Bida ang Entrepinay: Life of a Super Mompreneur

Not all superheroes wear capes. Some disguise themselves as women raising babies while building a business. That’s because it really takes a special kind of person to put grace and elbow grease together to create something (and someone or two or three!) so beautiful.

Because for one to excel as a mompreneur, it requires the utmost love, commitment, patience, resilience, and strength. Even with all of these values emanating from you, there’s still no guarantee that your kids are going to turn into healthy, well-adjusted, productive members of society, or that your business will flourish.

So. we say, salud! And we shine the light on you as we celebrate this mother’s month of May. 

Ma. Gina "Heba" Arroyo Aloush

Habbe Tailoring Shop

2 years in business

Facebook: @habbeshop | Instagram: @habbeshop

Sheroes Store: https://habbeshop.linker.store/ 

Mother to 2 children aged 7 and 5

How did the idea for your business come about? 

I didn't have money and proper education to start a business, but I always dreamed to have a business that will not only give me financial freedom but also would give me a chance and opportunity to make a difference. Habbe Tailoring Shop was built out of my intention to contribute in saving our environment and help my friends by providing them a regular income. It all started when I decided to step up in my green living journey. I decided to use washable and or reusable products and also hoped that I could also inspire others to switch to Eco-friendly products and take part in saving our environment. There was some ideas in mind that I wanted to craft and hoped to be able to sell. In the beginning I used my crocheting hobby and made some crocheted washable and reusable cotton pads to use as an Eco-friendly alternative to the disposable cottons or cotton swabs that we use for applying products on our faces. I posted it on Facebook and some of my friends liked the idea and the product and ordered. Eventually I got some more orders and found some challenges in production. I thought that if only it could be made by machine, I could make a lot more of it easier and faster. Then I remembered my father is a tailor, so I called him and we started to sew cloth cotton pads and also started to craft my other green product ideas such as cloth Pantyliners and Menstrual Pads. Eventually with God's grace became a real and legal business named Habbe Tailoring Shop. 

How do you balance your entrepinay life with your family and friends? 

Honestly, I still find it hard to balance entrepinay life with my family and friends. Until now Im still learning amd trying to improve balancing everything and find ways to be more effective in every aspect. Both side is important for me specially at this point of my life. What I'm doing right now is just do the most urgent first, then the next important and so on. Im not sure if its right but I survive. 

What is the biggest challenge of being an entrepinay in the time of COVID-19? 

Covid-19 brought a lot of challenges to everyone. And I myself as entrepinay had to face some common challenges every business had experienced during pandemic. But on the other side, I saw a lot of opportunities in it. Being a mother it helped me to be more productive and efficient. I was able to do my work such as finishing and  packing orders at home while learning through YouTube and attending a lot of webinars, and be able take care of my children and our home. I am also grateful that during pandemic although all my partner stores were closed, my online shops were able to generate better income than before and was able to cover all the revenues that my store partners used to generate before they all closed. Yeah! I survived Alhamdulillah. 

What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to aspiring entrepinay? 

If its not written it did not happen - a life saver for a business. Data is the new soil. Very important to record everything that is happening in the business. 

What do you think is your advantage as a mommy entrepinay?

Being an entrepinay, you have to do everything at the same time all by yourself especially if you are not lucky enough to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth. It is very important that you are determined, patient hardworking and willing to sacrifice and to learn. I am a high school graduate who fortunately started a business by chance from a hobby. My intention to make a difference led me to where I am right now. I would say that my advantage with other mommy entrepinay is that I have a good intention and a lot of ideas, I am brave to conquer all the challenges through it all, eager to learn everything, willing to sacrifice, and always do everything with my heart.