Leny Yanoria of Los Baños, Laguna has turned her hobby of creating beautifully hand-crafted accessories made with passion and perseverance into a promising entrepreneurial journey.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin Business, Leny shared that before they became Leny Handy Crafts, she initially named her business LYZ Kikay Kits, from the initials of her children – Lalette, Yizaq, and Zyraj. It was changed later upon applying for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) papers because someone had previously registered a similar name.
Leny first entered the world of business in 2013 by selling children's gift items since her children were toddlers at that time. She was also making and selling school costumes, then kikay kits.
In 2016, she added handicraft items when she was required at her co-op in Calamba to produce her own work.
Leny shared that she just adapted craft items from her friend who died and sought handcrafting lessons from another friend. This later pushed her to pursue handcrafting.
As a member of Calamba Coop, Leny had an opportunity to apply to DTI in 2021 when she was discovered at Vista Mall Santa Rosa.
From then on, she underwent the DTI's Kapatid Mentor Me (KME) program – an initiative aimed at boosting micro and small enterprises (MSEs) capacity by improving access to Mentorship, Money & Market (3Ms) – for three months.
After completing the program, she underwent the one-town-one-product (OTOP) program, which enables micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to innovate and produce market-ready products and services. That's where DTI helped Leny improve her product packaging and logo.
Leny's products are focused more on earrings, but she adds other products like bracelets, and chokers, with prices ranging from P100 to P300. Some of them are made of Capiz shells, acrylic shells, and alloys. She outsources these materials from her local suppliers in different regions like Cebu and Manila.
Currently, Leny has no physical store but she supplies her products to the Enchanted Kingdom with the help of DTI Laguna, as well as in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Autocab. Leny also collaborated with her friend in Baguio City, where she supplied some of her products.
In terms of production, Leny sometimes hires her children whenever she requires mass production from bulk orders. She also delivers the products herself, since she doesn't even have an online shop yet. Interested buyers and retailers only reach her through personal messages via Facebook and Instagram.
For about two years now, Leny has been showcasing her products at various DTI national trade fairs. She recently participated in the 2023 Hybrid National Trade Fair at Megamall last September. In this year's Franchise Asia Philippines held at SMX Convention Center, Leny Handy Crafts was one of the exhibitors at the Philippine Franchise Asia (PFA)-Assisted Regional MSMEs pavilion.
From employee to entrepreneur
"At first, it was really just my hobby. Since high school, I've been pretty good at practical arts. Maybe because if you really have a passion, that will be your direction," Leny said as she recalls her humble beginnings.
With a degree in accountancy, Leny also previously worked as a bank cashier for almost 12 years. Unfortunately, she lost her job when the bank closed. Later on, she also gave birth.
After five years, when her children were coming to school, she thought of starting a business while recovering from a postpartum depression.
Since she had lost her job and source of income, Leny had no choice but to cope with the situation to support her family, so she started again.
"I was shy at the time because I wasn't really [trained] into sales. I was shy, since I used to be an employee, it was different," Leny said.
However, she started to motivate herself, realizing that there's no better time to start but soon. "That's also what DTI teaches, that if you don't act, although they have taught you, yes, it's still up to you. You really need to pursue your dreams, whatever else you want for your business," she added.
For Leny, her participation in the fairs helped her small business a lot, especially in increasing its sales.
During the pandemic, she really had zero income because according to her, it was difficult to sell her products since accessories are not a necessity. So, she paused her handicraft business.
In order to cope, Leny shifted to selling healthy food products such as Vietnamese spring rolls, and other foods that can be sold.
When everything started to get back to normal she focused on selling accessories, again.
"It's really necessary when you're doing business, you have to focus because if you don't, it's like you'll disappear from the limelight," Leny said.
"Whatever your passion is, just do it, then just enjoy every moment whether you have income or not, that's how it is. That's business, right?" Leny expressed when she was asked about her motto in business.
Sailing the sea of opportunity
As Leny presently enjoys business opportunities in supplying her current retailers, she has been receiving a regular monthly income. She said, "it's not that big, but of course when you combine it, you can save it."
She believes that when "you have income now, you don't have to spend it all, you have to save – not just for yourself, for the business [but] also to secure turn-around investments.
Leny said that she has now invested in insurance for herself and her family, emphasizing that even if it's a small amount, it's still something to be proud of.
As Leny delivers her ordered supplies every two weeks, she's able to generate income every two weeks, as well. When she gets lucky, she usually gains P5,000 every two weeks – something she's already happy to have. Meanwhile from EK, Leny can generate P8,000-P9,000, depending on their sales under a consignment basis.
At first, she said it was difficult to bring a huge amount of investments, especially when it's not returning yet, but when it returns to them monthly, Leny said they will be happy.
In addition, Leny said supply production is one of the challenges she's dealing with currently with her business.
However, she has no plans to increase the production, so far. "I want [my business] to grow but my plan is to supply to SM, big companies, like that," she said, adding that she enjoys the simple setup she has at home while generating money to support their needs.
Looking forward five years from now, Leny sees her business to be more prosperous. "Of course, all businesses started from the bottom. I think that DTI really helped a lot because I have only been with them for one or two years, and I have already saved from zero," she said.