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Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Grill To Go: Success on the go
By Jenny Molbog-Mendoza
WHEN we talk of food, nobody can deny the fact that grilled food and sizzling sisig are among the few mouth-watering favorites of Filipinos.
Nowadays, life is moving on a fast pace. It seems like everybody is rushing to catch up with their schedules. No wonder that fast food is thriving at present.
And when we talk of fastfood, Grill To Go is just one of them. To those who are so much fond of playing badminton inside Wheels and More badminton courts along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Bajada, you definitely know about this fast food outlet.
Also located inside the compound of Wheels and More are small areas of food counters, serving various delicacies--from grilled to dimsum.
"Aside from the fact na cozy ang area, maganda din ang puwesto kasi malapit sa badminton court at the same time ako lang ang nagbebenta ng grilled food dito, 'yong iba coffee shop, sizzlers, and dimsum and binebenta, pero may food din na generic sa lahat like sisig and chicharon bulaklak," said Grill To Go owner Charmaine "Cha" Olea-Capili who is only at her 20s.
Though she is still young, Cha is already considered by her close friends as a certified entrepreneur because of the way she handles her business.
According to Oibone Enobio, a co-worker at the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco), Cha is a true-blooded entrepreneur since she has managed to divide her time for her husband, baby, office work, and business.
The acquisition
The wife of Jun-Jun Tupas, one of the former owners of Grill To Go, once texted Cha about the plans of her husband to sell the store due to personal reasons. Cha then discussed about it with her husband.
Because they also have plans to acquire a business that they can call "their own", the couple decided to buy Grill To Go from the Tupases.
"Before pa lang talaga, me and my husband were already thinking about having our own business, hindi lang talaga namin alam kung ano. So, nang dumating 'tong opportunity na 'to, we decided na bilhin na. This is actually our first venture," she said.
On August 2, 2004, the couple acquired Grill To Go, along with its recipes.
"Pati menu nila, chief cook at assistant cook nila dati 'yon pa rin ang mga tauhan ko ngayon, except lang for the kahera. Wala akong halos binago, nagdagdag lang ako ng TV para hindi masyadong mainip ang customers habang naghihintay ng kanilang order.
Management lang talaga ang nag-change," she said.
Behind the success
Rapport with customers is one attitude that Cha cited as among her greatest weapons in running her business.
"If may customers na dumating, chika-chika konti para naman hindi rin sila mainip at the same, they would feel na at home sila sa lugar," she said.
At this point, Cha refused to say that her business is already successful. She even described her store as "a baby".
"It's too early pa talaga for me to say na successful na talaga sya. But I'm doing everything na mapalago siya lalo, of course, with the help of my husband," she said.
Future Plans
Cha is planning to open her branch somewhere in Bajada soon. She is likewise pursuing to continue offering catering services to her clients.
Last December, Cha joined the Christmas Bazaar held at the Davao Trade and Convention as one way of showcasing her store's specialty--grilled food.
"During the bazaar, marami ang nagkagusto sa lasa ng food na inihanda namin, so they asked for our contact number. From then on, nagsimula na akong mag-cater," she said.
Aside from making her store "as a window for catering", Cha is also looking at the possibility of taking up summer classes on cooking so that she could further enhance her skills. Through this, she could offer additional food in her daily menu.
The market
Among the major markets of Grill To Go are medical representatives, badminton enthusiasts who are playing at Wheels and More badminton courts, and young professionals.
If you want to enjoy good food at affordable prices (all food are sold at P100 and below), just visit Grill To Go and have a taste of their sumptuous grilled food, from pork barbeque to grilled chicken liver.
Grill to go is open from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. till dawn.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (April 13, 2005 issue)
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