A visit to a shoe store called "Step Right" in 2003 while on their way to Pagsanjan, Laguna, turned best friends Arthur Santos, Riza Emalada and Lani Elma-Chua into first-time entrepreneurs. The trio launched ArturoRizalani.com, a website and online bazaar in May, which features jewelry, handbags and shoes.
Aiming to promote the Philippines through its products, the idea for the "store" was prompted by the success of trunk shows the women conducted (they were selling shoes); it was the result of a shoe party they held in which all ten pairs were sold.With the profitable gains they were getting from the trunk shows, the group then decided to Fake Chanel Wallet Handbags expand, adding jewelry and handbags to the mix. Knowing that they wanted a business that would showcase the Philippines through goods made from the country, ArturoRizalani.com was born. Santos, who has a banking background and is the "official" face of the company, received help from Wells Fargo's Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center to start the business. He says the concept for the website took two years to create. "I wanted it to be perfect," he explains. Filipino fashion is scarce in the U.S. and Santos feek that designers in the Philippines can get exposure through ArturoRizalani.com. "I'm here to give someone a outdoor led down lights [big] break," he says. The company is presently working with
embroidered patches Jennifer Sarmiento of Makati (she designs the purses) and Oli Hechova of Liliw, Laguna (shoes). With its target market being Filipinos and non-Filipinos (specifically in the Midwest and the South), ArturoRizalani.com hopes to attract customers with its "ethnic" and Westernized goods. For now the company is focusing on getting sales and exposure, and would eventually like to sell to stores as well as on the home-shopping network, QVC. Santos also sees his new venture as an opportunity to get involved in projects back home such as providing educational and medical help for the less fortunate. "I just don't want [the company] to be [about] fashion, but fashion with a reason," he says.
Other articles:
http://www.huayang-biology.com/Letter-You-say--Shoppers-from-space.html
http://www.ccncct.com/Blog/View/?1207