“Craftsmanship at its PINE-est!

Paolo M. Sumabat
Roselle O. Bautista
Patricia Elethea C. Fernandez
Mary Grace M. Lachica
Clarisse Mae F. Ramos
Le Pine
“Craftsmanship at its PINE-est!”

Executive Summary
A. Type of Business

1. Nature

Most people would agree when entrepreneurs say that fear appeal is a big factor in
affecting the physical images of the market. Some questions that arise due to the imagery
impacts are: do I look okay; do I have a cool bag; do I have nice shoes; do my accessories
go well with my outfit; and other questions that correspond to aesthetic appearance.
Undoubtedly, various products like shoes, bags and accessories that the market uses
contribute a lot to the way people perceive how they look.

Typical businesses offer various product lines of bags, shoes, and accessories made
out of the usual materials like plastics, rubbers and the like. However, due to their chemical
composition, some of these materials can be unsafe to the customer.These materials could
also harm the environment after disposal. With that situation, the young entrepreneurs
thought of producing product line extensions in a way that generates profit and promotes
ingenuity and social entrepreneurship.

This marks the beginning of Le Pine. Le Pine is a start-up business engaged

primarily in the manufacturing and retailing of trendy and universally stylish shoes, bags, and
accessories. Such products will be produced by utilizing abundant and idle natural resources
like pine needles and talahib together with readily available materials to complement the
designs. Le Pine will be using niche marketing catering to categorized market. Eventually,
the product would be using undifferentiated marketing to tourists coming in and out of the
Cordilleras. Distributing the products to different people will then pave way to marketing the
product, thus, later shall lead to the national and international market.

2. Name

Le Pine is a business which aims to provide quality products with exquisite designs
made out of indigenous and unutilized materials. The principal distinction of Le Pine from
the other manufacturers of shoes, bags and accessories is the use of pine needles as the
key material in the manufacture of such products; thus the name Le Pine.

Le Pine holds its tagline “Craftsmanship at its PINE-est!” which molds the idea of
bringing out beauty and craftsmanship in the use of pine needles.

Le Pine’s philosophy is anchored on the concept that entrepreneurship is simply

making people happy.

3. Product

Le Pine introduces a reinvention of trendy and globally stylish shoes, bags, and
accessories for men and women made out of fallen pine needles, silag, talahib and
embellished with supplementary materials to perfect the appearance of each finished
product. These products are not only unique and globally stylish but they would be also the
best representation of the City of Pines.

What inspired the young entrepreneurs to create these pieces is the abundance of
fallen pine needles which are commercially unused and are just left to rot or just being
burned. The dynamic team wants to change people’s view on pine needles and also
consider it as a source of income and livelihood, and an avenue for showing creativity.
Le Pine
“Craftsmanship at its PINE-est!”

B. Management, Marketing and Financial Highlights

Five young entrepreneurs will handle the business. Every young entrepreneur will
have a particular position in the organization particularly the General Manager, Marketing
Manager, Production and Operations Manager, Financial Manager, and Human Resources
Manager. Each young entrepreneur shall perform their duties with the best interest of the
business in mind and passion in their hearts. Furthermore, the team intends to hire
community workers to facilitate the production of superior quality products.

During the introductory stage of the business, the team plans on focusing on product
awareness through a business launching which will involve few local personalities and
models in order to showcase Le Pine. The business shall join international expos held in the
Philippines such as the Manila FAME, domestic expos like Market Encounter in Burnham
Park, Market Trade fairs in Baguio Convention Center and other nationwide trade fairs held
by the Department of Trade and Industry in order to build customer appreciation about the
products not just around Baguio City but also around the entire country and gain
international awareness. The business will also promote the product through sponsorship
advertisements and the use of brochures and tarpaulins. The business will utilize intensive
distribution through available reputable stores and malls to increase the reach of the
business and its products.

The business is to be capitalized by way of borrowing and contributions from the

young entrepreneurs. The products will be sold at a competitively low price due to abundant
raw materials. This could be a competitive advantage of the business. As a result, the
business will have a positive financial performance in terms of earnings and cash flows, thus
ensuring financial and operational sustainability.

C. Socio Economic Contributions

Le Pine is pioneering the use of dried pine needles that lie in abundance throughout
Baguio City to produce shoes, bags, and accessories. By creating products within the local
area, the business could not only create a number of socio-economic benefits but could also
address environmental issues by making use of a material that is thought of as a trash –
pine needles.

One socio-cultural impact of Le Pine could be seen through the model program “Pine
Needles ng Barangay, Para sa Kabuhayan”. Through this program, the enterprise will form
collaborative networks with different barangays in Baguio City who have rich sources of
dried pine needles. The business will also establish business ties with some localities
outside Baguio City where silag and talahib will come from. This collaboration would help
the business gather its raw materials, specifically the pine needles. The business would pay
a certain amount to the participating barangays. Consequently, there will be an increased
income of the barangays that will lead to their betterment.

Another sustainable program that the enterprise will implement is tagged “PINE-ally,
May Trabaho na Ako!”. This project means that the business will hire community workers
whom we will develop their knowledge, attitude, skills, and promote their entrepreneurial
spirit. This project will increase the employment rate and will help to increase the standard of
living of the community.

Also, Le Pine would benefit the environment. Through the use of pine needles, it
would help reduce the trash in Baguio City and continuously promote a clean and green city.