Antoinette opened her physical sari-sari store this March and we’re so giddy about it!
The store is not yet done in the sense that we are not yet finished painting the pink structure with flowers and butterflies and even the letters spelling out “Tindahan ni Tonya.” We love to say that the tindahan is still on “soft opening.”
But the pink store has opened its door for business and its nine-year-old storekeeper, Antoinette, is busy reviewing her inventory and listing down her sales.
Antoinette started selling school supplies when she was six years old just when the Covid-19 lockdown ensued.
Putting the physical together was three years in the making because it involved saving up cash and navigating around life’s challenges including the death of Antoinette Lala (grandmother), Maria Elena, who was her role model in running a sari-sari store.
We had to carefully plan out the size and structure of the store because we have very limited space in our Liloan, Cebu home.
A physical store also meant using materials that will last longer so even if Tindahan ni Tonya is a small store, we made sure that every material is sturdy to avoid situations that will endanger our main tindera.
Because the store’s area can only accommodate one storekeeper at a time, it can only have one chair inside.
Guess what perfectly fits inside the store that also serves as the all-around furniture for arranging items found on the top shelves?
A yellow Uratex Monoblock chair!
This Uratex Monoblock Classic 101 chair is literally Antoinette’s companion in her store. She sits and stands on it, literally! As her mother and store consultant, I have peace of mind knowing that the chair she is standing on is durable and safe, just like other Uratex items that we have in our house.
The market is surrounded by substandard products which are labeled as affordable. I get it, it is easy to get tempted and buy them for the price tags they dangle in front of us. But know one thing: cheap does not always mean durable. It is important for us to be discerning and alert when it comes to our purchases. If we are not, we might end up buying the same item again because the last one was a case of expectation versus reality.
Here’s another tip to look out for when buying your monoblock chairs: check if they are BPS and ISO Level 5 certified! Uratex Monoblock chairs proudly carry these marks. These marks basically tell you that your chairs are safe and durable. The Uratex Monoblock chair can hold up to 200 kilos of weight and has consistently proven itself to withstand the test of time.
I have a daughter who is forging her own path as an entrepreneur and I am supporting her all the way.
In Cebuano, we have a line that goes, “Di pwede magluya-luya” which is similar to the Filipino expression of “Bawal ang marupok.” This can be loosely translated in English as a call to be strong and steadfast in the midst of trials and difficulties. This is one lesson that I am teaching my daughter: that in whatever she chooses to put her heart into, she needs to be strong and steadfast, and sturdy no matter what happens. The weight that life’s challenges put on us can be unbearable but when we are made of the best stuff, we will not easily crumble.
Just like Uratex, our favorite monoblock chair, we shall and will withstand the test of time.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: This is branded content as part of Uratex’s “Bawal ang Marupok” campaign. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am making this known in the spirit of transparency and honesty to everyone who supports this blog since 2013.
