A year since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, and the way we work still has not changed. Even with more people being vaccinated, businesses continue placing a premium on the safety and health of their employees. Thus, remote work continues to be an essential part of business continuity. However, even with organizations swiftly shifting to digitization and adapting work-from-home solutions, the pandemic has clearly underscored the urgency on the need to adopt agile and scalable work models, especially for human resource operations.
Moving towards the post-pandemic era, ineffective HR rules like bureaucracy and uniformity should be replaced with a responsive, flexible, and innovative framework.
Globe Telecom, with more than 8,000 employees, is no exception. Focusing on simplicity and speed, they have been able to innovate employee engagement when it was needed most.
Globe understands that shaping a company’s culture starts at caring, or malasakit, for its employees. Employees who are cared for are more engaged and productive, which translates to better business. New programs for empowering, enabling, and engaging employees based on the following principles were created while the pandemic was underway:
(1) Think Win-Win, (2) Be Human, and (3) Keep Things Simple.
One great example is how Globe managed to keep track of the 8,000 employees across the country.
At the start of the pandemic, Globe required employees to check in about their health status. On average, the company recorded 30 to 60 percent of responses on Google forms alone. However, this was too much to keep track of and relied on a culture of compliance, which was not sustainable given the duration of the pandemic. So, on March 27, 2020, Globe launched its COVID-19 Disaster Response chatbot called Digital Usher for Disasters and Emergencies (DUDE).
DUDE is a chatbot that would regularly check in with Globe employees first thing in the morning. It helped the COVID-19 Response Core Team keep track of employees. It also provided accurate information, health check-ins, safety tips, and a medical and mental health support hotline. The bottom line here is, Globe understood that more than fancy technology, innovation should also provide genuine care and swift delivery from their end.
A company’s HR team plays a crucial role in an employee’s experience. Research has shown that when HR facilitates a positive experience for an employee, there is a better chance they will outperform themselves. Better employee engagement equals better business. Globe Business understands this and wants to help you strengthen your HR team’s programs through easily adaptable solutions.
Want to know what these are? Click here to get a free download of our HR catalogue.
Starting a business on fashion and beauty may seem like all glitz and glamour, but what most of us don’t often see is the hard work and dedication behind it. This is why StylefestPH came up with Stylespace, an interactive space for local brands to share their stories and what they have to offer to the market.
Held at the Globe Iconic Amphitheater, Stylespace was able to provide an avenue for businesses in the fashion and beauty industry to touch base with their target audience. With Globe myBusiness’ help, a special spot called the Lifestyle Hub was also put up specifically for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout the three-day fashion and beauty fest.
Several lifestyle brands took the spotlight at Stylespace through their pop-up booths. Some of them were even given time onstage to share their stories and tips on starting a business in the fashion and beauty industry.
Among the brands featured on the Stylespace stage are Globe myBusiness ambassador HTP Clothing and all-natural beauty brand Ellana Minerals Cosmetics. Check out what they had to share below:
HTP Clothing founder Ricca Del Rosario shares invaluable tips about running your own business.
Half the Price (HTP) Clothing had very humble beginnings, and business owner Ricca del Rosario has made no secret that her brand’s entry into the fashion industry was out of the ordinary. Today, however, HTP is a staple in the online fashion retailing world.
During her stage time at Stylespace, Ricca revealed that one of the key areas they focus on at HTP is customer relations. She said that finding a way to keep their customers is a key ingredient to a lasting presence in the fashion retailing game.
“Unlike physical stores where people can actually see the merchandise on sale, online stores can only provide pictures. That’s why it is very important to build trust with your customers. Constantly communicating with your customers and acting on feedback immediately can help build that trust,” Ricca said.
Ellana Minerals Cosmetics’ Gen-zel Habbab takes the stage for a live makeup tutorial using their products.
As the Philippines’ leading mineral cosmetic brand, Ellana Minerals Cosmetics offers a high-quality selection of makeup that fit a variety of skin types. All makeup and skin care solutions by Ellana are created cruelty-free, talc-free, and 100% vegan.
Ellana Minerals Cosmetics took the Stylespace spotlight as the first brand on-stage to do a makeup tutorial featuring their own products, sharing not only makeup tips, but also tips on how to start a business in the beauty industry.
“First, they must love and know what they do. Your knowledge is your limit. I suggest they [research] the makeup products that they want to launch and get inspiration from other brands. It will also help a lot if they study about cosmetics, marami naman ng workshops and schools dito sa Philippines,” shared Ellana Minerals Cosmetics professional makeup artist Gen-zel Habbab when asked about how potential entrepreneurs can ready themselves for starting a business.
Meanwhile, some established and rising brands from the SME sector also shone on the floor with their unique and enticing offers. Discover what these brands are and the products and services they had to offer:
Founded by Dr. Mary Jane Torres, the Zen Institute is a medical spa that specializes in non-surgical, non-invasive skin treatment procedures that focuses on improving the overall well-being of their clients. It combines medical science, creativity and aesthetic sense to deliver the best, long-lasting results to their customers.
“What makes us unique is our focus on our client’s overall well-being. We look at beauty holistically, which means we aim to satisfy our clients on their physical and inner beauty needs. We tailor-fit based on their needs,” said Wilbert Pascual from the Zen Institute.
Silk by Lay Bare is a high-end, luxury waxing boutique that offers soothing wax and skin care services using cold sugar wax with natural extracts, catering to clients who have various hair removal and after-care needs.
According to Julie Ishihara, Brand Communications Manager for Silk by Lay Bare, their brand stands out by going above and beyond with their services, noting that, “we really want to offer a private, more intimate service to our clients, especially to working women who are looking for a place to relax and unwind after a day’s work.”
Working women are also at the center of Zouk PH’s clothing line as they offer the everyday wear—tops, pants, and dresses—for women to look effortlessly chic. The brand offers a simple yet stylish line up of clothes in rich, solid colors — a perfect match for the girl bosses of the 21st century.
Owned by Bianca Lapus, Zouk PH was previously featured at Globe myBusiness Star Bazaar, along with other celebrity-owned businesses that are making waves in their respective industries.
Starting a business in the fashion and beauty industries can be challenging, but it’s also worthwhile. Take it from Stylespace’s merchants, whose perseverance and hard work paid off with well-deserved success. Who knows, if you follow this path, you might just be the next big name in the Philippine fashion and beauty scene!
If you missed checking out these merchants during StylefestPH, we’ve got great news for you! You can get another chance to check out more businesses by being the first to know about our next events. Simply register to Globe myBusiness Academy for free and we’ll send you fresh invites for our upcoming events that are sure to inspire you towards the road to success!
Stylefest PH 2018 is a full-blown fashion event that will create a platform for fashion and beauty enthusiasts to create, collaborate, and bring their creative entrepreneurial projects to life. One of its notable features is the Designer Mentorship Program, which aims to help promising designers make it big in the fashion industry.
During the press launch, Michael Coson, Globe’s Head Integration and Portfolio Management, Creative Marketing & Multimedia Business, says the program gives the most promising designers from across the Philippines the opportunity to be mentored by the Style Council, which is composed of the country’s top fashion and beauty experts.
According to Michael, the program has six pillars: mentorship, design, development, retailing, technology, and marketing. The program is structured to make the design and business know-how of fashion, beauty, and retail industry experts available to guide promising fashion designers with their design and entrepreneurial projects.
As part of its commitment to small and medium enterprises in the Philippines, Globe myBusiness will be coming in to lead the retailing pillar of the program. It will ensure that the designers under the program will be able to learn the ropes of retailing in the fashion scene by elevating their entrepreneurial know-how.
“Retailing is an exciting part of this program. You can’t just design without ensuring cost efficiency, choosing the right fabric, and picking the best production line. Retailing your product is very much important,” Michael says.
“A great design will only remain a great design if you don’t have a great distribution channel. That is where entrepreneurship comes in. Together with the Style Council, Globe myBusiness will develop and nurture our finalists’ entrepreneurship skills,” Michael adds.
Meanwhile, the Style Council will be headed by iconic Filipino designer Ino Sotto. He will be joined by fashion stylist Pam Quiñones, ZALORA Philippines co-founder and CEO Paulo Campos, professional make-up artist Jigs Mayuga, fashion and lifestyle editor Sarah Santiago, Globe Lifestyle head Leah de Guzman, and Fashion Exchange International co-founder Carmina Sanchez-Jacob.
Together, they will mentor eight promising Filipino designers, who were carefully selected from 38 applicants from all over the country. The top finalists will be given a cash prize to help them start their ventures and a spot at Stylefest PH to bring their designs and products to the runway, which will be sold exclusively at Zalora PH and Globe’s in-house clothing line 0917.
The Stylefest PH’s Designer Mentorship Program will culminate in a 3-day event happening on September 7-9, 2018, featuring the capsule collection of the five (5) winners named “Emerging Designers” and the three (3) winners dubbed as the “Future of Design.”
Globe Telecom CEO Ernest Cu, Saga Events CEO Robby Cardona, and Grand Hyatt Manila General Manager Gottfried Bogensperger, were also present during the launch. Young social media influencers and influential figures in the local fashion industry were also in attendance.
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