‘Don’t be afraid to start, or do it scared anyway’ – Zoe Kimberly Santos

Siblings Zoe Kimberly Santos and Paulyn Santos opened The Fifth Palate on July 12, 2020, with a startup capital of around PhP3,000 to PhP5,000. Offering (mainly) Japanese cuisine, the business started while the world was braving Covid-19, Zoe Kimberly said, but they were inspired by “small startup local businesses and frontliners (who are) being courageous and put themselves out there regardless of the uncertainty.”

Surprisingly, they did not actually imagine they would be going into this field/line of work/line of business. “We wanted a cafe, a hostel, or to design furniture design,” Zoe Kimberly said, smiling. Not that they regret being in this field now, since “we love our current chosen field of business.”

The great thing is, in a span of three weeks, and even when they were just getting started and offering their products to friends, they already gained ROI. Yes, this is a profitable venture, she said, “especially since people nowadays are craving/looking for something new.”

There remain challenges.

For instance, “managing the business while working full time, marketing online, and making your products adapt to (different) tastes,” she said. To deal with these challenges, “we do some research about Asian cuisines, as well as how to market online. We study and apply what’s useful/beneficial to our business. My sister and I do shifting schedules (cooking, delivery, etc.) to ensure that we have time to run the business.”

That they’re in this for the long-term is a given, considering the success that The Fifth Palate is experiencing.

For people who may want to also open their business, what tips can Zoe Kimberly give?

“You have to hold your vision/goal as real, love what you do, have faith/trust in your own product and the rest will follow. If you don’t know where to start, look for something you are passionate about and start small. Eventually, it will grow into your dream business,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to start, or do it scared anyway. It’s all about the mindset and perception. Also, enjoythe process.”

Wanna try the offerings of ‘The Fifth Palate’? Head to Instagram: @wearefifthpalate.