start a business is NOW.

A Small Business Owner's Nightmare: Yikes!!! My Landlord Did Not Renew My Lease. He Wants My Business!!!!

When my friend decided to set-up his own PCSO Lotto Outlet somewhere East of Manila, he did not think there would be any problems when he rented a space in the house of his landlord.

After all, for the past 2 years relations with his landlord were quiet though the business was not really doing well. Then, business started to pick-up and when the Lotto Jackpot hit P347 Million about a year ago, lines started to form outside his small Lotto outlet. It was a time to rejoice but little did he know this was the start of his problems.

You see, when it came time to renew his lease, he was surprised when his landlord told him he will not be renewind the Lease as he needed the space. Then, my friend discovered that the very same landlord applied with the PCSO for a Lotto outlet at the very spot where he was located and he hit the ceiling!!

The good thing is that my friend holds the Contract of Agency for the Lotto Outlet in that area and nobody can set-up another Lotto Outlet unless he cancels his Contract.

To cut the story short, my friend still has his lotto outlet but now pays a higher rent. A Happy Ending but not exactly.

For all small business owners, how often do we feel that we at the mercy of our landlords???? One Lotto customer told me that the only to do business is to own the land where your business sits on but WHAT IF WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY THE LAND?