Jose Sarasola gives advice to small business owners amid the GCQ
Actor-chef-businessman Jose Sarasola knows managing a business amid the pandemic is a big challenge.
The newbie Kapuso actor shared how he manages to keep his bar-resto running despite many companies shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During an online interview, Jose said, "For now I stay at home with my mom and dad three lang naman kami sa bahay but I have a bar in BF Homes Parañaque, called Avenue 75.
"Nung nag-start na 'yung GCQ [general community quarantine] nag-start na ako for takeout since puwede na.
"Kasi, nung ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] bawal mag-open 'yung mga bar-resto. Ngayon, puwede na. Bawal pa 'yung dine-in pero, at least, 'yung takeout puwede na."
Jose also spoke about the difficulties his bar-resto staff faced when their establishment couldn't operate during the ECQ.
"It's also hard for them. Ten years na rin 'yung bar ko and first time namin makaranas ng ganito na pandemic talaga.
"So, kailangan ko rin suportahan 'yung staff ko, I make it a point to visit the bar every day.
"'Yung kahit walang sales I have to take care of my staff, some of my staff 'yung mga kids nila, ninong ako, around ten years ko na silang staff.
After working with the same roster of people for ten years, Jose treats his staff just like family.
"I believe ever since nung nag-open ako before na talagang importanteng alagaan mo 'yung staff mo, you need to treat your staff like family.
"'Yung return naman is they also give you good service for your customers.
Despite not having any profit for months while the whole Metro Manila was in quarantine, Jose made it a point to give full salaries to his staff.
"Naging problema nila 'yung salaries pero nitong nakaraang ECQ I was paying them their whole salarie.
"Super thankful naman sila na I still take care of them. Grateful naman sila.
"But very challenging pa rin po lalo na nung walang sales na pumapasok, we kinda just fought lang talaga.
Thankfully, things are starting to get better now that bar-restos are partially allowed to operate.
"Eventually, nung nag-GCQ na, I could start takeout, so meron ng pera na pumapasok.
"So now, we're surviving naman po."
With everything he's experienced in running a bar-resto, Jose learned a lot along the way.
"It's really hard now," he said.
"I have a few friends na meron ding businesses and they're actually planning on closing, I also know some who have closed down their businesses already."
To his fellow business owners, Jose gave this encouraging advice, "Fight pa rin. Kailangan pa rin lumaban, you can't just give up."
He added, "Maybe if you're losing a lot of money na and sa bulsa mo na nanggagaling 'yung mga pangbayad mo sa mga bagay, I'll understand if you close.
"I'd rather close than maubusan na ng pera."
Jose also advised people to make use of social media to promote their businesses and to come up with affordable promos for customers.
"But if you can still fight for survival, just keep posting on social media.
"Having good promos also helps for people to order your food. Labanan ngayon, pa-murahan ng mga bagay bagay.
"Everyone's like selling something online.
"If your business has been around for a long time I think it's easier to adjust, ang mas mahirap is 'yung mga kakabukas lang kasi gusto mo rin makabawi agad sa investment mo.
"For those who still want to open their businesses ang advice ko is try to fight it lang, slowly magiging back to regular norm din tayo pero iba nga lang talaga kasi may social distancing.
"Continue lang and I think eventually magiging better naman," he concluded.
