GEARING towards sustainable living, homegrown manufacturer Nature’s Legacy Eximport Inc. continues to promote eco-friendly products which are locally made to a fast-growing global market of environmentally conscious consumers.
Founders Pedro and Cathy Delantar opened their full-scale Cebu showroom Friday, May 24, 2019, marking their 35th year in the gift, decors and houseware export industry.
“My wife and I saw the opportunity in manufacturing and export. But it was not easy because we were late entrants and the industry then had already matured. So we came at the height when the market was saturated with similar products,” said Pedro in his speech.
Pedro said they had to innovate and develop their products to stand out in the manufactuing and export industry.
“We thought that in order to attract new markets and new customers, we have to be different. We have to have something that is not there. So we developed our own products through our own materials. That’s why all that is found in the showroom is the manifestation of the 35 years that our company went through,” said Pedro.
Displayed in their showroom located on Area 77, P. Remedio St., Banilad, Mandaue City, are the sustainable products made out from four core materials called the stonecast, marmorcast, naturecast and nucast.
Pedro said they have gone from simple horizontal designs to vertical ones, transcending one industry to another, from commercial spaces like malls and hotels to even garden works and accessories, here in the country and abroad.
For new companies, Pedro urged them to create products that are not yet in the market and to continue innovating towards environment-friendly business models.
“This is one way to encourage other people in the same industry that you don’t have to stop at where you are. You have to explore other markets because that’s where you can find new beginnings and new opportunities,” said Pedro.
His wife, Cathy, also called for determination and uniqueness amid the challenges in the global export market.
“We worked on all the obstacles and hurdles but no matter what, because we believed in what we do, we overcame them all,” said Cathy, adding that their products are present in 40 countries and counting.
Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Director Shahlimar Tamano said manufacturers like Nature’s Legacy are important to tourism especially now that the market is taking a strong stand against climate change.
“Sustainable products complement tourism because we don’t like single-use plastics. DOT has been partnering with big companies to address these concerns and all of these are part of the holistic approach for our sustainable tourism program,” he said.
Carlo Delantar, a social entrepreneur, also stressed the growing consciousness among the consumers in using products that will not lay waste on the environment.
“There’s an upward trend of demand for it where the adoption of consumers is mainly whether it’s either environmental, it’s social and economical. We get all three. But in the general sense, the upward trend of demand is still considered as a niche market,” said Carlo.
He added that because of climate change consumers are now picky about what products to use. He said they prefer to buy those that are eco-friendly, affordable and aesthetically pleasant.