MANILA – For businesses, more so for the start-up ones, choosing the right location is perhaps the most important decision that has to be made, because that can make or break the business.
Below are the basic questions that business owners must ask themselves, to aid in the decision-making, which businessmen like Ramon de Ubago III, who runs the R2 Group that owns and operates beauty, grooming and wellness brands like Nail-a-Holics, Vivere Salon, Sports Barbers, Hey Sugar, Maxwax and French Tips, agrees with.
De Ubago’s business started in Manila and saw the potential in the growing market outside such as in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
1. Is The City Economically Stable To Build And Sustain My Business?
Long-time business owners will benefit from moving their offices and setting up their businesses in Santa Rosa, considering the area’s tax incentives; English-speaking, tech-oriented and young labor pool from schools like Malayan Colleges Laguna, STI Sta. Rosa and Don Bosco; and the fact that it’s home to four PEZA-registered industrial estates. And even if it is located outside Metro Manila, Santa Rosa is easily accessible via South Luzon Expressway.
2. Is The Location And Environment Convenient To Me, My Potential Clients, Employees And Suppliers?
It’s all about the location at the end of the day,” says de Ubago III. There is a big amount of attention given to whether your business and employees’ needs are reachable in a few meters.
De Ubago’s business expansion in Laguna is within NUVALI, a burgeoning eco-community where residential, businesses, educational, recreational and institutional facilities are made available.
One Evotech, first of three office campus developments in NUVALI’s Lakeside Evozone, has a bike ramp going up to the building encourages alternative means of mobilizing.
3. Is The Property Reasonably Priced And Custom-Fit For My Business?
De Ubago III points out, “This is critical because rental expense is a big part of your operating cost.” NUVALI is offering potential business locators two types of office formats: BPO-friendly offices, similar to One and Two Evotech where Convergys and IBM are located, and built-to-suit product wherein NUVALI can build for a locator its own building based on specific requirements.
This building, the Evoliving Center is located at NUVALI in Laguna, Philippines, a self-sustainable eco-friendly community developed by Ayala Land.
4. Will I Have A Lot Of Competitors In The Area?
“Your market can only take in as much. Otherwise, it may result to a price war since everyone is trying to cut a slice of the market,” de Ubago III says. The business competition outside of the metro isn’t as tough yet. Following Metro Manila is CALABARZON with the number of emerging business, recreation and residential developments around.
5. Do I See My Business Flourishing In This Location In The Years To Come?
De Ubago III, whose Nail-a-Holics business has a branch in Solenad 2, specifically believes NUVALI is the right location for his business, saying, “Business will flourish in the area. NUVALI is a high potential market since the growth in the area is tremendous given that there’s also a good balance of residential, commercial and educational properties there.”
As a reminder to entrepreneurs, de Ubago III shares, “You must put a brand or business that suits your target market. You also have to consider the availability and convenience of the place to your employees so you attract and retain your good people.”