MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: BUBU ANDRES
Member’s Spotlight is something that the EO APAC Bridge Marcomms team has wanted to do for a long time. When we look at the roster of members or meet them at events, we constantly walk away going, “Wow, that person is impressive.” We’ve been thinking about the best way to highlight them, and we hope these interviews give you a glimpse of how accomplished, courageous, driven, and most of all, how real they are. To add a novel dimension to this, we also generated the questions off ChatGPT, with a very detailed prompt. Come say hi to this member if you see them at an upcoming event or retreat, and most of all, enjoy the read!
– Trixie & Chelsea, MarComms co-chairs, FY 22/23
Member Spotlight: April 2023
Bubu is a prolific EO member and founding member of EO APAC Bridge. She founded Candy Corner together with Ricky, her husband, in 1994, and has since grown to become Philippines’ leading candy brand. Her interview takes us through her journey from founding to the two biggest setbacks in business, and how she overcame them. What really left an impression, though, was Bubu’s simple yet illuminative values that guide her in business and everyday life. Now we all want to be CANDY!
PS: Bubu, we cry at Disney movies too!
Can you tell me about the moment when you first had the idea for your business? What inspired you to start it?
In 1994, we applied for a retail space to sell our sticker and stationery brand. After two long years of waiting, the mall finally offered us a prime, corner space near other retailers we were supplying. However, we decided to change our concept to a candy store because we were also importing novelty candies and many confectioneries that we loved – these were not available in the Philippines. Fortunately, the mall approved our candy store proposal, and Candy Corner was born. I still remember standing with Ricky in the mall hallway, looking at the empty space, and asking him what we should name it. He replied, "It's in a corner, so let's just call it Candy Corner." And thus the story of Candy Corner began.
What values and principles guide your business decisions?
As a family and as a couple, we strongly believe in the spirit of Bayanihan, which means supporting and uplifting each other without expecting anything in return. This belief is something that I have also spoken about in EO and it became the theme of my year as Global Chair: Bayanihan - Unity in Community.
Today, the values of our company are the reflection of our own values and principles, which we made into an acronym “I AM CANDY.”
C - Caring
A - Adaptable
N - Nurturing
D - Determined
Y - Yearning for Growth
What has been the most challenging obstacle you've faced as an entrepreneur and how did you overcome it?
Back then, I used to say that the fire that destroyed our entire head office was the most challenging experience we had faced. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has proven to be more challenging for us to face. While the fire caused us to lose all our stocks, our stores remained intact and we still continued to make sales. With the pandemic, we had a large number of stocks but zero sales, and we barely made collections from suppliers and cash due to the lack of sales. We were racing against time to sell out stocks before they expired, limited by closures and lockdowns, with all children below the age of 16 not allowed to leave their homes.
In addition to the pressures of the business, we also had to balance the need for staff mobility and the risk to their life and health. Our goal was to ensure the safety and well-being of our Candy Corner family, with the goal of having no COVID-related deaths within our Candy Corner family and we were successful! Business growth came back with a vengeance and everyone was working together to rebuild when the economy reopened. Everyone was happy.
Can you talk about a time when you made a difficult decision that ultimately led to success for your business?
We once had a customer who provided about 40% of our distribution revenues, and we initially thought we could not live without them. Unfortunately, their conduct made business with them unprofitable. I had to make the business decision of whether to continue working with them or to let them go. Ultimately – and it was a very difficult decision -- we chose to end our relationship with that customer. Though business contracted initially, it then grew to a much larger and healthier size after.
How do you stay motivated when things don't go as planned?
I just remind myself that not everything in this world goes as planned. Life is what we make it.
Can you share a specific example of a successful project or accomplishment you're particularly proud of?
Can I consider my 3 kids an accomplishment I am very proud of? 😁
What are your long-term goals for your business and how do you plan to achieve them?
We have an internal BHAG to be achieved in 5 years. It is in line with my goal to retire by then. 😊
How do you balance your business and personal life?
I have combined them! (laughs) Being an empty nester and having your husband as your co-founder is a luxury. I don't need to balance my business and personal life because they are all intertwined 😂
What do you like to do for fun?
I love to travel, explore new places, hang out at the beach, go stand-up paddleboarding, and meet up with new friends. I’m also a huge foodie so I enjoy learning about matching food and wine. 😊
What is your favorite book or movie that you would recommend?
I’m currently reading a book given to me by my friend titled “Strength to Strength”. It’s a timely read that matches my current life stage. 😁
What's something interesting about yourself that people might not know?
I cry so easily! My kids always laugh at me because even Disney movies can make me cry 😂
If you could have dinner with any person, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would love to have the opportunity to have dinner with Pope Francis and discuss with him his thoughts and plans for Catholicism in today’s world, which has never-ending conflicts and discord among people, cultures, countries, religions, values, etc. I would also like to ask him “How can we help make our world a better place for our children?”
