ASHLEY SANDRINE YAP, LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

Hindi maikakaila ang saya at pagmamalaki ni Sparkle GMA Artist Cen­ter talent Ashley Sandrine Yap nang ilunsad niya kamakailan ang kanyang negosyo — ang Sip2Glow. Ito ang kanyang first business venture.

Ipinakilala niya ito noong August 1, 2024, kung saan ang kanyang amang si Richard Yap ang una ring celebrity endorser. Ginanap ang event sa Electric Garden, Bonifacio Global City.

Ayon kay Ashley, matagal na niyang pa­ngarap ang magkaroon ng sariling negosyo kaya masasabing isa itong dream come true. Suportado naman siya ng kanyang mga magulang na sina Richard at Melody Yap. Sabi pa nga raw ng dalawa, natutuwa silang hindi takot sumugal ang kanilang anak na bumuo at mag-manage ng negos­yo. Alam daw nilang magtatagumpay ito.

Ani Ashley, “I come from a family where they’re very business-minded. So if you guys know my dad, he and my mom have a lot of businesses.

“We have restaurants, we have a pet hotel.

“And so growing up, I just wanted to build my own brand as well.”

Beauty-related business ang obvious choice ni Ashley.

“Ever since growing up, I was always into make-up, beauty. But then, aside from that, I think after the pandemic, it really opened my eyes that it’s not just beauty, but also health is really important.

“And so I kind of wanted to make a combination of that. And this one not only makes you look beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside.

“Yeah, it helps with your health as well.”

Wise decision ito sa part ni Ashley dahil bukod sa pagiging negos­yante ay artista na rin siya. Kesa gumastos ng Malaki sa make-up at health products, gawin na lang itong negosyo, kikita pa siya ng extra, at may fallback pa sakaling hindi mag-succeed sa showbiz.

Year 2022 pa raw niya pinag-iisipan ang nasabing negosyo, mula nang makatanggap siya ng parangal bilang Highest Performing Affiliate Partner ng Lazada. Naisip daw niyang isa itong malaking achievement.

“And so with that, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, people trust my recommendations so much.’ Ani Ashley.

“And if I talk about other people’s products, why not make a brand of my own and share it with them as well?

“And they would know that it’s actually of quality because it’s actually something that’s from me and from my heart as well.

“And so I think that’s the main reason why we came up with SiptoGlow.”

Malaking bagay rin ang kanyang mga travel experiences, kung saan nakakakita siya ng mga produktong hindi pa available sa Pilipinas. Nakadagdag ito sa kanyang self motivation para magbukas ng sari­ling negosyo.

“I’ve been traveling a lot with my family. So I get a global perspective of the products that we still don’t have here in the Philippines.

Gusto raw niyang dalhin sa Pilipinas ang nasabing mga produkto upang maranasan din ng mga Pinoy ang more ele­vated experience.

Pero umabot pa rin ng dalawang taon ang meticulous planning bago siya nagkaroon ng sapat na lakas ng loob bago ipakilala ang kanyang brand.

“Overall, like from the planning, the conceptualizing, it’s gonna be almost two years. And then now lang siya namin ilo-launch.

“Kasi we really wanted to research and then plan everything ahead of time talaga. So medyo matagal yung process.”

Hindi madaling mag­simula ng negosyo. Napakarami nitong hamon, at ipinagmamalaki talaga ni Ashley na na­lampasan niya ito, kasama ang kanyang team, lalo na noong time na nananalasa ang bagyong Carina at binaha ang kanilang warehouse

“Actually, siguro since it’s my first one, ang dami ko rin po kailangan matutunan. So, I’m just taking it day by day talaga.

“So, may mga, si­yempre may problems na parang, oh my gosh, nung bagyo, binaha yung supplier namin.

“So parang paano ba namin aayusin yun? Like, anong gagawin namin? So little things like that na day by day naman na-overcome na­min.

“So I’m very grateful na I have a great team behind me.”

Hinggil naman sa talent fee ni Richard bilang endorser, walang pinakawalang pera si Ashley

“Love lang po yung bayad,” aniya.

Pero nilinaw ni Richard na ang supposed­ly monetary payment sa kanyang endorsement ay ginawa na lamang niyang investment sa Sip2Glow bilang tanda ng suporta sa anak.

“It’s not entirely pro bono,” ani Richard. “Medyo may part na rin ako sa negosyo, parang pampalubag-loob…

“Parang ano, what do you call that? Industrial, yung bibigay ko lang yung pag-endorse ko, not really because binabayaran ako, but because I believe in the product also.”

Ginamit talagang lahat ni Ashley ang natutunan niya sa kursong Marketing Management Education na tinapos niya sa De La Salle University.

Gayunman, bukod sa formal education, mas marami raw siyang natutuhan sa kanyang mga magulang, lalo na sa kanyang papa.

“I think one of the most important things I learned from my parents is that you really have to take care of your team.

“Alagaan mo talaga yung mga tao, kasi sila yung tutulong sa iyo…

“So, never forget to be thankful [to] the people around you and remember na it’s not just yung grupo kayo na magpapalaki mong business together.”

Isa pa umanong napakahalagang lesson na natutuhan niya ay ang kahalagahan ng sipag at tiyaga at pagtitiis sa gitna ng mga hamon.

Ani Ashley, “As an entrepreneur, he’s very pursigido (Richard). Like, hindi siya nag-give up.

“Kahit ang hirap na nung pinagdadaanin sa business, he’s always someone that will still push for it talaga hanggang kaya.

“So I think that’s one thing that I learned from him as well.”

Binigyang diin din ni Ashley ang pagpupunyagi.

“[Also] to be hands-on talaga. And to know na, you know, paglalaanan mo talaga siya ng oras.

“And may mga maghihirap kang pagdadaanan. But, we have them so prepare.”

RLVN