1. Who is MicroVentures?
MVI is composed of dedicated professionals who aspire to be the leading partners of micro entrepreneurs in the country. We believe that micro financing is a powerful tool to empower socially and economically challenged families.
Our Vision:
MicroVentures Inc aspires to be the leading partner of Microentrepreneurs in the Philippines. In so doing, we leverage Microfinancing as a powerful tool to empower socially and economically challenged families.
Our Mission:
1. The Development of Viable and Sustainable Business Models for Microentrepreneurs
2. The Empowerment of Microentrepreneurs through capacity-building
3. The Formation of Strategic Partnerships with Microfinancing institutions and other organizations
2. Is MicroVentures Inc. or Hapinoy an NGO? (Non-Government Organization)
Hapinoy is not an NGO. It is a Social Business Enterprise popularized by Nobel Prize Winner Muhammed Yunus. At its most basic definition, a social business enterprise uses business models to further social objectives. And as such, sustainability and scalability are built into the endeavor.
3. What is the relationship between Microventures Inc. (MVI) and Hapinoy?
Microventures Inc. (MVI) is the group that created and manages the Hapinoy Store Program.
4. What is the Hapinoy Sari-Sari Store Program?
The Hapinoy name is a play on the words Happy and Pinoy, the colloquial word for Filipino.
The entire Hapinoy Store Program focuses on the sari-sari stores in the Philippines (sari-sari is the Filipino word for “many or various kinds”), small neighborhood convenience stores or retail-based outlets that sell various things, mostly basic commodities. These kinds of stores are almost always located within or as an extension of the storeowner’s home. With about 700,000 stores in the country, sari-sari stores make up 30 to 40% of total retail sales in the Philippines.
In 2007, MicroVentures Incorporated launched the Hapinoy Store Program with microfinance borrowers in mind. Upon realizing that 15 to 20% of microfinance borrowers use the capital to put up stores or expand their inventory, the Hapinoy Store Program first focused on aggregating all these sari-sari store owners for bulk product discounts.
Today, Hapinoy Sari-Sari Store Program has evolved into a full-service micro entrepreneur enhancement program: a network of micro, small, medium and large enterprises where Hapinoy Community Stores and sari-sari stores serve as the hubs for goods and services that are coursed through the program and offered to its Base of the Pyramid target.
5. What is a Hapinoy Community Store? What are the benefits of being a Hapinoy Community Store?
The Community Store concept is a unique aspect of the Hapinoy Program. They serve as a depot and distributor to smaller Hapinoy sari-sari stores, as well as a hub for information and opportunities for the community. A sari-sari store is chosen in each town and upgraded to be a Hapinoy Community Store.
Once a sari-sari store is converted to the Hapinoy Community Store, it receives the following benefits:
- Access to capital Store Improvement
- Product Sourcing and optimized cost of goods
- Business and management-related training such as inventory and financial management
- Technical and Sales Support through the Hapinoy Store Doctor Program, i.e. Hapinoy field team members who manage 8 to 11 Community Stores each Systems, such as point of sales
- New businesses and additional revenue streams for the store, such as the SMART Communications Retailer Program, i.e. offering airtime sales to other stores Base of the Pyramid target.
Through the Hapinoy Store Program, stores are also able to access even more capital through additional microfinance loans granted by partner microfinance institutions. On the other hand, these stores also become pivotal in building the sense of community in the town, gathering and building relationships with and among other Nanays.
6. What is the goal of Hapinoy for each member?
The Hapinoy Program mainly partners with women micro entrepreneurs called Nanays. The Program aims to help each nanay:
- Have a profitable and sustainable business
- Reap practical, tangible benefits from partners and microfinance institutions
- Become knowledgeable with the help of training programs and support services
- Be confident and empowered.
7. Why work with nanays or mothers?
We primarily work with nanays because our micro finance partners primarily work with women. But in truth, we also work with tatays (Fathers), and anaks (sons or daughters) as in some cases, Hapinoy has become a family business and not just the mothers. The Hapinoy program aims to benefit the whole family.
8. Who else does the Hapinoy Sari-Sari Store Program partner with?
Though our Nanays are our main partners, we also interact with different partners for each aspect of the program.
For our Micro Finance Institutional partners, we currently work with the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) and Taytay Sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI)
Private corporations, schools and organizations are also partners of the Hapinoy program.
9. How can I be a partner of Hapinoy?
Interested parties may send a letter to info@hapinoy.com or download the Partnership Kit.
10. How can I be a Hapinoy Community Store?
One may apply to become a Hapinoy Community Store if the program is being implemented in your area by a local micro finance partner.
As of December 2009, Hapinoy Communites can be found in Batangas, Bicol, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Bondoc Peninsula, Rizal, Bulacan and Mindoro.
Check if the Hapinoy Sari-Sari Store Program is coming to your area by contacting any of CARD’s Executive Offices:
CARD MRI Executive Office
20 M.L. Quezon St., City Subdivision, San Pablo City, Laguna, 4000 Philippines
E-mail: mri.info@cardbankph.com
You may then ask your local CARD branch about the details of the Hapinoy program.
11. Can I still be a Hapinoy Sari-Sari Store member even if I don’t want to be a Hapinoy Community Store?
As long as you have a sari-sari store, and there is a Hapinoy community store in your area, you can join even if you're not a member of our microfinance institution partners. Just go to the Community Store in your area and inquire with the store owner.
We still suggest that you ask the Hapinoy Community Store owner about the benefits of Hapinoy membership such as additional capital for your own business.
12. What if I'm not in your covered areas but I'm interested in being part of the Hapinoy program?
Contact us anyway. We are more than happy to answer any of your inquiries. Please send your e-mail to info@hapinoy.com or fill out our visitor information form in our Contact Us page.
