spot_img
29 C
Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Modern convenience comes to Ormoc City

- Advertisement -

The first 7-Eleven convenience store has finally opened in Eastern Visayas, thanks to Julie Anne Yap Garnace, a 34-year-old overseas Filipino worker in Dubai. 

The first branch of the convenience store in the region is located along Lopez Jaena in Ormoc City. Ormocanons expressed their delight over 7-Eleven’s arrival in their hometown as they can now enjoy the various products and the 24-hour shopping and service convenience of the world-leading C-store chain.

Garnace’s innate entrepreneurial drive and careful planning, as well as her profession as a flight stewardess led her to invest in a 7-Eleven store.

Julie Anne Yap Garnace (3rd from left) led the opening of her 7-Eleven store in Ormoc City. Joining her are (from left) Ormoc City Councilor Vincent L. Rama, Sheed Nathan Garnace, Ormoc City Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo L. Locsin Jr., 7-Eleven Visayas regional operations head Francis S. Medina, PSC business development division head Ulysses V. Borral, 7-Eleven  Mindanao regional operations head Gil M. Abad, and 7-Eleven regional operations support section manager Francisco R. Gayanilo.

“I traveled a lot for work and leisure. 7-Eleven has always been my go-to place in Asia and America whenever the need arises. I chose 7-Eleven because I know for sure that its brand is recognized globally, and they innovate their products and services to be on top of the game,” she shared. 

Garnace related, “Whenever I visit a branch of 7-Eleven, I always feel at home wherever I am and at the same time not forgetting that I am abroad because of the products they offer which are unique to every country. I wanted to bring that unique, wonderful feeling to Ormoc as well.”

- Advertisement -

The OFW said going home for good has always been her dream. “I know it won’t be easy but I have to start making it happen, and there is nowhere else to go but to enter into the business world because first, I can’t be an employee forever, and second, I don’t have retirement benefits as on OFW in UAE.” 

Seeing a bright prospect in franchising as the perfect “retirement” business, it was then that Garnace decided to become a C-store franchisee.  

“I gave 7-Eleven a call to follow up and they accommodated all my queries and we started with the scouting of a feasible location,” she recalled. “Thankfully, the expansion to Leyte was already approved during that time. Ormoc’s rise in the competition as one of the fastest growing cities in the Philippines has helped me decide on finally investing in its market as well.”

To help her build the business in a new territory, Philippine Seven Corp. provided Garnace the supportive network. Apart from a reliable, long-term franchise support system and global brand recognition, the 7-Eleven franchise package includes a one-month classroom training.

“I am fairly new to entrepreneurship. I did not know exactly where and how to start but time is of the essence. I had to have something which is already all figured out for me so I leaned on the idea of franchise,” said Garnace.

In choosing the brand to franchise, Garnace said she made sure “that it is proven to have a strong foundation and one that I know would survive in almost any given environment.” 

She shared, “Growing up in Ormoc, I observed that there was a lack of go-to convenience stores which operate past midnight, especially those that serve hot foods, which I think is essential for a growing economy.”

“This I know opened doors of ideas and opportunities not only for my family but for Ormoc. It is my family’s share to Ormoc’s growth and I hope that by this, Ormocanons will be more open and share more because Ormoc has a lot of potential and just needs a little push,” concluded the new entrepreneur.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles