Like most of Philippine enterprise, Accredited Suppliers Association of the Philippines (ASAP) members are small-to-medium-size enterprises: from big production houses, to family-run, technically high-end mom-and-pop shops. Because of this, the growth of ASAP member companies runs parallel to the growth of the advertising industry.
Yet, in the light of recent technology and expanding expertise, ASAP is undergoing re-invention.
One effort is Infoglio, which replaces its standard Black Book directory when it is launched at the Ad Congress. Through Infoglio, the three-decade old AdBoard member hopes to arm its members and fellow SME delegates with the ammunition to engage the ever-aggressive competition from newcomers, local and foreign.
Another effort was its conference “Business Refreshed: Inspire, Incite and Ignite” last August 18 at the Intercon. Although the topics were more business-school than cutting-edge, it did succeed introduce SMEs to creative business expansion, cultivate and install specific procedures to measure growth and success. Business branding was highlighted; and as commonplace as digital technology is, a significant number of SMEs are still without websites.
Not so laden with industry figures, the conference featured expert consultants and academicians instead: Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Business Administration Dean Dr. Leonardo Garcia, Jr., chairman of Business Works, Inc. Anthony Pangilinan, chief Executive Officers of Woo Consultancy Mon and Abby Jimenez; University of Asia and the Pacific Professor, Dr. Bernardo Villegas; Crush/TNBT Singapore’s Rod Nepomuceno and RFM General Manager Greg Banzon, Asian Institute of Management Professor Jacinto C. Gavino, and Remigio Tito C. Tirones, senior vice president and head of SME Banking Group of Planters Development Bank.
Based on delegate feedback, the speakers delivered a focused agenda, with ASAP getting nods of approval for the endeavor.
“Gavino’s presentation on values-driven business, as well as Villegas’s projection of a bright prospect for Philippine economics mean good business,” said Raul Blay, vice-president of ASAP. “The audience was inspired. When they return to work, it won’t be business as usual. It will be business refreshed,” he added.
Just what the conference promised.
