Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Contents
I. Introduction ……………………………………………………………3
A. Executive Summary ……………………………………………………4
II. Environmental Analysis ……………………………………………………7
A. Macro-environment ……………………………………………………7
1. Political …………………………………………………………7
… 8
2. Economic 10
…………………………………………………………
… 12
3. Socio-cultural ………………………………………………….... 13
4. Technological …………………………………………………… 13
B. Micro-environment ……………………………………………………17
1. The Garments Industry 21
…………………………………………
… 24
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Market feasibility Study
45
V. Marketing Mix ……………………………………………………………
45
A. Product ……………………………………………………………
49
B. Price ……………………………………………………………………
50
C. Place ……………………………………………………………………
56
D. Promotions ……………………………………………………………
62
VI. Endnotes ……………………………………………………………………
66
VII. Appendix ……………………………………………………………………
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Market feasibility Study
Introduction
En Cima (On Top), Inc. is comprised of nine UP graduates, all from the College of
Business Administration. Unsatisfied with the idea of working for others, they all decided to
be entrepreneurs to become their own bosses. Seeing the opportunity found in the nature of
the country’s retailing industry and after conducting series of strategic market skimming, En
Cima was able to grasp a relatively potential business of providing specialized clothing
apparels for the Filipino women. It has been observed that currently, predominant stores in
the market offer clothes that are patterned according to Caucasian sizes. The idea therefore
lies in addressing this relevant matter concerning the plight of the average Filipina.
The typical Pinay is petite. En Cima defines petite as a term describing short height,
notwithstanding other body structure criteria. According to surveys and research, Filipina
women would often find dissatisfaction in shopping for their clothes as they would always
encounter problems with regard the length of pants and sleeves of the apparels they bought.
Analyzing this situation, En Cima came up with Lilliput, a brand that aims to offer products
that would somehow respond to these common yet untapped needs of the true-blue Pinay
fashionista. Lilliput would then be established as a boutique for women, that offers chic,
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Market feasibility Study
The very first branch will be launched at Shoppesville, Greenhills, where the target
market coming from the middle to upscale classes frequently shop for clothes. The store will
cater to college students and young professionals within the ages of 20 to 29. During the first
years of operation, the product will initially offer casual and formal blouse, pants, shirts, and
skirts – items where our customers frequently encounter size-related difficulties. The quality
and prices shall be at par with other leading apparel brands. In the long run, Lilliput shall
strive for the bigger share in the market by opening branches, franchises, and consignments
to various department stores and boutiques. Gradually, Lilliput is projected to create its niche
in the market, thereby guaranteeing that the business will surely make its mark in the
industry.
Executive Summary
To fully assess the feasibility of the business idea of a fashion boutique shop for
petite women, En Cima, Inc. has made two key environmental analyses: the macro- and
microenvironment analysis. The macro-environment analysis takes into the account the
political situation under the Philippine government; the economic environment, which
mentioned pertinent economic indicators that are relevant to the analysis of the market
and described the current economic situation in the country; the cultural environment,
which took note of important socio-cultural demographics to better understand the target
market; and the technological environment, which listed capabilities that the local
garments industry has as of the moment. On the other hand, the micro-environmental
analysis focused on the garments industry in which the group wishes to enter. The
analysis discussed the developments and issues in the local garments industry.
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Market feasibility Study
These are indirect competition whose brands do not only cater to petite-sized
women alone. Among the competitors considered were: Kamiseta, Bayo, Folded &
Hung, Lee, Plains & Prints and Penshoppe.
Lilliput came up with its target market by multiplying the female population of
NCR by the percent of the population belonging to the upper and middle class.
Furthermore, to qualify with the height criterion of our market, the percentage of the
female population age 20-29 standing within the height range of 4'10" - 5'3" will also be
extrapolated. The figures projected through stated annual growth rates within 10 years
would then be used to calculate the demand forecast of Lilliput.
Market demand refers to the amount that potential buyers from the target market
would likely consume or buy from our products. Lilliput's demand has been computed by
adjusting an acceptability rate from the targeted market. Moreover, to get the monthly
and annual demand, the consumption rates for both the top and bottom clothing lines
were multiplied to their projected consumption rates respectively.
Lilliput's supply has been derived from the annual average production capacity of
the garment industry for 2005. However, to carve the proportion that would represent our
target market, the volume has been adjusted by getting the percentage of the target
market. To be more distinct, the fraction of women who encountered length problems in
buying their clothes was also multiplied so as to get the projected supply for the business.
Reconciling both the Demand and Supply, a considerably high gap has been
observed thereby giving an impression that there really is a need for the services of this
new venture.
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Market feasibility Study
Segmenting, targeting, and positioning are critical factors in shaping the success
of any business plan. In the Philippines, the market could be segmented in many ways –
geographic, demographic, psychographic, and behavioral. Lilliput segmented the market
geographically according to cities, specifically the ones in the National Capital Region.
For demographic segmentation Lilliput’s market will be grouped according to age,
income and race. Psychographic segmentation further divides the market base into
factors such as social class, lifestyle, and personality.
Lilliput is a clothing boutique specially designed for (1) women who are (2)
petite, between the (3) age of 20 and 29 years old, particularly those in the (4) Class B
and C bracket in (5) Greater Manila Area. In addition, Lilliput will be positioned as a
clothing boutique for women that offers chic, sleek, timeless, and naturally fashionable
apparels specially designed to complement petite bodies.
En Cima, Inc., understands the problem that Filipino women face, hence, the
reason of coming up with the idea of Lilliput. Its clothing line is geared towards
addressing the usual problems that petite women always encounter. Thus, the cuts, sizes
and dimensions that shall make up the apparels will accordingly be tailored in order to
give the target market the right fit, form, and proportions that match their body frames.
Since, the world of fashion is relatively fast paced, Lilliput has to constantly
search for the latest trends on the web, magazines, and catalogues, and should also be
keen in observing how prominent fashion figures project themselves through the clothes
they wear. Cleaner, discreet, and vibrant colors and shades shall characterize the apparels
that the store will offer. High quality materials similar to those used by established
boutiques utilized. En Cima also plotted the different strategies with regard to the
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Market feasibility Study
expansion of its product line throughout the life of the boutique – from
introduction to maturity.
As a specialty store, Lilliput will set a higher premium on all prices. It will be
more or less at par with our potential competitors such as Kamiseta, Bayo, and Freeway.
In addition, Lilliput will be located in average but not too congested malls, such as
Robinsons, Glorietta, and SM Megamall where the prices of items are not intimidating to
scare off potential customers. Eventually, during the maturity stage the business is
planning to expand its operations outside the Metro.
En Cima came up with short term and long-term promotional activities and goals to
aggressively advertise the brand and its products. To begin with, good relationships with
various media publications and broadcast networks shall be established. This will allow
Lilliput to increase customer awareness of its products. Eventually, the company will launch
a campaign featuring a famous personality as the brand’s image model.
Environmental Analysis
To fully assess the feasibility of the business idea of a fashion boutique shop for
petite women, En Cima has made two key environmental analyses: macro- and
microenvironment analysis. The macro-environment analysis takes into the account the
political situation under the Philippine government; the economic environment, which
mentioned pertinent economic indicators that are relevant to the analysis of the market
and described the current economic situation in the country; the cultural environment,
which took note of important socio-cultural demographics to better understand the target
market; and the technological environment, which listed capabilities that the local
garments industry has as of the moment. On the other hand, the micro-environmental
analysis focused on the garments industry in which the group wishes to enter. The
analysis discussed the developments and issues in the local garments industry. In
addition, as part of the micro-environmental analysis, the group considered the retail
trade in the Philippines as well as possible competitors within the industry.
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Market feasibility Study
A. Macro-Environment Analysis
Political Environment
The country is currently facing political instability as the president faces charges
of alleged election fraud and corruption charges against her and her family as well as the
Supreme Court’s freezing of an expanded sales tax, and the resignation of the president’s
economic team. Such political crisis negatively affects the profitability of the country’s
businesses due to a weaker peso, rating outlook downgrades and higher interest rates. If
debt levels continue to decrease and higher foreign reserves were maintained, there
would be no major negative effect on business profitability.1
In the meantime, the country’s political crisis has brought international credit
rating companies to downgrade the country’s debt payment credit ratings and also
affected Asian Development Bank to threaten the country with suspension of loans if
fiscal and other reforms remain stagnant if the political crisis would not be resolved. The
Supreme Court’s postponement of the implementation of the new value-added tax, which
was the core of the government’s fiscal reform agenda to reduce the country’s budget
deficit, proves to be a major impediment for the said program. Presently, credit rating
firms have rated the country’s long-term foreign and local currency ratings at “BB” and
“BB+,” respectively. They have also rated the country’s short-term foreign currency at
“B” and country ceiling at “BB.”
*Stronger peso at 52
The political crisis may not just negatively affect the country’s economic
performance, but may also damage the confidence of the consumers and investors as well
as hinder the developments in the financial markets. Ultimately, the political crisis only
serves to aggravate the country’s external variability to global trends such as growth
moderation, rising interest rates and oil prices. 2
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Market feasibility Study
Economic environment
:: GNP. Gross National Product at current prices amounted to 5195.9 billion Pesos,
experiencing a 0.2% increase from last year. The growth rate of GNP for this year [2005]
has been estimated at 5.2-5.8% and has been forecasted to be at 6.5 to 7.1% increase. 3
Real GNP for the first quarter of this year was pegged at 4.7% while in the first quarter of
last year, real GNP was at 6.4%. 4
:: GDP. Gross Domestic Product at constant 1985 prices amounted to Php1148 billion,
experiencing a 1.5% increase from last year and has been expected to grow
approximately by 5.5% this year. The expected growth in GDP in 2005 can be attributed
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Market feasibility Study
::
Wage Rate. New minimum wage rates took effect this June of 2005. The minimum
wage rate for the workers in the National Capital Region was Php325 per hour, whereas
the workers outside the NCR earn from a range of 180 pesos to 225 pesos per hour.7
:: Inflation. The inflation rate for this year is pegged at 5.6%. The increase in inflation
rate can be attributed to the increase in services as well as the higher prices recorded in
food, beverages and tobacco, fuel, light and water and other miscellaneous items.8
:: Foreign Exchange Rate. As of August this year, the Peso closed at little less than 56
to the dollar. If the political situation slowly stabilizes, the country can experience a lift
in the peso. Factors that can strengthen the peso include political stability, income
remittances from OFWs, inflows from portfolio investments, and proceeds from
government bond sale.9
Socio-Cultural Environment
Demographics
The age structure of the population is divided into three brackets. The first one is from 0-
14 years old, which include 35.4% of the population. The second bracket of ages 15 to 64
comprises of 60.6% of the population. The third age bracket, which is composed of
Filipinos 65 years old and above, covers only 4%. The median age for males is 21.77
years whereas for females, it is only 22.8 years.
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Market feasibility Study
Based on the 2000 Census of Population and Housing taken by NSO, it was found
that there were more men composing the population with 50.4% than women with
49.6%. From 1995 to 2000, the sex ratio was pegged at 101.4
:: Labor Force. The total number of individuals within working age (15 years old and
over) is equivalent to 54,194,000, of which 64.8% participates in the labor force. The
employment rate in the country is currently 91.7%, an increase from last year, whereas
the average unemployment rate is currently 8.3%, increasing at a 0.3% rate. Almost half
(49%) of the total unemployed individuals in the Philippines are aged 15-24 years old.
The underemployment rate is currently 26.1%.
According to the NSO’s Labor Force Survey, men and women comprise 61 and 39% of
the 2002 labor force, respectively. In addition, it was found that women had a 51.7%
labor participation rate while men participated in the labor force at a rate of 80.8%. The
Survey also showed that, in 2002, the 89.9% of the total labor force were employed.
Employment rate for women was 89.9% whereas men’s employment rate was at 89.9%.
In terms of major occupation groups, majority of professionals, clerks and officials and
special-interest organizations, corporate executives, managers, managing proprietors and
supervisors were women. On the other hand, majority of plant and machine operators and
assemblers, farmers, foresters and fishers, and tradespersons were men. In terms of major
industry groups, more women belonged in the education, health and social work, and
wholesale and retail trade industries while more men were found to be dominant in the
construction, transportation, storage and communication, and fishing industries.
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Market feasibility Study
Central Luzon. These top three regions posted estimates of income that were
higher than the average income of 148,757 pesos in 2003.
The annual average saving as of 2003 showed a downward trend. However, on the
average, Filipino families in all regions earned more than they spent, as stated in NSO’s
2003 Family Income and Expenditure Survey results. In 2003, families located in NCR
showed the biggest annual saving of 46,923 pesos.
Technological Environment
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Market feasibility Study
:: Other developments. The Garments and Textile Board of the Philippines has recently
installed an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system to reduce processing time to help
improve production and delivery lead-time. It allows garment manufacturers-exporters
(GMEs) to transact with GTEB electronically. The costs associated with implementation
of EDI include the costs for acquiring the software and the hardware themselves, training
and ongoing costs such as Value-Added Network (VAN) charges, maintenance and
support costs.13 In addition, the leading companies in the industry have started to acquire
CAD/CAM techniques, “Quick Response” and Just in Time” philosophies to allow more
flexible manufacturing.
B. Microenvironment Analysis
The Philippine local garment industry started as a cottage industry in the late
1940’s. The pioneers are engaged in dressmaking, tailoring as well as subcontracting
activities for the Americans. The golden years of the garment industry was in the 1970’s,
during which the Philippines was considered to be a nice and attractive place to buy or
manufacture apparels. This continued on for about ten more years, which then catapulted
many garment manufacturers as leaders in the export business.
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Market feasibility Study
encouraged the local manufacturers to tap into the potential of the industry.
What made the local garment industry a viable investment for foreign companies was
the high quality of the Filipino labor force – highly trainable, industrious, and highly
literate.
The industry for articles of apparel and clothing accessories is the country’s
second biggest dollar earner albeit it experienced a decline of 4.0% in terms of value of
production index. However, it experienced a gain of 27.5% in volume net sales from last
year. The improvement in the performance of garments exports can be attributed to the
shift towards higher value-added items due to the improvement also in the high-end
premium categories.
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Market feasibility Study
Other Issues
Threats to the local garments industry include high power and labor costs and
smuggling of imported clothes that were undervalued and can be sold at very cheap
prices. Cheap imported second-hand clothes define ukay-ukay and its proliferation serves
to damage the local garments industry that cannot compete with such low prices, and also
incurs losses for the government. As of 2002, demand for ukay-ukay clothes was 4%. For
2003, we could only conclude that the demand must have risen due to higher prices of
clothing. In addition, 4% of the demand also attributed to preference for foreign brands
over local ones. It was said that the root of this was the inability of local manufacturers
to compete with foreign brands in terms of quality. One reason for such a trend includes
the inclination of local producers to set aside quality products for export while bringing
poorer ones to the local market. Garment manufacturers in the country would want to
take hold of the relatively higher payments foreign markets offer, as a result, more focus
is thus being employed in the quality of the apparels they produce for exports. In the
long run, this particular action increases the tendency for local consumers to patronize
foreign brands due to the lack of quality for local brands.
Another reason for the local consumers’ preference for imported used clothes is
the lower price. Legally imported second-hand clothes have lower prices than local
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Market feasibility Study
brands because of the lower labor cost and the modernized facilities that other
textile and clothing manufacturing countries have.16
:: Customer Price Index. The consumer price index (which is a measurement of the
changes in the price level of goods and services that most people buy for their
day-to-day consumption) increased from last year to 129.4 overall,
gaining 9.1 points. In the National Capital Region, the consumer price
index also increased to 131.4, a gain of 10.2 points, whereas for areas
outside NCR, the customer price index is128.6, a gain of 8.8 points.
Monthly, the consumer price index for the clothing commodity group
shows an upward trend.17
:: Clothing Inflation Rate. The clothing inflation rate for this year is 3.6 while it was 2.7
as of last year. The clothing inflation rate experiences a year-on-year change of 0.9%.18
.
Comparison with other industries in terms of revenues
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Market feasibility Study
The government is working with the private sectors of the garments and textile
industry in launching investment missions that would establish strategic alliances with
foreign partners and attract investments in apparel, textile and production of accessories.
Through the introduction of ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade
Organization (WTO), opportunities for investments are presented as a result of tariff
reduction and the phasing out of quotas with low demand as well as the growth for
remaining quotas of products that are import-sensitive. Such developments would reduce
the industry’s production costs and also minimize smuggling, which is one threat to the
industry.
To improve the industrial relations in the industry, the Garments and Textile
Industry Tripartite Council Board was revived to serve as a venue for resolving issues and
any conflicts. Unwarranted industrial action or harassment is put off through this forum.
According to Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. problems regarding industrial
relations are very minimal within the industry through the help of the Council Board. 21
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Market feasibility Study
Filipinos in general has strict fashion sense and invests much of their money on
clothing and footwear. The Filipino upper and middle-income classes are known to be
more fashion-conscious as compared to other Asian countries. The average purchasing
power is low but the income gaps across socio-economic classes are wide which then
allows the middle and upper income classes to be fashionable.
Men’s wear increased by 32.8% in expenditure while the women’s and children’s
wear increased by 47.2%. Men’s and boy’s wear expenditure amounted to about 28.3
billion pesos in 2002 and nearly 33.0 billion soon after, estimating around 37.6 billion
pesos in the succeeding years. On the other hand, expenditure on women’s, girl’s and
children’s wear amounted to 32.6 billion pesos in 2002 and increased to 36.8 billion
pesos the following year.
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Market feasibility Study
A total of 77 billion pesos was the total turnover of clothing and footwear retailers in
2002, which estimated a total of 86 billion pesos in 2003, an 11.7% increase. Sales in
2003 increased by 36.5% from the 1999 sales of 63 billion pesos.
Clothing and footwear specialists are able to hold their ground against mixed
retailers. Majority of this is ready-to-wear which is the major merchandise carried by
department stores and variety stores. Since there is this perception that these merchandises,
especially house brands, are mass-produced, Filipinos would usually buy from specialty
shops for more choices and exclusive styles. This is because there is a clothing shop that
caters to every Filipino’s taste in fashion, style and age group.
Clothing and footwear specialists also abound in shopping malls and tiangges. Many
of these specialists have concessions in department stores as well for these are proven venues
that still attract the most people. They maintain these concessions even with their existing
own separate outlets. Local shops such as Bench, Penshoppe, Bayo are able to complete well
with foreign brands such as Giordano, Gap and Guess. Flea markets also abound clothing
specialists who has their own retail outlets at the same time. The Greenhills bargain center,
which started the “tiangge” fad, has stall owners who still operate their permanent outlets at
the same area. Many of them also have their branches in other shopping malls and strip malls.
“Tiangges” allow them to reach to more clientele who would still prefer to shop in areas near
them rather than going to their outlets.
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Market feasibility Study
Retail Distribution24
Department stores and variety stores (Mixed retailers) dominate the sales of men’s
and boy’s wear and children’s wear. This is because there are much fewer clothing and
apparel specialists who cater to their market as compared to the female wear. In this
sense, women have more choices especially when it comes to apparel specialty shops.
About 56.6% of the total sales of women’s and girls’ wear were sold through specialists
while around 40.4% were sold through mixed retailers.
Still, there are few clothing and footwear specialists that can be considered as
multiples. They contribute to only about 10% of the total sales for this sector. This means
that there is still room for a major chain to enter this retail sector which could carry the
men, women and children’s merchandises.
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Market feasibility Study
In 2002, the six leading specialist retailers (Stores Specialists, Zenco Sales, Surplus
Marketing, Suyen Corp., Golden ABC, & Cinderella Marketing) were estimated to have a
combined market share of 7.5% in the clothing and footwear sector. Slight increase in 2003
by 7.8% was foreseen. This is because only three of these will exceed sales by 1 billion
pesos. This sector is loosely organized by mixed retailers like SM and Robinsons Department
Stores. Although the market shares of mixed retailers and specialists are almost the same, the
large number of specialists from whom customers can choose seems to prevent any major
specialist from becoming dominant in the market.
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Market feasibility Study
Competitors
:: Key figures. For 1999, in the country, the number of manufacturers of ready-made
garments is estimated at 669,000 Total revenues were 36,263,620,000 pesos while total
costs were 22,186,435,000 pesos. There were 96,000 custom tailoring/dressmaking
establishments, with total revenues of 2,120,806,000 pesos and costs of 1,302,192,000
pesos. Manufacturers of wearing apparel and others amounted to 166,000 with revenues
of 11,901,402,000 pesos and costs of 6,900,571,000 pesos. In the National Capital
Region, manufacturers of ready-made garments were estimated at 336,000 with revenues
of 21,316,798,000 pesos and costs of 12,587,928,000 pesos. Custom tailoring and
dressmaking establishments were estimated to be 40,000 in this area, with total revenues
of 895,567,000 pesos and total costs of 710,274,000 pesos. The number of manufacturers
of wearing apparel and others were estimated at 74,000, with total revenues of
4,869,894,000 pesos and total costs of 2,548,604,000 pesos.26
There are several key players in the garment industry that are the closest
competitors of Lilliput. These are indirect competition whose brands don’t only cater to
petite-sized women alone.
:: Kamiseta. Kamiseta targets girls between the ages of 16 and 34. It positions itself as
the boutique that caters to the hip, youthful and active women of today. They go by the
slogan “It’s fun being a girl”. Its catchphrase projects the cool, casual and classics of
clothing.27
:: Bayo. Bayo is reflects a clean, classic image that then caters to the needs of women
who embodies the laid-back, casual lifestyle and has the preference for stylish yet classic
apparels.28
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Market feasibility Study
:: Plains & Prints. Plains & Prints is a fast growing brand of women's apparel,
intimate wear, shoes, bags, accessories and fragrances. Their target market is
composed of college students, young working women and young homemakers. These
stylish and very busy women need clothes that will carry them through their day. They
want to exude both confidence and femininity. Their products must pass strict quality
control standards and are made from high quality materials and their designs are simply
unique and come in a variety of colors. Their competitive advantage is that they
constantly innovate.29
:: Penshoppe. Penshoppe ventured into the garment industry with a vision to be the
teen’s casual clothing statement. It regularly provides a variety of styles to choose from
and constantly updates its collection. Its collections of clothes, accessories and personal
care products are affordable and provide great value for customers' money. 30
:: Lee. Lee Jeans is for young male and female, 14 –25 years old whose passion is denim.
They are fashion and brand conscious, early adopters but not trendsetters. They are
unpretentious, sociable and open-minded. They shop in middle to upper tier distribution.
Lee Pipes, on the other hand, is for young male and female, 10-18 years old who are into
active sports like basketball, skateboarding, BMX–riding. They are fashion conscious,
positive and optimistic. They come from the middle and affluent market.
:: Folded & Hung. F&H is for the modern, fresh and individualistic personas in our
time. They go for well-designed products that can be described as classic, edgy and “with
an attitude”. Their products include imported products and designs as well as locally
manufactured apparel. 31
:: Others. There are other existing popular brand names in the clothing industry that can
be considered as potential competitors for Lilliput. These are Petite Monde, Freeway,
Pink Soda, Herbench32, Human, YRYS and Genevieve Gozum.
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Market feasibility Study
Target Market
Lilliput targets petite Filipino women of ages 20-29 who belong to classes B and
C. These females, based on the survey conducted (See Appendix 2), are said to be
impulsive buyers of clothes, and usually spend at most 3,000 pesos monthly for their
clothing needs. This will be discussed on further in Targeting section of the study.
In order to forecast the demand of our product, the size of the target market
should be defined first, using the formula:
TM = FP x C x H
Where:
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Market feasibility Study
TM = target market
FP = female population in NCR within the age of 20-29
C = percentage of population belonging to upper and middle class
H = percentage of population with height below 5’4 from ages 20-29
Population of females from ages 20-29 is 1,090,604 as taken from the year 2000
census (see Appendix 5). This figure was adjusted for the years 2005-2015 based on the
National Statistic’s Office’s projected annual geometric population growth rate shown
below.
The upper and middle socio-economic segment comprises 23% of the entire
Philippine population as established by the Social Weather Station for 2004. Moreover, a
rate of 0.74% shall be used in order to determine the annual growth of the said classes
based on 1991 statistics from NSO.
The percentage of population with height below 5’4 belonging to the target age
group was computed using the formula:
The total target height pertains to the number of females within the height range of 4’10”
- 5’3 from the total sample population of 1,000 female patients taken from the records of
the University of the Philippines Health Service. This sample is deemed to provide a
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Market feasibility Study
According to the Sixth National Nutrition Survey (2003) conducted by the Food and
Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology, the
mean height of adult females within the age group of 20-39 in the country is about
151.76cm or approximately 5 feet. This further supports the resulting 84.1% of females
falling within the target height range. The percentage derived is above the average hence
this proves that there is a considerable market base for demand.
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Market feasibility Study
Market demand refers to the amount (in units/peso) that potential buyers from the
target market would likely consume or buy from our products. It represents the projected
market share of Lilliput based on the estimated acceptability rate of the product to the
target market. Hence the formula used to calculate the market demand is:
MD = AMAR x TM x CR
Where:
MD = market demand
AMAR = adjusted market acceptability rate
TM = target market
CR = consumption rate
Where:
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Market feasibility Study
The Market Acceptability Rate (MAR) is reflected in the survey results where
79.25% answered yes to the question of whether they are willing to buy or not from the
suggested boutique (see Appendix 2). Conservative rate of 95% was used to
accommodate a 5% sampling error. However, it is not safe to assume that the MAR
result would actually buy the products. Table 3.2 presents the computation for market
demand for tops using an annual consumption rate of 18 tops, while Table 3.3 presents
the computation for market demand for bottoms using an annual consumption rate of 3.
The consumption rate figures were based from the professional opinion of the marketing
manager of Plains and Prints. To further substantiate this claim, En Cima conducted a
convenient sampling of 50 individuals within the target market through a phone
interview. Results showed that women usually buy 18 to 20 tops and 3 to 4 bottoms
annually. Hence, for a more realistic estimate of Lilliput’s demand, En Cima considered
using the conservative values of 18 and 3 units for tops and bottoms, respectively.
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Market feasibility Study
Supply Analysis
Market Supply = PC x RP x PT x GR
Where:
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Market feasibility Study
However, according to the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries, the Volume
of Production Index for wearing apparels registered a negative growth rate of 4.6% in
2003 (See Appendix 3). Annual supply projection is then adjusted using this value,
assuming that its rate would remain constant. A declining growth would then be
observed because as mentioned in the environment analysis, more and more
manufacturing companies are relocating their plants in China and Taiwan, where the cost
of labor is relatively cheaper than in the country.
The proportion of the target market to the population is also used as an adjustment
rate to as to capture the supply that is only intended for our target market. Table 3.5
shows the computation of the market supply for the 10-year projection, adjusted both
through the percentage of target market and the growth rate.
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Market feasibility Study
Demand-Supply Analysis
Upon computing separately the demand and supply, the analysis of one in
comparison to the other produces the gap that Lilliput aims to address. This difference
would be the driving force of the existence and growth of the business as it presents the
degree of the demand for the proposed product. Comparing the market demand and the
market supply estimates, we could compute an average of 9,852,998 potential demands in
units that Lilliput hopes to supply.
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Market feasibility Study
Market Share
Market share represents the portion of the market that Lilliput will hold. This
would represent the viable capability of the business in the industry as well as it shows
how strong Lilliput will be in the market, given the present supply in the market and the
demand that the business caters to. Market share is computed through this formula:
Market Share = Lilliput’s Ave. Monthly Production Capacity (tops and bottoms)_
Monthly Market demand (tops and bottoms)
Lilliput’s average monthly production capacity shall be divided with the total
market demand for tops and bottoms taken from their 2006’s projected demands
respectively. Hence, this would reflect the fraction that Lilliput aims to provide in
proportion with the total demand in the introductory phase of its venture.
The production capacity amount was computed using the targeted number of
designs for tops and bottoms that Lilliput plans to manufacture in the start of the business.
Items shall be supplied in the boutique monthly which would contain approximately 20
designs with 120 units each for tops (blouses, shirts, and dresses), while bottoms (pants
and skirts) would come in 10 styles with 100 each.
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Market feasibility Study
= 0.0111 or 1.11%
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Market feasibility Study
Segmenting
Market segmentation involves selecting the group of people who will be most
receptive to the products offered at Lilliput. In the Philippines, the market could be
segmented in many ways – geographic, demographic, psychographic, and behavioral. It
is very important to group the market according to their distinct needs, characteristics,
interests, and values because this will greatly influence their response and attitude
towards Lilliput.
1. Geographic
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Market feasibility Study
2. Demographic
a. Age
Filipinos are generally fashionable but different age groups have distinct
needs, wants, sense of style and purchasing power. These varying characteristics
have an effect on how the market responds to the products offered in Lilliput.
Women were actually segmented according to the following divisions: (1) 14
years old and below- children and young teens; (2) 15-19 years old – high school
and college students; (3) 20-24 years old – young professionals; (4) 25-29 years
old – career women; and (5) 30 years old and above – career and family oriented
women.
b. Income
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Market feasibility Study
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Market feasibility Study
c. Race
3. Psychographic
a. Lifestyle
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Market feasibility Study
priorities of people differ from age to age. She stated that it could be
divided into different subgroups, with each age group having a distinct
characteristic from other age groups. To further validate the information, the
group also consulted Dr. Josefina N. Natividad of the UP Department of
Sociology who made minor modifications to make sure that the data are sound
and acceptable.
• 15 – 19 years old
Women from this age bracket are mostly teenagers in High School or College
whose priorities are focused on their education and active social lives. A
bandwagon behavior is prevalent in this group. Cliques and “barkadas” are a
common thing in campus and people are identified with the group of people
they hang out with. Their lifestyle and behavior is greatly influenced by the
trends dictated by society, media, and the people around them. They always
want to follow the “in” thing in fashion, music, electronic gadgets, etc.
• 20 – 24 years old
Graduating college students and young professionals comprise this segment of
the market. Their priorities in life are basically concentrated on their personal
needs, wants, and pleasures because they don’t have any dependents who rely
on them for financial support. Women in this age bracket are in a transitional
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Market feasibility Study
stage from being an easygoing schoolgirl into a budding career woman. In the
early stage of their professional lives, they are in a search for the right career
path to take as they move from one job to another. But they still manage to
maintain a balance between their aspiration of being recognized in their
chosen professions and their active social lives. These women are still fashion
conscious but are now more inclined to formal or corporate designs.
• 25 – 29 yrs old
Women at this stage have already established a clear direction for their careers
and have more or less found the company that they want to grow with. This is
the time when they start being promoted to higher positions in the
organization. Their years of experience and career status enable them to gain
higher purchasing power. But this is also the time when women start changing
their priorities in life. They tend to become more future-oriented and more
inclined into saving. However, they still maintain an active social life and still
invest on their looks and appearance because it is during this stage that
women start searching for serious partners that could potentially lead to
lifetime relationships. According to Dr. Natividad, this is actually the age
bracket where most women enter into marriage.
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Market feasibility Study
Market Targeting
Lilliput is a clothing boutique specially designed for (1) women who are (2)
petite, between the (3) age of 20 and 29 years old, particularly those in the (4) Class B
and C bracket in (5) Greater Manila Area.
Women are generally good shoppers. That is why they are a good market for any
type of boutique. They are very much into following the latest fashion trends and they
enjoy going to the mall to shop for clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, and etc. Another
interesting fact about women is that they are always willing to try something new. This is
why a new entrant in the clothing industry like Lilliput will not have much difficulty in
penetrating and capturing its target market. The idea of launching a new boutique would
in fact thrill them. Some women even consider shopping as a skill that they love to
master. They are very particular with the type of clothes they purchase. Women know
their bodies very well and they are very conscious about their best and worst physical
attributes. They want clothes that will enhance their best features and conceal their
insecurities. And this is what Lilliput is offering to women who are petite.
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Market feasibility Study
to the word short, which means having little height.33 The group opted not to use
the term short due to its negative connotation. Petite is a more acceptable and
politically correct term to describe people who are relatively “underheight”. This
market study would not limit the word petite as a description for women who are small in
terms of height and body frame. The term petite would describe short women of different
body sizes - slim, medium-sized, and plump.
Lilliput is tapping the market of petite women, specifically those who are between
4’10” and 5’3” in height. En Cima established this qualification because survey results
showed that respondents within the said range were the ones who usually encounter
problems with the length of their pants and skirts. They represent 66.5% of the total
sample population that has been analyzed (see Appendix 2). Moreover, 79.25% would go
with the idea of a clothing store specially designed for petite women.
There is a good potential for this segment since most Filipinos are relatively short.
According to the Sixth National Nutrition Survey, an average adult Filipina within the
age bracket of 20-39 stands 151.76 cm or 5’ in height. The research conducted at the UP
Infirmary also revealed that 84.14 % of females between the age of 16 and 40 years old
fall within the 4’10” and 5’3” height bracket. This information was drawn by tallying the
height from medical records of 1000 randomly picked female patients in the UP Health
Service. En Cima believes that the information gathered from the records could serve as
a good representation of the entire female population because of the diversity of students,
faculties, and employees in the university. The considerable percentage of women who
qualify within the established height bracket supports the idea that the market segment
for petite women is substantially large. This segment is a good target since this is still an
untapped market in the clothing industry. Lilliput is distinct from other boutiques since
the apparels are specially tailored to suit the needs of petite women. A variety of clothing
shops are available in the market but the sizes of items offered are typically based on
American or European standards. And even boutiques like Petit Monde, Penshoppe, and
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Market feasibility Study
Bench that are intended for Asian market, rarely have clothes with the
appropriate designs, cuts, and sizes that will suit petite women.
Women aging between 20 and 29 years old consist of students and professionals.
This age bracket could actually be divided into two subgroups: (1) 20-24 years old –
college students and young professionals; and (2) 25-29 years old – career women. These
subgroups differ in their interests and priorities; however, they also share some common
needs and characteristics. These two age groups, taken collectively, make up the age
segment that Lilliput is targeting. It should be noted that the buying behavior of women
between the age of 20-24 years old and 25-29 years old differ to some extent. The former,
characterized as those within the transitional stage from university life to that of a
professional one, might still be dependent and limited to their allowances or to some
meager earnings from initial job positions for their shopping expenses. On the other
hand, the latter, since they are relatively stable enough and are earning their own money,
they are now more capable of buying whatever they desire. But despite this difference in
their buying behavior, what most women in this age bracket share in common is their
independence and “passion for fashion”. What is meant by independent is that they don’t
have anyone to support and provide for. A bulk of their allowance and salary are splurged
for their own pleasure, benefit, and vanity. In addition to that, they are also a good market
for Lilliput because women at this age have a natural flare for fashion and style. They
always follow the latest trends and fads. Their active social lives require them to always
have the appropriate outfit for different types of occasions. People in this age group
actually use their fashion sense as an expression of their mood, attitude, and status.
In terms of social classes, Lilliput will be targeting those who belong to Class B
and Class C. Just like any other specialty stores, the items in Lilliput would be valued at a
relatively higher but reasonable price range. This pricing strategy is due to the fact that
the boutique offers specially designed clothes appropriate for petite bodies. The Class B
and C segment of the market is an ideal target because they will most likely respond
positively to Lilliput’s pricing strategy. The price of a product is an important
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Market feasibility Study
consideration in their buying decision, but other than that, they also give high
regard to quality, design, and the fit of clothing. There is always a tradeoff between
price and all these other factors but people in this class bracket would be willing to pay
more, for a product with superior quality, fashionable design, and proper fit. At the same
time, they are also not like the Class A segment who is very loyal to branded and
signature clothes. People in the Class B and C bracket would be open to the idea of trying
new clothing boutiques like Lilliput.
Positioning
Positioning Statement:
Lilliput is a specialized clothing boutique for women who are petite, specifically
those who are between 4’10” and 5’3” in height. As mentioned earlier, the classification
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Market feasibility Study
for petite will not be limited to women who are small in height with trimmed
bodies. This term would apply to women with different figures, whether slender,
curvy, or round. The group originally planned to emphasize the boutique’s
specialization on clothes with shorter dimensions for women who are relatively
“underheight”. But after realizing that this kind of positioning may send a negative
impression for women who are “short”, the group decided to position Lilliput as a
specialty store for petite that focused on specially designed clothes with appropriate
styles, patterns, and cuts that could highlight assets and conceal insecurities of petite
bodies. An interview with Ms. Christine Santos, Marketing Manager of Plains and Prints,
made the group aware of the disadvantages of emphasizing Lilliput’s concentration on
clothes with shorter dimensions or tailored measurements. The boutique’s image as a
specialty store for petite could result to negative reactions from those who are
“underheight” because it gives them the feeling that they are not normal or regular just
like other people who don’t need “specialized apparels” to get clothes that fit them well.
Ms. Santos stressed that there is no problem labeling Lilliput as a specialty store as long
as petite women would be presented with an interesting and appealing image. This is why
Lilliput will emphasize the designs, styles, patterns, and cuts of clothing that are
specifically tailored to complement the body of women who are petite.
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Market feasibility Study
offered at Lilliput are intended to make women feel confident and comfortable
about the clothes they wear and the way they look.
Lilliput also focuses on chic, sleek, timeless, and naturally fashionable designs of
clothes. The group wants the boutique to be recognized for the classic style of its apparels.
The items offered will be something that would look good and fashionable even when years
have already passed. According to Ms. Christine Santos, the trend in fashion is constantly
reinventing itself but it always has a touch of the old one. There must always be balance
between the latest trend and the classic style. Lilliput promotes fashion that makes a person
standout without being excessively trendy and styles that catches attention without exerting
too much effort. This is achieved through designs that are edgy but low profile, simple but
elegant, trendy but timeless. Women want beauty that is within--- beauty that is not noticed
only because of make up or artificial products. When it comes to fashion, women also want
something that is simply and naturally fashionable. They don’t want clothes that only have
great designs; they actually want clothes that look great when they wear it. There is no sense
in wearing something that only looks good on the mannequin, or models, or other people, but
not on you. It is really important for a woman to wear clothes that complement her body and
this is why Lilliput offers apparels that are specifically designed to suit the bodies of petite
women.
Marketing Mix
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Market feasibility Study
Product
As can be observed, majority of the brands in the market offer clothes that reflect
Caucasian frames characterized by relatively larger sizes and measurements. This has become
a pressing concern for most of the Filipino women as they would always spend difficult times
finding apparels that would fit right. Although alterations could be done to repair the clothes’
dimensions, more often than not, the process can possibly ruin the style or design of the
product. En Cima, Inc. was able to understand the problem that Filipina women face hence the
reason of coming up with the idea of Lilliput, a brand that will provide clothes that would suit
and enhance the height and physical attributes of the typical Pinay. Lilliput’s clothing line is
geared towards addressing the usual problems that petite Filipino women always come across
with. Thus, the cuts, sizes and dimensions that shall make up our apparels will accordingly be
tailored in order to give our target market the right fit, the right form, and the right proportions
that match their body frames. Moreover, our designers and fashion consultants will create
trendy collections and will also regularly update the design and style of our products thereby
conceiving a uniquely stylish boutique that perfectly matches the Filipina woman.
Features
• Theme
The world of fashion moves in a relatively fast paced tract that we need to continuously
plan and innovate in order to keep up with the present and forthcoming trends. Consequently,
Lilliput fashion shall exert efforts in providing clothing lines that are appropriate to the current
fashion themes. The group therefore has to constantly search for the latest trends on the web,
magazines, and catalogues, and should also be keen in observing how prominent fashion
figures project themselves through the clothes they wear. In addition, we will seek advices
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Market feasibility Study
from fashion enthusiasts and hire in-house designers who will assist us in keeping up
with the current fashion statements.
According to fashion experts, the “lady-like” theme is the mood of the moment, which
is exactly what Lilliput is trying to project in its clothing line. Moreover, based from various
fashion forecasts, the year 2005 up to the first quarter of 2006, the eclectic ethnic-bohemian
style, the botanical (“return to nature”), and the volume (layers) looks will be expected to be
seen in the limelight.
Lilliput will introduce the latest fashion craze and keep up with the latest designs by
having quarterly or monthly themes, depending on the forecasted demand and clamor of
fashion aficionados.
• Colors
Cleaner, discreet, and vibrant colors and shades shall characterize the apparels that the
store will offer. Imagine a lot of pastel rainbow and candy colors such as icy aquamarine and
powdery blue, lavender lilacs, rose pink to pale pink, various hue of greens, yellow sunshine,
carrot orange to tribal earthy tones such as tangerine, light acids to soft browns. Basic black
and whites will still be present to go well with corporate functions and sexy outfits for evening
wears, as these basic colors continue to be strong attributes in many women's wardrobes.
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Market feasibility Study
• Fabrics
For the tops, the materials often used in high quality-oriented similar boutiques come in
knitted or weaved cotton, rayon, and wool. A little bit of lace, silk and chiffon materials will be
added to other items for a sultrier and sexier look.
For the bottoms, a significant amount of denim will be utilized. Cotton and other
similar lightweight fabrics for tops will be used as well in more formal slacks, comfort khakis
and skirts.
• Product Line
The initial product line will be consisted of 50% bottoms for instance, regular
denim jeans; slacks; casual and formal skirts; and the other 50% for the tops which
includes baby tees, tank tops, blouses, cardigans, and blazers. Other latest fad for each
season (e.g. boleros or cropped jacket) will be supplemented as well in limited editions.
Lilliput will have tag lines such as Stand-out for our jeans and Sleek and chic for the
tops.
Full body casual and semi-formal dress will comprise the new set of the product
line by year 3. A new product line of intimate wear such as underwear and nightgowns
specially tailored to the Filipina size shall be offered at Lilliput’s fourth year of
business. In addition, basic footwear such as slippers and sandals will be introduced
during the fifth year of operations. These items will be outsourced but will carry the
Lilliput brand.
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Market feasibility Study
On its sixth year, stilettos, pumps, and snickers as well shall be added to the
store
shelves. Lilliput’s signature perfume and colognes will be introduced on the
seventh year of operations. Hair and body accessories will also be launched by the
eighth year. A basic cosmetic line consistently keeping up with the clothing line’s theme
will also be expected to be released by the ninth to tenth year of operations.
• Augmented Products
Aside from the stylish clothing line, Lilliput will also hire friendly and accommodating
trained boutique personnel so as to make the customer’s experience with our store as
something to remember and repeat. Today, people are much more concerned with the
environment and Lilliput understands that. Thus, our store will only utilize stylish reusable
paper bags and not the plastic ones in order to contribute to this cause. Customers do patronize
companies that operate with a heart. In recognizing our responsibility to society, this is not to
be done for promotions alone but also for the greater good of the community. Also, Lilliput will
have spacious fitting rooms for comfort. This is also needed so customers can appreciate the
beauty of the product that our store has to offer. Often times, lady buyers do not come alone.
They have companions like friends, husbands, or boyfriends with them that is why Lilliput
plans to have a waiting area composed of mini sofa and beanbags. Waiting should not be a
problem anymore especially for the guys. For security purposes, a bag counter will be put up.
The security guard will take the bags of the people who will go inside the store for
safekeeping. Almost all major shops accept credit cards and this will be the same for our store.
Lilliput understands the hesitance of some shoppers in bringing a lot of money for shopping.
Added to that, to make the experience very relaxing and worthwhile, we will also play in-store
soothing music. Plus, surround mirrors will be put up on the walls so potential customers can
know right away if the product looks good on them without having to fit the clothes. Promo
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Market feasibility Study
giveaways such as poster, pocket calendar, key chains will be given to buyers so they
can remember our store all the time.
Price
Prices are set according to the positioning and image of the brand. Items at Lilliput will
cater to the needs and interests of women in the Class B and C bracket. Survey results have
shown that 54.58% of the total respondents are willing to pay 300 to 500 pesos for tops and 38.
17% on the other hand, are willing to pay 750 to 1000 pesos for bottoms (refer to Appendix 2).
However, En Cima decided to extend the prices of the more elaborate clothing items like
blazers to a maximum of P1,000 or more while the more stylish bottoms can reach up to a
price of P1,500 and above depending on the intricacy of the design. These price ranges more
or less on par with our potential competitors such as Kamiseta, Bayo, and Freeway. The said
clothing boutiques are the most frequently visited stores by most of the respondents.
Since Lilliput is a specialty store, we can set a higher premium in all prices. Mark-up
percentages will start at 150% to 300% of the variable costs that will include direct fabric
materials and outsourced manufacturing labor. Average labor cost for plain tops start at P150
and P250 for the bottoms. The assumed costs are at minimum orders of 30 and 150 pieces for
tops and bottoms respectively, with different sizes already. Appliquès and other design
materials for the clothes are excluded from the basic manufacturing cost.
PRICE LIST
(for the initial product line only)
• Regular Jeans and Capri Pants Php 750 – 995 • Baby tees & Tank Tops Php 299 – 579
• Stylish / Chic Jeans Php 889 – 1,559 • Stylish / Chic Blouses Php 439 – 749
• Stylish Skirts Php 350 – 889 • Cardigans (Knitted Blazers) Php 500 – 989
• Formal and Pencil Skirts Php 469 – 995 • Cropped Jackets & Boleros Php 750 –
• Slacks Php 789 – 1,799 1,129
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• Formal Blazer 50850 –
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Market feasibility Study
Place
In Metro Manila, business districts such as Makati, Ortigas and Alabang have retail
shops catering to both the upper and middle-income markets. Upscale shops featuring imported
brand names are usually aggregated in malls that are smaller than those by SM and Robinsons.
An example is Power Plant Mall located in Rockwell area. Nevertheless, the group decided to
have Lilliput located in average but not too congested malls, such as Robinsons, Glorietta, and
SM Megamall where the prices of items are not intimidating to scare off customers. The
friendly prices entice all people from different income classes. The malls’ access to MRT trains
and commuter buses has drawn large crowds daily. Eventually, during the maturity stage the
group is planning to expand its operations outside the Metro perhaps, in Alabang Town Center.
Also, the group is eyeing on the possible opening of an additional branch to the much-awaited
Mall of Asia. The mall is said to have an exclusive accessibility to those who have their own
cars, a very attractive class included in the group’s target market. In the latter part of the
maturity stage, the group will offer franchise opportunities to potential entrepreneurs in the
province. This will only hold true provided they will locate it in malls catering to similar
markets in order to protect the brand image.
Introduction stage
Mall Profile
Little Hong Kong, this is how people describe Greenhills Shopping Complex.
Unsurprisingly, it is a common favorite among bargain-hunters and around-the-clock shoppers.
The mall has 1,400 mini stores and more than 2,000 merchants. The size of the mall is a
whopping 16-hectares. Greenhills shopping center is located in San Juan, Metro Manila. It has
always been the perfect destination for all ages of shoppers looking for an assortment of retail
items. It is just 20 minutes away from Ninoy Aquino International airport and of most hotels.
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Market feasibility Study
Greenhills mall offers a wide variety of items such as jewelry, food, textiles,
computers, and cellular phones, among others. The people who shop at Greenhills are
composed of the whole market spectrum because its variety of product choices, ranging
from the A to D market. An estimate of 80,000 people troop to Greenhills daily during
weekdays and 90,000 on weekends. During the Christmas season the figure can reach to
130,000.
Recently, Ortigas & Co. gave Greenhills a facelift to solidify its position as the number
one retail area for value shopping and to further increase its market share. In the 1990s up to
early 2000, the Greenhills shopping center was at its lowest due to its physical features.
Facilities like the comfort rooms were deteriorating and the facades of the buildings were not
as beautiful as before. Around P200 million was invested at the end of 2002. That amount was
entirely for the renovation of the cinemas, comfort rooms, tiangge areas and the Manila Bank
arcade among others
By the end of 2003, the construction of a multilevel parking area, a new Muslim prayer
area, music bars, a gym, additional cinemas, and a jewelry center were all started. Uni-Mart
Supermarket was made into a multi-purpose retail supermarket. While the upper level of Uni-
Mart is being reserved for outlets of signature brands and the lower level will still house the
grocery but will be bigger in size and more modern in appearance.
The merchants of Greenhills are a mix of different races namely Muslims, Filipinos,
Chinese, and Chinese-Filipinos, among others.
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Market feasibility Study
In seven to ten years time, Greenhills will be seen as the 21st century Binondo,
an area where Chinese-Filipinos live and do business all at the same as area. This is what
the partnership management envisions. Greenhills will then be marketed as a place where
one can do almost everything like work, live, play, do business and shop at the same time, once
the developments have been completely realized.
Initially, Lilliput will be located on the second level of Shoppesville where most of the
apparel boutiques are found. The best space that the group can lease is at the left corner in front
of the entrance, which is currently occupied by a boutique shop called Babo (see Appendix 8).
Its current location is the perfect spot for attracting arriving customers. In addition, the space is
medium sized, measuring 25 square meters. Plus, it is enclosed by glass walls that are
completely appropriate for the proposed boutique shop. Leasing fee is currently estimated at
P55,000 a month exclusive of utility fees – a cost that is reasonable considering its strategic
location. Below is the process for leasing a space in Greenhills Shopping Center:
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Market feasibility Study
Growth Stage
During the third to fifth year of operation, Lilliput will be continuously expanding at a
rate of one additional store per year. The chosen malls are Robinsons Galleria, SM Megamall,
and SM Mall of Asia respectively. These three perfectly capture the target market of the store.
Moreover, a lot of buyers flock there regularly to do their shopping.
SM Mall of Asia
Although the Mall of Asia is not yet open, it shows great potential because of its size
and growing popularity. The owner boasts the mall will be the largest one in all of Asia. With a
land area of 19.5hectares and a gross floor area of 454,000 square meters, it will surely attract
customers not only from the local scene but also from other parts of the world. Its planned
opening date is on December 2005. The specific location is at SM Central Business Park I,
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Market feasibility Study
Island A, Bay City, Pasay City. It is an area located beside a church known for
wealthy churchgoers. The place is only accessible to car owners, which gives exclusivity to
the location.
Robinsons Galleria
Robinsons Galleria is located at the heart of the Ortigas business center. The mall
stands just in front of the EDSA Shrine where relevant historical landmarks have been held. It
has a wide array of stores, boutiques, and restaurants and a department store that provides
certain imported and local brands alike. Currently, Robinson’s Galleria has renovated its
cinemas to provide better movie experience to its customers. Moreover, it has also expanded
and created the East Wing phase of the mall so as to contain more shops that would entice
businesses and shoppers alike. Aside from being a shopping haven for the relatively upscale
class, Robinson’s Galleria has its theme park, Dreamscape, for the kids to enjoy as well.
SM Megamall
SM Megamall opened last June 1991. Currently, it is the largest mall in the country. It
has a land area of 10.5 hectares and a gross floor area of 331, 679 square meters. The malls
anchors include SM Department Store, SM Cinemas, SM Supermarket, SM Food Court, SM
Bowling Center, Megatrade Hall, and SM Ice Skating Rink. While its junior anchors are
Cinderella, Ace Hardware, Our Home, Toy Kingdom, National Bookstore, Surplus Shop,
Watson's. The exact address of SM Megamall is EDSA Corner Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas
Business District, Mandaluyong City, and Metro Manila. Furthermore, it is located near
Ortigas business district where consumers with spending capability work. Also, it serves as a
hub for shoppers from all walks of life.35
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Market feasibility Study
Maturity Stage
Beyond the sixth years of operations, the store will continue expanding to other
relatively urbane malls such as Gateway and Glorietta. The group will also consider
locating to other parts of the Metro such as Alabang Town Center in the South. During
the maturity stage of the business, when Lilliput has already established its brand to its
market, the En Cima, Inc. will now be open for franchise. To preserve the image of the
brand, the group will only allow the franchisees to have their franchise stores in the malls
with similar positioning as the malls we have chosen in the Metro
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Mall Profile
In constructing the mall, some of the best architectural and urban planning consultants
were hired. It is part of the plan in making Araneta Center as the premier commercial place in
Quezon City. One of the most respected architectural agencies in the United States, RTKL
International, brought in their expertise to come up with a leisure and entertainment complex
like no other.
One of its central features is that Gateway is the only mall in the world that connects to
a coliseum and two mass transport systems namely the MRT3 and the LRT2.
The size of the mall is 100,000 square meters of gross building area. It carries an
estimated 170 food and retail stores. The mall also has 10 modernized movie theaters, a
centralized ticketing facility and skylight. “The Oasis” is a 450 square meter, four level open-
air indoor gardens that opens to the sky.
The Gateway has three entry points to the mall and three loading and unloading bays
for public transportation units for commuters as well as private vehicles. This will effectively
provide a better traffic flow. The mall has three-levels of basement parking that can
accommodate 600 vehicles.
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Market feasibility Study
Promotion
For the first two years of the business operation, the company will aggressively
advertise the brand and products (See Appendix 8). As much as possible, En Cima chooses to
find ways of doing the necessary promotions without having to pay too much. The company
cannot afford to engage in costly advertising efforts in our first years hence, product offers and
gift certificates shall be done to promote the business instead.
The store will be opening on January 1, 2006. Since the store will be strategically
located in front of one of the main entrances in the mall, there is no need to hang a tarpaulin
informing the people about the opening of the store. The crucial part however, is getting the
shoppers to immediately notice the store. To better establish and protect the image of the store,
there will be no direct advertising efforts such as distributing fliers and the like. The interior
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Market feasibility Study
design of the boutique itself will serve as an initial “come in” advertisement. Yellow-
orange, warm lighting shall be used in place of the usual white halogen light to enhance the
color of the clothes and project a classy ambience. Experts also said that this kind of lighting
makes one more stunning because the natural color of the skin is yellowish. What's more, each
rack display will be reminiscent of art pieces and clothes will be strategically arranged in such
a way that colors and shades blend perfectly well. Instead of the usual side hang procedure of
displaying clothes; the presentation will utilize the front hang procedure where clothes are
directly facing the customer at eye level. The hottest items of the season will be highlighted
through mannequin displays. Framed posters carrying the brand name will be placed around
the store featuring petite, non-celebrity models wearing our signature clothes. The objective is
for the customers to have an idea of the nature of Lilliput products. What a better way to win
over window shoppers and actually convert them to actual buyers!
Fashion involves seduction of the senses. Like some of the other famous specialty
stores, En Cima will create a certain signature scent of the store so that customers or even
window-shoppers can have a recall of the so-called “Lilliput scent”. Furthermore, the boutique
staff will also wear noticeably stylish ‘uniforms’ that will keep on changing every season
depending on the theme. The store will be akin to a fashion museum where everybody will feel
beautiful and sophisticated by just entering the store.
• Make noise, have the media press notice the Lilliput brand
• Encourage repeat buying by giving special privileges
• Begin to establish brand equity
• Attract prospective loyal customers
• A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held after the first six months of operations. Media
press from fashion magazine publications will be invited. TV shows such as F and Feel at
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Market feasibility Study
Home will also be invited to cover the program. Instead of having the owners and
local officials, a famous celebrity will do the ribbon cutting.
Membership cards will also be launched and will be given to customers starting from
the day of the ribbon-cutting ceremony to win their loyalty. These cards will grant special
privileges and freebies to those who can accumulate P10,000 receipts worth of purchases in a
year from the date of membership. Moreover, the cards will carry relevant customer
information that can be incorporated in our database. This information will also serve as our
forecasting tool for future purchases.
In addition, the store will begin to offer limited editions of about 10 to 20 pieces of
certain items, part of which will be given to famous celebrities and other personalities who are
regularly doing modeling stints in the magazines stated. They will eventually serve as the
shop’s sort of “free” endorsers. Hopefully by this time, Lilliput will be seen regularly in the
monthly issue of the said magazines. Many are already doing this. It was observed that
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Market feasibility Study
exclusivity and scarcity of a fashion item particularly when seen on models, increases
its desirability especially to the fashionistas among others.
The Lilliput website will be developed to further inform the consumers about updates
on the latest items and discounts the store will be offering. The website will also feature a web
page for customer feedbacks, suggestions, and requests. It will continuously be updated and
redesigned to jive with the season’s theme. Store profile, brand advertising, and pictures and
prices of the latest items will be featured as well. The website will be also featured and linked
to the Greenhills Shopping Center’s website.
There are TV shows that offer free guest appearances of promising entrepreneurs or
exposure of newly established stores. Examples are Breakfast Supersize and F! of Studio 23
and Feel at Home of ABS-CBN. Lilliput will grab the following opportunities in exchange for
gift certificates or membership cards.
In addition, we will offer sponsorship deals for contests of radio stations such as RX
93.1, Magic 89.9, and 99.5 RT. Again, the store will offer gift certificates in exchange for very
quick but frequent on-air advertisement practically for free! The prevailing rate for radio
advertisement per frequency is P3, 000. Young professionals working in offices as well as
college students staying in dormitories often seek entertainment through listening to the radio.
The said radio stations are the ones frequently listened to by the group’s target market.
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Market feasibility Study
By this time, the group will now have the ability to pay for an entire advertising page
on glossy magazines. Moreover, the group will now invest in publicity on prime spots in the
malls for a minimum of P60,000 per month. The price will still depend on the scale and
location of the poster. The advertising contract is for a minimum of two years excluding the
materials. The group though, could regularly update or change the posters within the period of
the contract
During the holiday and off-peak seasons (January-February), the store will offer
discounts through big sales. Also, giveaways such as pocket calendars and posters will be
added inside the paper bag. Beginning this year, various freebies will be offered for particular
items purchased.
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Market feasibility Study
Lilliput themed stickers will be given for the purchase of clothing items and
stylish Lilliput key chains will be attached to paper bags for every purchase of Lilliput
footwear. End-of-season inventory sales will also be expected during the year to get rid of
the old stocks of items from the previous season.
The group will also now invest in more expensive billboards strategically located
around busy roads such as EDSA. Eventually, Lilliput will expand into other geographical
markets and this kind of campaign will help capture a larger market share.
• Choose a famous personality model that will best represent the brand image
• Have the customers’ trust, appreciation and have them look up to the Lilliput brand
• Achieve a total nationwide awareness of the brand
In the long term, Lilliput will co-sponsor events such as concerts and parties to establish
a strong relationship with big companies such as ABS-CBN, Summit Media, etc. Hopefully,
through this relationship, we will be able to hire a famous personality who will be the new
Lilliput’s image model. The new model will be the one who will be seen in print ads and
billboards. Lilliput, in addition, will sponsor certain celebrities and they will serve as the
primary endorsers of the product in order to establish the brand name in the whole country.
Lilliput will hold events such as fashion shows to showcase the latest additions in the product
line. Billboards located outside Metro Manila will now be used to further establish nationwide
awareness.
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Market feasibility Study
End Notes
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1
“Philippine Political Crisis Could Hurt Business Profitability.” [Online] Available
http://en.ce.cn/World/biz/200507/14/t20050714_4189155.shtml, July 14, 2005.
2
“Rating Firms’ Outlook on RP Turns Negative.” [Online] Available
http://www.bworld.com.ph/BW071205/topstory.php, August 2005.
3
“Quickstat – July 2005.” [Online] Available
http://www.census.gov.ph/data/quickstat/index.html, July 2005.
4
“Economy at a Glance.” [Online] Available
http://www.senate.gov.ph/publications/AG%202005-07%20-%20Economy.pdf. July 2005
5
“Selected Economic and Financial Indicators.” [Online] Available
http://www.bsp.gov.ph/statistics/sefi/sefip1_files/filelist.xml, August 2005.
6
“Selected Economic and Financial Indicators.” [Online] Available
http://www.bsp.gov.ph/statistics/sefi/sefip1_files/filelist.xml, August 2005.
7
“Labor News.” [Online] Available.
http://www.philippinebusiness.com.ph
8
“Philippines.” [Online] Available
www.imercer.com/globalcontent/surveys/GCPR_sample%20pages.pdf, August 2005.
9
“Worst Over For Philippine Debt, Says Poll; Peso, Stocks Up.” [Online] Available
http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2005&mon=07&dd=19&file=1, July 19, 2005.
10
Byrne, Chris. “The Impact of New Technology in the Clothing Industry: Outlook to 2000” [Paper]
11
“Clothing Engineering.” [Online] Available
http://www.fs.uni-mb.si/en/study/ects/IP%20-%20Clothing%20engineering.pdf
12
Dueñas-Caparas, Ma. Teresa. “State of Competition in the Wholesale and Retail Sector” [Paper]
13
“Electronic Data Interchange – A Management Overview.” [Online] Available
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:JAUTozWtU_4J:www.unece.org/trade/untdid/download/r1222.pdf+GTEBNet+EDI+co
sts+OR+fee&hl=en&client=firefox-a. August 2005
14
“The Philippine Garments and Textile Industry Profile (as of March 2004).” [.pdf file sent by Garments and Textile
Export Board c/o Jennelyn Gatuz]
August 2005
15
I-Transporte, Aletha. “IR/HR Implications in the Garments Industry.” [Online] Available
www.fu-berlin.de/iira2003/papers/track_3/Workshop_3_2_Trasporte.pdf. August 2005.
16
Bacalla, Tess B. “Gov’t Fails to Stem Flow of Smuggled Goods.” [Online] Available
http://www.manilatimes.net/others/special/2004/oct/25/20041025spe1.html, October 25, 2004.
17
“Summary Inflation Report: Consumer Price Index.” [Online] Available
http://www.census.gov.ph/data/pressrelease/2005/cp0506tx.html July 5, 2005.
18
“Economic Statistics.” [Online] Available
http://www.philippinebusiness.com.ph/economic_stats/economy.htm, August 2005.
19
“The Philippine Garments and Textile Industry Profile (as of March 2004).” [.pdf file sent by Garments and Textile
Export Board c/o Jennelyn Gatuz]
August 2005
20
“The Philippine Garments and Textile Industry Profile (as of March 2004).” [.pdf file sent by Garments and Textile
Export Board c/o Jennelyn Gatuz]
August 2005
21
“Dressing Up For Success.” [Online] Available
http://www.philexport.ph/garments.html. August 2005.
22
Euromonitor, Retail Industry in the Philippines. 2003 p.150
Philippine Retail Association (PRA) Library
23
Ibid. p. 152
24
Ibid. p. 153
25
Ibid. p. 155
26
Industry Statistics
27
Kamiseta’s Official Web Site: http://www.kamiseta.com.ph
28
Bayo’s Official Website: http:’’www.bayo.com.ph
29
Plains and Prints’ Official Website: http://www.plainsandprints.com
30
Penshoppe’s Official Website: http://www.penshoppe.com
31
Folded and Hung’s Official Website: http://www.foldedandhung.com.ph
32
Bench’s Official Website: www.benchtm.com
33
petite. Webster’s New Riverside University Dictionary. 1988.
Houghton Mifflin Company. p.879
34
Greenhills’ Official Website: http://www.greenhills.com.ph
35
SM Prime’s Official Website: http://www.smprime.com.ph
36
Gateway Mall’s Official Website: http://gatewaymall.com.ph/news/news4.php
Other References
“2003 Family Income and Expenditure Survey.” [Online] Available
http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/fie03frtx.html, February 4, 2005.
“Gross National Product & Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Shares.” [Online] Available
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/sna/2005/1stQ2005/2005pce1.asp, First Quarter 2005.
“Philippines: Population Expected To Reach 100 Million Filipinos in 14 Years.” [Online] Available
http://www.census.gov.ph/data/pressrelease/2002/pr02178tx.html, October 16, 2002.
Rule, Rube Bloom C. “Recapturing the Local Garment Market.” [Online] Available
http://www.cyberdyaryo.com/opinion/op2002_0403_01.htm, April 3, 2002.
Tuazon, Bobby. “The Philippines’ Chronic Financial Crisis and the People’s Struggle.” [Online] Available
http://www.bulatlat.com/news/4-40/4-40-chronic.html, November 7-13, 2004.
“MasterIndex™ of Retail Forecasts Continued Robust Retail Sales Growth Across Asia/Pacific.” [Online] Available
www.pata.org/patasite/fileadmin/aacrisis/MasterIndexRetail_Jan_final.doc, February 4, 2005.
Other Sources:
Sixth National Nutrition Survey: Philippines, 2003
Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI)
Department of Science and Technology (DOST)