Hahn
Direct-selling company Sophie Paris Philippines, Inc. is looking to make Cebu its biggest market in the country, a top official said.
Daniel Hahn, managing director of Sophie Paris Philippines, said they will focus on further expanding operations and investing in Cebu.
“We invested in Cebu and grew at least four times more than other places in the country,” Hahn said during the Sophie Paris Beauty and Fashion Caravan last Saturday.
“We can’t find a reason why Cebu wouldn’t be our biggest market share of Sophie Paris in a few years,” he added.
The company is planning to build a warehouse, which will support the growth in Cebu as well as those in Northern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas.
Sophie Paris entered the Cebu market a year ago with one store on Colon St. There are now 12 stores across Cebu and a total of 25 stores in the Visayas, including one in Bohol.
Jomel Diaz, sales manager, said they have around 400,000 active members. Sales have been growing by up to 30 percent annually in the Philippines since 2002. In Central Visayas, sales increased 74 percent compared to last year.
Hahn said all their products are imported.
“Our biggest products are our handbags, followed by our apparels and jewelries, watches, shoes and a lot of cosmetics,” he said.
Anapaz Alejandro, 35, said her best-selling product is Magic Pink cosmetic. She earns more than P20,000 a month and has been able to buy a car from her earnings.
Sophie Paris started with French founder Bruno Hasson making handbags in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1995. /Palompon Institute of Technology Intern Jay-Ileen Engalla