The slow down in aviation has also brought about the best in every cabin crew. Despite all that has happened, it has made people resilient where they discover more about themselves. These cabin crew, realizing that there is no choice but to create another income stream, have become entrepreneurs. Some of them were born out of their love and passion for something. An example is how flight steward Benedict Baydo’s love for Adlai became a business.
FS Benedict’s entrepreneurial was born out of the covid-19 crisis. Flights were cancelled and airline employees had to accept an unpaid leave scheme. Due to the slash in income, this flight steward had to find ways to make ends meet.
We now share you Benedict Baydo’s entrepreneurial story of how his business was greatly able to help his family surpass these challenges.
Here is our interview with FS Benedict.
Tell us all about your business and how you got started?
Dos Broz Supplies started last year when pandemic struck and flights were cancelled. I started thinking of ways to earn additional income and keep me busy so I sold covid-protective supplies in Lazada, embroidered and handpainted masks from Lumban Laguna, and dabbled into egg and food delivery inside our village.
My wife and I had been Adlai consumers before the pandemic struck, so when our supply ran low, we began sourcing for suppliers who can provide us with this healthy rice substitute even with all the quarantine restrictions. Then I realized that if we were having difficulty looking for this supergrain with all the access to internet, what more for those other health-conscious and diabetics who are mostly seniors.
I went through different suppliers, buying and tasting for personal consumption, until we found the variety that we liked. It was indeed an answered prayer. I found a partner who is cultivating a small farmer community in Malita, Davao Occidental. I found out that we belonged to the same Christian organization. In fact, he is a missionary-pastor who wanted to ensure the livelihood of the farmers in Malita and improve their lives as they share the Word of God to them. They have an abundant supply of these grains and was having difficulty selling them outside the region. When I learned this, I decided to focus all my energy in Dos Broz Supplies to purchasing all their harvest and distributing these here in Manila and all over the country via my Lazada store. I also started marketing via Facebook groups, Viber communities and through word-of-mouth. We started receiving 5-star reviews and repeat orders. We got more of the harvest but learned of the difficulty of the farmers as they had to travel 30 kilometers away for their milling needs. So we partnered with them in getting the milling machine they needed to produce more Adlai in a shorter amount of time. As the network grew, more orders came in. However, we know that we haven’t really tapped the market so it’s our vision to raise awareness about this local superfood that is produced right here in the Philippines, that has the quality that resembles white rice closest, but is lowest in glycemic index, saturated fat and is gluten-free. What’s great about Adlai is that it can be eaten by diabetics, health-conscious individuals and even kids.
Some of the challenges that I faced early on were my lack of marketing and branding knowledge. It’s a learning process until now. Also, many people still didn’t know about Adlai so I have to explain all the benefits and the higher price point compared to white rice. However, I learned to focus on my customer’s feedbacks and that when my customers are satisfied, they will be the best people to market my product. Indeed, word-of-mouth is the best advertisement. Also, health is wealth, so given their means, people will readily spend for a product that is full of nutritional value and delicious!
How long have you been a cabin crew? Please share us a bit of your cabin crew journey.
I have been a cabin crew at Philippine Airlines for 16 years now. I also finished my CPL-IR license and have been flying small planes to transport live fish from Palawan to Manila from time to time. I see myself staying in Aviation for a long time.
What are your best selling products? How much are these?
Since we focused on Adlai, this is the product that has been mostly availed. At P290 per kilo, this is definitely one of the lowest priced in the market. We ensure 100% organic produce, freshness and quality, and for those living in Las Pinas and nearby villages, I even deliver for free weekly.
What are your future plans for your business? Any upcoming products or services?
My vision is to be certified as an organic product and to be able to bring Adlai abroad. A lot of my Filipino friends and relatives in the US and other countries would like to try and sell these in their communities. But agricultural products are heavily regulated so I am still studying how to produce export-quality Adlai for them.
How has sales been so far? Or how many customers/orders do you get in a day?
Recently, sales has been good. In the beginning, I sold 20 kilos for a month. Now, I sell 10-20 kilos per day. I hope to sell more so I can buy more of the harvest of the farmers in Malita.
What is a typical day for you? If you are still flying, how do you juggle your time between flying and your business? How do you manage your business?
A typical day for me starts with posting in social media about our Adlai, then answering inquiries and preparing my shipment for the Lazada orders. I schedule my deliveries every Friday or Wednesday, depending on my flight schedule. When I’m out on a flight, my wife tries to answer some of the inquiries, I just keep track once I have wi-fi abroad.
How has being a cabin crew helped you run your business? What are these very important lessons?
Being a cabin crew for me entails attention to details, good interpersonal skills and having a healthy image. This helps me because I ensure that my Adlai grains are clean, I even allot time to personally handpick any stones or shells that may be present. I also try to maintain a good rapport with my customers and returning clients, I believe they can help me grow my business. And since this is a health product, I believe in it and use it for my personal consumption. When people learn that I am from PAL, it has given me a credibility and good will because they know the kind of people we are and I believe it has been an advantage for me.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Hopefully, God-willing, I will still be with PAL after 5 years while growing my Adlai business. By then, I should be able to sell Adlai in other countries and raise awareness of these local produce. I also plan to venture in other healthy agricultural products that are sourced locally.
Tips and advice to all who want to keep pushing forward amidst this crisis?
Always pray and draw hope from Jesus Christ, the only true source of peace in these trying times. Also, since we have extra time in our hands now, let us maximize this by being open to any opportunity that may come our way. A problem that you will try to find a solution for can become a business opportunity, or the skills you have or your passion for something may become a sideline work. Huwag mahihiya magbenta, and let us support each other. A like, share or a purchase means a lot to our fellow cabin crew.
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