A new year has ushered in but the holiday season is not quite over yet.
The Christmas Bazaar at SM City Bacolod is still going strong, albeit the slight drop in customers and sales as the year 2022 ushered in.
For local entrepreneurs like Cata Ereñeta-Manaloto, proprietor at Ereñeta Manaloto Chorizo de Bacolod, the bazaar that SM City Bacolod set up inside the mall helped producers in selling to a wide and diverse market.
“This Christmas market helped connect our local producers to very eager customers,” said Manaloto, an officer of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP).
The ANP has been actively assisting micro, mall and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for over 30 years, partnering with government and private institutions in seeking growth opportunities for local producers.
“We are thankful that local producers have this opportunity at SM. The holiday rush is our chance for small businesses to have bigger and steady sales. Being in the frontlines such as this Christmas market at SM has really helped us a lot,” added Manaloto.
She also said that it is not only the sales that have won the month for the MSMEs, but also the chance to let their products be known to more people, which in turn can be a big help year-round, not just the holidays.
The Department of Trade and Industry has also lauded the launching of these markets across all SM malls to support local MSMEs.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez reiterated the important role of MSMEs in the rebuilding of the economy in terms of investment and job generation for fellow Filipinos. Such events launched by the “big brothers” like SM are helping MSMEs and the country bounce back from the impact of COVID-19.
This event is part of SM Supermalls’ “Buy Local, Support Local” campaign, which has given the opportunity to MSMEs around the country to sell their products at the mall this holiday season and even into the earlier part of 2022. The featured MSMEs are involved in all products, from food to crafts to plants and other whimsical, practical and decorative wares.
The SM Christmas market started in November 2021 and will continue this January 2022.*