BizWiz
Starting is the hardest part; it only gets better – Azenith Soriano Antonio-Umipig
A former OFW in France, Azenith Soriano Antonio-Umipig was forced to stay in the Philippines due to Covid-19. She found a new calling with Zen’s Chili Garlic, must-have homemade condiments with a recipe she started developing while overseas.
It was in July 2020 when Azenith Soriano Antonio-Umipig, 32, established Zen’s Chili Garlic with a startup capital of “roughly PhP1,500.”
“I was an OFW in France, working there for almost 11 years,” Zen said. She came home just for holidays, but Cvid-19 happened, which delayed her supposed flight back to France. Couple this with her father having surgery last February, “so I needed to stay a little bit longer.”
Zen is also the eldest child, and “you can only imagine the responsibilities and the pressure (placed on me).”
With bills continuing to pile up, “I thought of a way to generate an income.”
When she was in France, Zen used to make this chili oil for her husband. “So I came up with this idea to improve my recipe and decide to start a business with my chili garlic oil as the primary product.”
And so now we have Zen’s Chili Garlic.
“I am a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Commerce, so I have a good background about business. But I never thought that I’d get into food business. You see, I’m more like of an office person. I always thought that I’m destined to be in the office, sitting on my chair, checking on paper works, stuff like that,” Zen smiled.
Looking back, “I think the hardest part was the beginning, when we were brainstorming and formulating on the right product to sell. I tried my best to reach out and get some advice from my family and some trusted friends that has knowledge and background about cooking. With the present situation, we made sure to have a product that is mainly affordable and a staple in every household.”
Yes her product is making a mark.
But “we are trying to make the most out of our profit by improving our products,” Zen said.
And for people who may want to also open their business, what tips can Zen give?
“Always be inspired and don’t be scared to start your business, but always be mindful and smart. You must assess your target consumers well. Put your heart into your products. Remember that the start is the hardest part; it only gets better,” Zen ended.
To try Zen’s Chili Garlic, contact 09167457418, email zhen_antonio@yahoo.com, or visit Instagram: @chiligarlicbyzen.