Go Lokal!: Keeping Filipino Brands Relevant Amid the Pandemic


SECRETARY RAMON M. LOPEZ
Department of Trade and Industry
(Photo by Mr. Mark Ches Ang)

As the Philippine economy continues to tread the path towards post-pandemic recovery, keeping Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) relevant remains a challenge for us at the Department of Trade and Industry.

Since 99 percent of registered businesses are MSMEs, we initiated Go Lokal! to provide them with greater market access and opportunities to mainstream their products.

Go Lokal! has embarked on significant efforts to innovate the market space in 2021. Its Concept Store in Makati has been redesigned with a minimalist sanctuary theme created by the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP). The newly-designed Concept Store now carries a broader selection of well-curated products in a space that allows keeping physical distance but offers a better overall shopping experience.

Go Lokal Concept Store in Makati, G/F, Trade and Industry Building, Makati City

Adapting to the shift of the population towards going digital, Go Lokal! has brought its suppliers’ products to LazMall and Shopee Mall, making hundreds of high-quality and sustainably sourcedFilipino products available to thousands of users on the two online shopping platforms.

 

Even with the ongoing COVID crisis, Go Lokal! aims to boost the morale of the business community and support local MSMEs by putting up a Go Lokal! Pop-up store at Festival Mall, one of the country’s largest shopping malls and the largest in southern Manila, and Akaba Lifestyle Stores in seven of its branches in Luzon.

Go Lokal Pop-up Store in Festival Mall, Carousel Court, Upper Ground Floor, Festival Mall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Finally, Go Lokal! made its presence felt during the Virtual National Trade Fair, which was held last January 27-February 2, 2021. As the pandemic forced live events to shift to the virtual space, Go Lokal! at the Virtual National Trade Fair continued to champion Filipino products to reach more partners and consumers—with great success, amassing close to 400 visitors, most wanting to know how to become a Go Lokal! supplier.

As the year continues and with ever-changing demands and challenges for MSMEs, Go Lokal! will keep adapting and reinventing the marketplace for the Philippine economy.

For more products, visit the Go Lokal Concept Store in Makati and shop online through:

Lazmall: https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/go-lokal/

Shopee Mall: https://shopee.ph/golokalphilippines

Shopinas: https://www.shopinas.com/go-lokal

UnionbankGloballinker: https://golokal.linker.store/