I.

Project Title

Co-creating an Empowered Community: Weaving Dreams. Uplifting Lives.

II. Project Abstract

Banwa Cottage Industry is a social enterprise that aims to uplift the lives of the woman tikog
weavers of Basey Samar who are also survivors of super typhoon Haiyan. It develops livelihood
program that helps the weavers earn sustainable income from products made of banig
(traditional Filipino bed mats) by innovating their products through improved production
processes and employing innovative marketing scheme. The venture implements marketing
strategies that assist in the fast mobilization of product inventories in the national and
international markets, such as partnerships with consignment shops, collaboration with well-
known designers and selling through an e-commerce platform.

The social enterprise addresses the need to help the weavers earn through sustainable
livelihood, to preserve the living cultural and artisanal heritage of banig weaving by engaging the
youth in Basey Samar and to market high-quality authentic Filipino products that are positioned
as sustainable, eco-ethical and artisanal.

The overall goal of the venture is to see the woman artisans, their families and their community
be empowered economically to foster long-term sustainable actions towards social growth.

III. Problem or Issue Statement

On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, made landfall in Central
Philippines. According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
(2014), the Category 5 typhoon was the strongest to hit land, causing unprecedented damage to
nine regions, including 591 municipalities and 56 cities spread across 44 provinces. An
estimated 16 million people were affected, many of whom lost their sources of livelihood, while
approximately 4.4 million were displaced (USAID, 2014) and many of the survivors come from
Samar.

After seeing the struggles of the woman 'tikog' weavers in making their livelihood sustainable,
the proponents decided to collaborate and to co-create the Banwa Cottage Industry. The data
gathered by the team suggests that even before the onslaught of typhoon Haiyan, these women
were already struggling in making their livelihood sustainable basically because they lack the
resources to access markets, both national and international to sell their products. These
women are dependent on walk-in customers, local traders and its local market. The typhoon
was just the strongest factor that exacerbated these women's plight because it devastated their
resources in terms of livelihood and other aspects of life.

The present working condition of the weavers also contributes to their difficulty in optimizing the
production process of banig weaving. Some of the artisans weave under the cave called Saob
wherein they lack appropriate facilities to assist them to accelerate the process. Since banig is
produced in an old-fashioned way, the artisans go through a very tedious process that
compromises their personal health conditions because of physical and mental exhaustion.

After speaking with these women, the team learned that it usually takes a minimum of six to
seven days for a weaver to complete a single size (1mx2m) banig which is sold for Php 300.00-
350.00/ $6-7.00 each. When divided by the number of days that they weave, they barely earn
$1 or Php50 every day.Because they lack the knowledge, skills and equipment to develop these
banigs into different products such as bags, slippers, laptop cases, and boxes, they are limited
to sell the banigs to local traders who sell these products to other people or company from
different places at a much higher price.

The aim of Banwa Cottage Industry is to holistically empower not just the weavers but also their
families who have little hope in seeing a bright future in the weaving and handicraft industry. We
want the community to believe and realize that there is a great potential in this industry. That, it
is a sustainable livelihood and that community development efforts will lead to economic growth,
cultural preservation and harmonious community relationship. The venture wants the weavers to
be empowered by involving them in the decision-making processes and consultations thereby
giving them a sense of ownership and empathy towards the social enterprise. This venture
wants to be perceived as an essential collaborator with other organizations and companies in
uplifting the lives of weavers in Basey Samar by supporting them in their livelihood activities to
generate sustainable income.

We do not only build a company. We build a community of empowered women, inclusive growth
and sustainable development. We aim that in the future these women will have sustainable
livelihood, the communitys culture of artisanal weaving will be preserved and continued and be
highly regarded as a community that produces good quality products that are sustainable, eco-
friendly and artisanal.

IV. Project Stakeholders

1. There are over 500 tikog weavers who are members of the Basey
Association for Native Industry Growth (BANIG).The social enterprise, in partnership
with the federation of BANIG will act as the product development and marketing arm of
the federation.
2. Indirectly, the families of the target stakeholders will also benefit from this
project.

V. Solution

I. Product Strategy
 A. Products and Product Features

Banwa Cottage Industry carries mainstream lifestyle products made from the handwoven
banig. Its flagship brand, LARA, a Waraynon word for weaving, focuses on laptop bags and
sleeves and gadget cases (iPad, iPhones, Tablets and Smartphones) that suit the preference of
its target markets in terms of design, price and functionality.

Living in a fast-changing society where technology, specifically laptops and iPads have
transformed from luxury to basic necessities, LARA products will be able to cater to a larger
population of mixed buyers such as professionals, young professionals, students, and
employees which could be both male and female genders.

B. Packaging

Packaging, as an important marketing tool, attracts the customers attention, describes the
product and generates sale. As an eco-friendly enterprise, Banwa Cottage Industry will utilize
canvas bags and eco-friendly boxes as its primary materials in packaging the products, printed
with the enterprises logo.

2. Corporate Social Responsibilities/Advocacies

a. Gender and Sexuality Education

b. Financial Literacy
c. Provision of Scholarship for the Weavers Children
d. Provision of Capacity-Building workshops and trainings to the youth.

3. Strategic Alliances

Banwa Cottage Industry is partnering with the Basey Association for Native Industry Growth
(BANIG) which is the federation of barangay/village women's associations of the entire
municipality of Basey, Samar. An estimate of 500 women tikog weavers who are members of
the federation will be impacted by this venture in terms of continuous livelihood capacity-building
training as well as product and skills development. The current weekly average income of every
woman weaver is a rough estimate of 300-350 pesos or USD 6.5. This social enterprise will
provide them daily income to support the daily basic needs of their families such as education,
transportation and food. Through this venture, we will invest into technology in terms of
equipment acquisition to increase the level of productivity and transformation processes in
weaving banig. This is to, if not eradicate, alleviate the health issues these artisans struggle
with because of the manual and tedious process of 'banig' weaving.

Distribution Finance Legal Production

1. Ruth Uy-Asmundsun 1. Francesca 1. Atty. Kristine 1. Francis Libiran
2. Monica Manganti Aguila Alcantara 2. Michael Cinco
(Going Straight Salon 2. Carmina 2. Atty. Marie Rose 3. BANIG Federation
and Lets Face It) Bayombong Alvero
3. Lokalista.PH
4. Hey Kessy
5. OneFilipino.com
6. Pundit.PH
7. Brand Ambassadors

VI. What the Enterprise Wants to Achieve and Measuring Success

1. What the Project Wants to Achieve

Throughout the implementation of the project, it is expected that it will:

1. Help in the provision of updated and highly technical trainings and
capacity-building workshops to develop products made of banig/tikog;
2. Provide career and training opportunities to the youth who are the
essential sector in making the culture of banig weaving continue;
3. Help in providing the Haiyan weavers daily income-based livelihood which
is essential in supporting the basic needs of their families;
4. Inspire people to patronize locally-made products that are highly
innovative and internationally recognized;
5. Promote environmental, educational and cultural advocacies by the
creation of workshops and seminars with advocacy statements such as cultural heritage
preservation and women empowerment;
6. Provide quality products and services to the target market.
7. Partnered with TESDA and the federation of BANIG and provided
capacity-building trainings in banig weaving.

2. Enterprises Success Measures

1. 200 units of gadget accessories sold in the first month after launch.
2. 5% of the market share within the first six (6) months of its operation;
3. The enterprise is able to sustain its existence in the market through a
gradual increase in its market share;
4. Ability to get the invested capital back in the enterprise within one and a
half years;
5. Ability to pay all the possible liabilities that the enterprise will incur during
its operation;
6. Be updated with the methods of improving artisanal skills which will add
to the efficient and effective services offered;
 7. Having maintained the demand and supply gap in the market projected
for the operation of the enterprise for a progressive growth in sales;
8. Having a stable operation in the market.

VII. Logical Framework

IMPACTS : Empowered weaver artisans engaged in different economic activities to

bring positive impacts in the society.
OUTCOME : A social enterprise operating profitably, managed effectively, and
responding to the needs of the stakeholders and the society
OUTPUTS : High quality banig products, accessible marketing scheme through the e-
commerce website, Highly-trained banig weavers and embroiders,
financially literate weavers who are able to save money, spend and invest
wisely.
ACTIVITIES : Business Operations (Management, Production, Sales and Marketing,
and Finance)
INPUTS : Manpower, Networks and Strategic Alliances, Mentors, Working Capital
(Funding), Technology-oriented and Dynamic team, Product development
trainings,

VIII. Activities and Timeline

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
The Project seeks to achieve the following:

1. Trained women weavers that can produce high quality and innovative banig products.
2. Established operational multi-product weaving center inside the municipality of Basey
Samar.
3. Strengthened coalition of stakeholders who are involved in the operations of the social
enterprise (Haiyan weavers, national and international market partners)

The Specific Objectives of the Project are:

1. To enhance the capacity of the woman Haiyan weavers in Basey Samar to be able to
produce high quality and innovative banig products.
2. To establish and operate a profitable Multi-Product Weaving Center inside the
municipality of Basey Samar.
3. To establish a 1 pilot community-based training and production center that will cater to
the production of highly innovative products to be marketed to both national and
international buyers.
 4. To establish and strengthen a coalition of stakeholders working towards the common
good.

The Deliverables for the project are the following:

1. Product development trainings and seminars

a. Training needs assessment and organization diagnosis
b. Conduct of series of capacity-building and development activities but not limited to the
following:
i. Leadership and organizational management
ii. Basic financial system and recording
iii. Social accountability and local governance
iv. Local legislative processes and advocacy and lobbying
v. Project proposal writeshop
vii. Project development, implementation, management, monitoring and
evaluation (PDIMME)

2. Operation Center
a. Formalizing the partnership with the federation of BANIG in order for us
to have access to their available resources such as the weavers-operated production
center that will focus produce gadget accessories under the LARA brand:
i. iPad and iPhone cases
ii. Laptop bags and sleeves

Activities Period of Implementation

 IX. Risk Management
Business Risks and Ways to Handle Them
Risks Descriptions Handling Risks

X. Customers
1. Market Analysis
A. Market Segmentation of the Target Buyers

Products Demographic Psychographic Behavioral

Age Occupation Social Class Purchase Benefits User Status
Occasion Sought
Laptop 15-45 Students, Lower Multiple Quality, Potential and
Cases/Sleeves young purchase Affordability, regular users
(Php 12,000
professionals, Design and
Laptop Bags 20,000) (1-3 times
private and Uniqueness,
a year)
public Middle Social Value,
professionals,
(Php 21,000 Durability
hipsters
30,000)
Upper
(Php 31,000 and
above)
Gadget cases 15-35 Students, Lower (Php Multiple Quality, Potential and
(cellphone, young 12,000 20,000) purchase Affordability, regular users
iPad, netbook) professionals, (2-4 times Design and
Middle (Php
hipster a year) Uniqueness,
21,000 30,000)
Social Value,
Upper (Php Durability
31,000 and
above)
 B. Customer Profile

1. Trendy and fashion-oriented individuals.

2. People who purchase products with social value.
3. Individuals who look for authentic Filipino products.
4. People who look for sustainable, artisanal and eco-ethical products.

XI. Competitors
1. Industry Analysis

Currently, Banwa Cottage Industry is able to identify BANAGO, a for-profit and private company
that creates products made from tikog/banig. They have a vast number of markets and networks
and distribution channels in and outside the Philippines since it was founded in 2011.

The venture is different from their company because the aim of this venture is to holistically
empower not just the weavers but also their families who have little hope in seeing a bright
future in the weaving industry. The venture wants the community to believe and realize that
there is a great potential of this industry.

That there is sustainable livelihood and income in this industry and that community development
efforts lead to economic growth, cultural preservation and harmonious community relationship.
We aim the weavers to be empowered by involving them in the decision-making processes and
consultations for them to feel a sense of ownership and empathy from the social enterprise. This
venture does not want to be seen as a competitor but as an essential collaborator in uplifting the
lives of weavers in Basey Samar by supporting them in their livelihood activities to generate
sustainable income. We do not build company. We build a community of inclusive growth and
sustainable development.

2. Marketing Strategies
A. Products
Laptop cases and sleeves
iPad and Samsung Tablet cases
iPhones and Samsung Galaxy cases

B. Promotions
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest
Online Platforms: Lokalista.PH (10% of the sales), PoundIt.com (Need to have
a meeting with Kristian Salva), Lazada (10% of the sales) , Zalora (10% of the sales),
OneFilipino.com (10% of the sales)
Fashion Bloggers:
Brand Ambassadors: Francis Libiran, Vice Ganda, Dingdong Dantes, Marian
Rivera, Anne Curtis, Daniel Padilla
Discounts:
Product Bundle: Buy one Laptop bag and get 50% of iPad or Cellphone cases
 Attendance to Trade Fairs: Climate Hackathon, ICT International Convention,
DTI and DOST-Sponsored fairs
White Label Company: Supplier

C. Pricing

Php 1000-1500: Laptop Cases/Sleeves (MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Macbook)

Php 1300-1700: Laptop Bags (MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Macbook)
Php 200-300: cellphone cases iPhone 4, 5, 6 and Samsung Galaxy 4,5,6 and E
and A Series
Php 400-600: iPad Air Mini and iPad Air
Php 300- 500: netbook 11-13 inches

D. Places of Distribution

E-commerce: Lokalista.PH (Theresa Mendoza), PoundIt.com (Kristian Salva),

OneFilipino.com (Al Anthony)
Consignment Stores: BOs Coffee (Steve Benitez and Zar Castro), Going
Straight Salon and Lets Face It Facial Clinic (Free Product Display) (Monica
Manganti), SM Alabang Store (Jillian Dy)
Partnership with organizations: City of Davis, Los Angeles and its Sister Cities
c/o Mayor Ruthlane Uy-Asmundson
Partner Designers: Brian Tenorio, Michael Cinco and Francis Libiran

XII. Proposed Budget

1. Financial Plan
A. Assumptions
B. Total Project Costs
C. Projected Sales
D. Project Income Statement
E. Production Schedule

XIII. Management Team

1. Organizational Structure