5th Aklan Product Showcase generates P1.7M sales in Iloilo City
Kalibo, Aklan -- Aklan's 5th Product Showcase, which had its week-long run at the Lower Ground Activity Center of SM City from November 12 to 18, generated a total of P1,766,992.18 in sales, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here, which was much more than expected.
"We were afraid that the P1.2 million target sales we projected was too much and could not be reached, but it was not only realized, it was even surpassed", said Stella Caldera of the DTI here, when asked of the market performance of Aklan's products during the showcase.
According to the DTI, the product showcase generated some P587,602.17 in cash sales and P1,179,390 in booked orders.
Top sellers in the showcase were the bakery products, followed by the meat products and food delicacies, while the furniture sector had a surprising market performance, with an exhibitor generating cash sales of P130,000 from just one buyer during the showcase, according to the DTI.
A leading bakery here in the province, which also exhibited its food products in the showcase, managed to find two franchisees of his bakery, which would be established in Iloilo, the DTI revealed.
Twenty-three Aklan exhibitors from the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Aklan brought their products in Iloilo for the showcase.
"Barongs, piña cloth and other loom-woven products also generated good sales. Jojo's Christmas cottage from the Sampaguita Gardens also sold well," Caldera said.
Good quality, uniqueness and product presentation were some of the reasons given by the DTI why the Aklan products produced by the SMEs stood out in the showcase, generating an impressive sales performance.
SMEs in Aklan are also instrumental in helping solve the problem in unemployment by providing jobs to skilled furniture makers, loom-weavers, bakers, processed food workers, etc. (PIA)