From mommies to SM Mompreneurs: The making of today's empowered mothers

Juggling work and family responsibilities isn’t new for moms, but it takes more than balancing these two aspects to truly be called a super Mompreneur.

In celebration of Mother’s Month, SM Supermalls takes a look at how this breed of Mompreneurs, who are ably raising their kids and running a successful business at SM, are made and what their secrets to a balanced life are.

Innovation as a game changer

The food business has always been the go-to start-up for any budding entrepreneur, but to stay competitive in the industry, a true Mompreneur dabbles in creativity to set her business apart.

Mother of two Grace Dy-Olivan of Graceland Food Industries Inc. applies this principle in running the restaurant her family built in Naga City in 1976 which serves well-loved Bicolano specialties.

“From a makeshift eatery, our restaurant, Graceland which is known for its local dish ‘Pinangat’, has now expanded to 20 branches all over Bicol. I attribute our success to our innovative spirit and our openness to change, not only in coming out with ideas to make the business better but also in finding ways to establish unity and camaraderie among the diverse group of people behind our management team and members of our board,” said Dy-Olivan.

Melanie Saito, owner of restaurant Dough’d, knows this by heart as well. Introducing unique products was top of mind when she was looking for ways to make her business click. “My passion for cooking led me to think of new creations, like cinnamon buns with new topping combinations. We also applied the same principle when we brought the first Japanese cakes, takoyaki, and shawarma to Las Piñas customers,” related Saito.

Melanie Saito, owner of restaurant Dough’d in SM Southmall

For mother of three, Rhica Gonzalez, complementing innovation with being a hands-on business operator is the secret to business success. “Even if you’re running an established business model like a franchise system, it is a must to pay attention to your day-to-day operations and set in place a consistent system that will ensure growth and success for your business,” shared Gonzalez who is a franchise owner of Infinitea, Buko Express and Black Scoop Café in SM City Naga and SM City Legazpi.

Rhica Gonzalez, proprietor of Infinitea, Buko Express and Black Scoop Café in SM City Naga and SM City Legazpi.

Life changes as motivation

Running a business has its ups and downs, especially when faced with personal issues. For Saito and Gonzalez, however, the life changes they’ve experienced within the family motivated them to work harder in aiming for success. 

“Becoming a mother at a young age allowed me to quickly learn and adapt to new things. It was not easy but with the support of my family we were able to pull through and open more ventures,” explained Saito. On the other hand, a death in the family encouraged Gonzalez to rise above life’s challenges. “I lost my Dad when I was young but this prompted me to become a stronger ate for my siblings.”

Dy Olivan, meanwhile, finds the challenges of juggling motherhood and being an entrepreneur. “Motherhood does not come with a manual and it is a work in progress. There is always something I can improve on to become a better mother.”

A strong support system as No. 1 cheerleader

Aside from their families, these Mompreneurs take comfort in having the strong support of their partners as they work towards business recovery and growth amid the pandemic.

“Working with SM opens new doors and learnings,” related Dy-Olivan, who has been a tenant of SM City Naga since it opened in 2009. “Our partnership has made our brand, strong, which is very helpful in this pandemic.”

“SM truly cares for their tenants and is ready to assist us, especially during these trying times. From marketing to promotional support, we make sure to help with everything a business owner needs,” said SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.

For these Mompreneurs, the qualities that make them super are woven within their very core as mothers and enriched by the people around them that allow them to shine as entrepreneurs. SM Supermalls celebrates their courage and resilience, as it continues to support their endeavors in life.

To know how you can celebrate your own Mom this month, bookmark www.smsupermalls.com or like and follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms for more information.