With candles, there's a brighter future ahead

In February 2001, Juliana and husband Romer, started making candles with 2 sacks of wax with only the two of them as workers. In four years, the micro-enterprise, with its 8 full-time workers has quadrupled its production, supplying quality and beautiful candles to big department stores in Metro Manila and other cities in the country.


Packing finish product candle.

Juliana and her husband, Romer, used to work in a candle-making factory. They decided to start their own candle-making business when Juliana availed of a working capital loan from TSPI. With her first loan of P5,000, they bought 2 sacks of wax at P1,800 each, enough for two weeks of production. The couple began making “esperma” type candles or the plain ones, which they sold at the stores in their area and nearby communities. They gradually introduced variations into the product line involving new designs, wider range of colors, and new functions (i.e. not just for lighting but also for decorative purposes). Romer is good at making molds paving the way for the enterprise to easily expand its product line. Juliana, on the other hand, busies herself with quality control and supervision of the workers - 4 of whom are so-called designers (i.e. they cut, mold the candles into desired shapes and design); 2 are wax pourers, while 2 are packers. “Mahalaga ang magandang patakaran sa workers ( It is important to establish good rules with workers),” shares Juliana. They also take good care of the workers by providing them good pay. The average daily income of a worker is P300.00, which is above the regional minimum daily wage of P 190.00 for Region I.

The candle enterprise has established a reasonably wide marketing network. It has inked a buying and marketing arrangement with Manila Wax Corporation, in the distribution of candles to big department stores such as Shoe Mart (SM), Macro and Landmark, among others. In addition to these big institutional buyers, it also sells its products through 50 individual dealers coming from the community and other places like different towns in Pangasinan, Tarlac and Metro Manila. Dealers are individuals who express interest to buy and sell the candle products. When the dealership arrangement started, Juliana trusted the dealers with some P11,000 worth of candles on consignment basis. Due to negative experiences from past arrangements, Juliana now requires cash down payment of around 50% on products taken. The average monthly sale of a dealer is P 3,000. On peak season, the most outstanding dealer can sell as much as P75,000 worth of candles.

Preparing candle!

The demand for candle continues to grow. Juliana and Romer aims to further expand their enterprise by going partly mechanized. They plan to buy 2 molding machines, worth P60,000 each, that can make 200 pieces or 15 boxes of candles ( esperma-type) in a day.

The positive impact of the enterprise is not just felt by the 8 full-time workers and 50 dealers who earn money from making or selling candles. Romer likewise sells molds to enable others to engage in the candle making business.

On the part of the family, Juliana recalls, “ngayon mas naalagaan na namin ang aming mga sarili. Meron na kaming pang-doktor. Mas masustansya na din ang aming kinakain.” (Now we can better take care of ourselves. We have money to pay for the doctor. We can afford to buy nutritious food as well.) She adds, “ dati, mainitin ang ulo naming mag-asawa. Ngayon, masaya na kami palagi. “ (We used to be angry always. These days, we are always happy.)

With this success in business and opportunity to help others and increase the standard of living of the family, Juliana gives thanks to TSPI who trusted them to make a difference for themselves and others. “Sa TSPI kami nagsimula. Ito ang nakatulong sa amin para magkaroon ng ganitong negosyo. Kung wala ang TSPI hindi namin mapagtatapos sa pag-aaral ang mga anak namin…nakapasa na ang anak namin sa Board sa nursing. ” (We started with TSPI. It helped us in putting-up this kind of business. If not for TSPI’s help, we may not be able to have our children finish their studies. My child has just passed the Board exam for nurses. ) With their priorities set on their children’s education and their thriving candle-making business, Juliana and Romer continue to see a brighter future ahead.