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ExecutiveChronicles.com | Pili Lokal Marketplace – Connecting World-Class Filipino Artisans with Buyers | In the midst of the economic chaos that the pandemic has brought upon the Philippines, many Filipinos everywhere have been racking their brains to do their share in uplifting the country’s economy. A small group of Pinoys in New York has pitched some of their savings to reach out to local artisans and create a website where they can showcase their products. They called the site Pili Lokal — or simply Pili — which stands for “choose” in English. Pili Lokal is a marketplace for Filipino artisans.
The inspiration of Pili’s CEO Rizza Villaflor, comes from the Filipino’s brand of resiliency. Through the test of time, the Filipinos have been resilient, evidenced by the number of natural calamities that have been besetting the country, from floods, earthquakes, and even volcanic eruptions. That’s besides 20 years of Martial Law, various coup attempts, political turmoils, and now, the pandemic.
The quality of life in the country has been diminishing in the past due to external factors, too. But still, the Filipino standards have always been renowned world-class. This element is seen in various industries, such as healthcare, entertainment, food and beverage, and many others.
The Philippines has so much to offer in terms of organic resources like abaca, coconut, rattan, canes, corals, pearls, to name a few.
“With the rise of globalization, our country is not behind,” Villaflor stresses.
The presence of information technology has been amplified over time. The industry leaders need to pivot the positioning in order to adapt. Supporting the local industry will create opportunities, especially for the untapped market from one region to another. Re-introducing this idea to the public for mass consumption will elevate our way of life economically.
About Pili Lokal Marketplace
Pilí’s expertise lies in launching the local marketplace for authentic and handcrafted goods. This e-commerce platform is the home of local sellers to maximize their businesses in the community.
With the current status quo, Pili presents three main problems:
• What are Filipino products?
• Who are the Filipino artisans/makers?
• Where do they sell?
Pili Lokal aims to solve these issues by establishing a website platform where consumers can:
• Know what Filipino products are
• Identify Filipino merchants
• Access a community of buyers and Filipino sellers
Pilí’s expertise lies in launching the local marketplace for authentic and handcrafted goods. This e-commerce platform is the home of local sellers to maximize their businesses in the community. In this virtual age, automation is the key.
During this pandemic, shifting the focus of the middleman to the digital platform aids small-to-medium sized enterprises in recouping with the current economic downturn. Moreover, our company is also the hub of creative thinkers to implement their ideas by helping them enhance their marketing strategies and operational efficiency.
Villaflor states, “our mission is to lead the growth of the local economy and attain or supersede its sustainability not only limited to our own company.”
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