Embracing 2021

 I am happy with my present situation. I know,  it’s a strange thing to say for someone whose life has been seriously disrupted by COVID19.

Work used to be drudgery for me. But in 2021 or more specifically January 9 of this year, something shifted.  I can’t seem to put my finger on any single reason. Is it the novelty of my situation? The new ambience i’m experiencing? It could also be the change in office dynamics, the people I work with or the office-work-from-home alternative arrangement. It could be the new way I conduct my interviews with clients. Whatever it is, it’s doing wonders for my physical and emotional health.

Part of my job as an info officer is to write success stories on the agency’s programs. I do this by interviewing the department’s project beneficiaries.

Nowadays, I keep most of my conversations within the Zoom room in compliance with health protocols. 

A lot of things have been transformed at the office since the health crisis in 2020. Somethings worth mentioning are the new communication protocols and the heavy use of technology to enhance human interaction.

The Optimist

Last Saturday, I had a Zoom conversation with Theresa Mae Conson, Chief Finance Officer and proprietor of Smartieshirt Apparel, a company specializing in customizing t-shirts for consumers and businesses.

Talking to her is a delightful experience because of her bubbly and upbeat personality. Like Theresa, all entrepreneurs whose business  survived the crisis last year have this inimitable “can do” spirit despite what is happening around them.

Her delicate features belie her tenacity to succeed amidst the challenges.  While many small business owners were still rethinking their strategies as they navigated the unforseen operational challenges brought on by the pandemic, Theresa’s company Smartieshirt Apparel  began producing cloth facemasks as early as February 2020 and later, as the virus spread, protective suits.

“Producing PPE gears and facemasks is far different from what we did before COVID19 emerged. Back then, we had sports jerseys, fun run shirts, bags and caps,” She noted.

“When we finally got the formula to deliver bulk orders in sports wear, COVID19 happened bringing an entirely different need.”

Theresa narrated how her company production set up drastically shifted in March as the number of COVID positive cases in Cebu increased and N88 disposable facemasks became scarce.

Facing the challenges

“Our team did not have a hard time adjusting as we had the necessary machines and our operators are experienced in producing apparels and garments,” she said.

Although she was worried about pending sports related projects getting cancelled, she felt fortunate that the company had a month of preparation before the lockdown.

Theresa added that “despite our customers not paying us on time, we were able to negotiate with suppliers and our landlord, enabling us to roll our inventory.”

To surmount financial challenges, Theresa approached the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to get an endorsement to avail of a loan facility from the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp).

“Like a responsible entrepreneur, the safety of our employees remains our top priority despite the obstacles. We provided them free lunch, rent shuttle vehicles to ferry them , gave them PPE suits, installed a sanitation tent for everyone, found guards to act as safety officers who rove around our area every 2 hours to make sure it is regularly sanitized.”

Theresa also disclosed that the company shuttle vehicles have sanitation sprays and thermal gun for body temperature checks for all employees prior to stepping in.

To ensure all bases are covered, Conson admitted that she also sought a little help from the Divine as she prayed every morning before start of the shifts for everything to run smoothly and for everyone to stay healthy.

Smartieshirt Apparel is currently working on their pre-COVID pending projects. We divide our time between finishing pending projects and producing facemasks and PPE suits, she clarified.

“We tap distributors around the area to sell our masks and PPE suits. Our existing clients also help us a lot especially the BPO and manufacturing companies.”

Facemasks and PPEs are the new normal, she said. “We are expecting we will be manufacturing them for at least one more year.”

Unfazed by future challenges, Conson believes her company survived the 2020 pandemic because her team of talented designers and marketing specialists know how to adjust to the needs of the market.

Cheers!

“When this crisis is over, it will be part of our company history that we played a significant role in containing the spread of the virus and that with every mask and protective suit we made, a life was protected. “

In the meantime, Theresa is helping me promote the Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprise (KMME) online program via Facebook live. A graduate of DTI’s KMME, her real life experiences as an entrepreneur were enhanced by her course learnings on business management. She said this enabled her to sustain her enterprises amidst the challenges of the pandemic and New Normal conditions.

I hope fate bestows more blessings on Theresa and her company.  Conson’s tenacity to keep her workers despite last year’s uncertainty, deserve a reward from the Divine. I’m sure her grateful employees will agree with me.