IN DAVAO City, products in the department stores that contain ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, bergamot, Calendula flower extract, grapeseed, and Canadian willow herb are either made in foreign countries or in areas in National Capital Region (NCR).
Coleen Dell Acosta Yumang says it can also be made from the city. The Dabawenya recently established Naturae Gentle Solutions, a baby and mommy product line which is also manufactured in Davao.
Her products such as baby wash, baby lotion, baby oil, diaper cream, anti-mosquito lotion, anti-microbial spray, alcohol-free foaming hand sanitizer, chocolate lactation drink, healing salve was made with natural oils. It also contained oils available in the city like coconut oils and citronella.
Her lactation drink has cacao, malunggay, soy, and malt.
The product was the second brand that the business-minded Yumang had with the Davao-based manufacturer. The first one were skin care products under Piel in 2013, a fulfillment of her dream to have her own brand.
The concept for the baby products came when she gave birth to Ravis Rae in 2016. The nudge to start doing it was strong but having only few mommy connections, she shelved it for awhile.
It only pushed through when her second born Ramona in 2019 had more sensitive skin than Rae. She has also become a member of several mother communities in the city.
“Usually ang makita nato sa market kay mga jam packed with mga ingredients nga dili ka kasabot. Pag tan-aw nimo sa ingredients, it is too scientific, chemical-based. Ang akong idea is all-natural siya nga masearch gyud and familiar sa mga moms,” she said.
“I also made this hypoallergenic para safe siya sa tanan kay katong akong bunso, mas sensitive iyang skin. Dapat makahanap pud kog products nga mahiyang sa iyaha para makatipid pud ko and I can help other moms.
(I also wanted to find a product that is suitable for my kids so I can save and help other mothers.),” she added.
She did her own research on the possible ingredients and had her manufacturer formulate it. She tried it with her child and asked to reformulate it if the sample did not work.
The process took her six months before she became satisfied with the product and finally launched the brand this year.
“That is why katong nag launch mi, confident ko nga magwork gyud siya bisag natural lang siya, dili siya kanang chemical-based,” Yumang said.
(That is when we launched it, I am confident that it will work even if it’s natural, not chemical-based.)
She explained that people usually think that natural products are ineffective. However, the mommies – her first wave of customers and patrons – found it to be more effective than the baby products in the market.
Despite the brand’s infancy, she was able to gain seven resellers distributed in Davao City, Taguig, Quezon City, and Butuan. She also displayed it in permanent bazaars in malls along Bajada.
Yumang admitted she sees marketing the product as her biggest challenge considering she is a local player and bigger brands to reach farther market.
Nonetheless, she will still continue to be an available choice for other mommies and babies.
“I want na mahelp pud akong baby and at the same time sa ibang person pud. Kay if matestify nimo nga it is safe and effective, mas powerful tong marketing nga mabuhat nimo ba kay you are a living testimony,” she said.
(I want to help my baby at the same time to others too. Because if you can testify how safe and effective it is, using your own living testimony is more powerful.)
Yumang planned to add products for mothers under Naturae Gentle Solutions such as that lightens stretch marks, massage oils, and for babies, a natural-based remedies for flatulence.
While business can be risky, Yumang is not afraid to take baby steps just to fulfill her dreams to have her own brand.
“Kung naa man gud kay vision, maghimo ka og way na murag matinuod to,” she said.
(If you have a vision, you will always find a way to make it happen.)