This Women’s Month, Lalamove and Common Room PH celebrate the women behind local handmade businesses—those who keep learning, growing, and showing up, even when the road isn’t always clear. They understand that trying is a journey, not a destination. These women get the job done, thanks in part to Lalamove’s affordable and flexible delivery services.

Want to take the leap and turn your passion projects into a profitable small business? Keep these tips in mind, delivered by Lalamove and Common Room:

Find physical spaces to showcase your crafts

Your art deserves to be seen, loved, and appreciated. Although e-commerce is convenient, participating in art fairs, pop-up markets, or community events lets customers admire your products face-to-face, potentially leading to more sales. These opportunities also allow you to forge connections with other creatives and buyers.

That’s why collaborative spaces like Common Room PH make the perfect venue for makers to showcase their craft.

Common Room PH has been a home for locally grown small businesses since 2015. What began as a small shop in Katipunan has evolved into a hub with five branches across the metro, supporting over 200 local brands.

“For many small brands, getting into retail feels like a huge leap. Rent is expensive, and committing to a storefront can feel risky,” says Agsunod. “Common Room is a space for makers to test the waters, see how their products perform in a physical store, and build their brands without the financial pressure of managing a shop alone.”

It’s okay to start small

One of the biggest challenges that small business owners face is cash flow. “Small businesses often don’t have the funds to produce in bulk or invest in expensive marketing campaigns. Most makers invest what they earn back into their materials and production, hoping each batch will sell enough to keep going. It’s a constant cycle of risk, learning, and adjusting,” says Maan Agsalud, one of the founders of Common Room PH.

The makers of Popjunklove started with a PHP 5,000 initial capital. Sisters and Common Room founders Roma Agsunod and Maan Agsalud initially couldn’t create the products they wanted, which was clothing, so they had to reroute and make do with what they had: scraps and old toys.

Having little to start with doesn’t mean you can’t keep your business running. Learn to adapt and adjust. With patience and persistence, your brand will grow, too!

Set aside time for creative workflow

It’s easy to lose track of your creative pursuits once you start incorporating the administrative tasks of running a small business, from connecting with suppliers to shooting content for your social media pages. Dedicate time each week solely to creating art sans the distractions. Honoring time for art ensures that creativity remains the heart of your business.

“The key to managing it all is structure,” says Roma Agsunod. “Many makers have learned that organizing operations first allows them to focus on creativity without the constant nagging feeling of unfinished tasks. Prioritization is key – breaking tasks down into non-negotiables vs. nice-to-haves helps make the workload more manageable.”

Find the balance between your passions and responsibilities at home

Having a business is particularly challenging when you’re a parent.

In an interview, Nike Nadal-Reyes of Nyuki & Co. said that juggling motherhood and her business was so challenging, she ended up closing up shop. However, she later realized that not having a creative outlet was making her miserable. When she restarted her business, she prioritized finding the right balance, hiring help, and upskilling.

“My attitude also changed since I don’t want to give this [business] up. I will push myself to make it work, even if it’s hard. Stick with it and fight for it,” she says. “Before, it was a choice between my kids and my business. Now, it’s not a choice anymore.”

Multitasking parents can make their workload more manageable by utilizing Lalamove’s features and delivery options. Mom-preneur Cai Sio of Paper Chic Studio shares one of her favorite features of the delivery service: “My favorite feature is the Lalamove Wallet! I like the convenience of cashless transactions plus the discounts when I top-up.”

With Lalamove, you get flexible payment options, especially when you don’t have the time to go out and get cash for delivery payments. That’s one less concern to worry about!

Price your work with confidence

You’ve got everything ready: the branding, vision, and lineup of products. But here comes one tough part. How do you price your goods or services? Remember, your art holds worth – don’t undervalue them.

If you will use an online platform to sell your products, it’s important to consider added fees, such as delivery costs. “You have to balance your shipping and your price,” advises Elly Ang, owner and creator of Danger in Design, in her Etsy 101 video for Common Room. “Because even though the cost of my shipping to international is only PHP180, that’s not really PHP180 going to the US, so the rest of the price is within the [cost of the product] itself.”

If you don’t plan to use an e-commerce shop yet and would like to try using order forms first, consider delivery platforms like Lalamove to save on costs.  Paula Dimaano of accessories brand Piesa uses Lalamove for deliveries and vouches for their queueing service. “It helps our lean team save time, energy, and money,” she says.

Know when it’s time to hire employees

As your business grows, you might want to consider hiring more people to help you with production and your day-to-day tasks.

“With every business, at some point, if you see that you’re already inefficient with what you have to do as the owner, you really have to replace yourself,” Janeeva Verceles of Dear Self Beauty said in an interview. “You have to hire someone to replace yourself so you can do more.”

Hiring more people should be seen as an investment. By hiring extra help, you can focus more on creating new designs or products for your business—it’s a win for everyone.

Outsourcing makes a huge difference

You wear many hats when you become a small business owner. You become a marketer, designer, accountant, customer service rep, and logistics manager. That’s when outsourcing comes in handy, particularly with logistics.

Unlike big companies with dedicated delivery teams, most makers have to figure out how to get products to customers.

That’s where Lalamove comes in. On-demand, flexible delivery options allow makers to send out orders quickly, restock stores efficiently, and move supplies without needing their own vehicle. For businesses running on tight budgets, Lalamove’s affordable solutions make scaling logistics up or down much easier.

Patricia Fernandez Lim of Woven shares that Lalamove pays an important role in their daily operations. “At Woven, we use Lalamove for our retail and wholesale orders, as well as supply deliveries – anything from raw materials to packaging,” she says. “Apart from the cheaper rates and ease of use, my favorite feature is the Lalamove wallet since I can top up whenever and simply hand over any item that needs to be delivered. It’s one less thing I need to think about in running the business, and we get vouchers, too!”

When it comes to holidays, when shipping gets busier, and customers want their items immediately, Lalamove comes to the rescue, too. Lala De Leon of Simoy ng Haraya uses Lalamove for rush orders. “Some buyers just need the items now and I’m happy to make it happen,” she says.

Always believe in yourself

Self-doubt is one of the biggest enemies of a small business owner. “When things don’t go as planned – when sales are slow, products aren’t moving, or expenses pile up – it’s easy to question whether it’s time to give up. But for most women entrepreneurs, quitting isn’t the first thought. It’s adapting, pivoting, asking for help, and trying again,” says Agsunod.

Starting a business can get overwhelming, but once you get the hang of it, you’re on your way to success. Being a successful business owner is all about persistence.

The founders remind newbie business owners: “Keep showing up for your craft, business, and yourself.”

At Common Room PH, 83% of the brands are led by women – women who create, build, and push forward despite the challenges. This Women’s Month, Lalamove is supporting women-led businesses by offering a 10% promo for motorcycle deliveries to those purchasing online at Common Room’s online store.

“Lalamove helps reduce the stress of managing deliveries so makers can focus on what they do best—creating, experimenting, and growing their brands,” Maan Agsalud says. It’s the delivery service that helps these successful women entrepreneurs get the job done.

For more details, visit Common Room PH’s official Facebook page and Lalamove’s official Facebook page.