Being Thrift and Practical is Good Business

Life today, no doubt, becomes busier and more expensive. If you are not keen enough, you will be surprised to know how things are evolving into something unbelievable.

Oil price hike, which now an all-time problem like traffic in many big cities, never stops there but it creates more ‘sub-problems’ like transportation fare hike, price increase of basic commodities, and so many more.

So anything that comes in lower price, say the discounted goods, buy one take one promos, you-buy-this-and-you-get-that stuffs, has become more popular than ever. However, there is something that is being sacrificed or taken for granted most of the time in exchange of a lower price. That is the quality.

This stated fact is actually one of the many reasons why Grace Cariaga, a wife and mother of three children, got the idea of putting up her own thrift store eleven years ago. The dictionary defines a thrift store as a shop that sells used articles, especially clothing, that are available in lower prices. However, in Practical Shop, you can find anything you think you need, from reading materials up to big home decors and office furnishings, but you will never see any clothing goods being sold.

"Kasi mahilig talaga kaming magkakapatid magbasa at magkolekta ng mga libro. Kaso nga lang mahal masyado sa mga bookstore. Kaya naisipan kong itayo itong Practical Shop," Grace said during the interview.

"Tinawag itong Practical Shop kasi nga mas practical kung dito mo bibilhin yun ilang mga bagay na bagama’t second-hand ay ganun pa rin ang quality. Minsan nga mas mainam pa ang mga naririto kaysa sa mga bagay na available sa market ngayon," she added.

The Grove’s Thrift Shop, or best-known as the Practical Shop, is located along the Lopez Avenue, Los Banos, Laguna. It had started selling mostly reading materials as donated by her friends and relatives with few little materials that could be used at home. But as time went by, it now sells pocketbooks, hard-bound books, magazines, comics, children’s books, office furnishings, decors, china wares, ornaments, and many more.

For Grace, she is happy and proud to some point knowing that her business is not only financially helpful to her family but it is helping many students who are in need of quick-to-find yet affordable reading materials, as well as the many mothers who now have become suki to her store.

"Marami rito ang nabalik na mga ginang para bumili ng mga sala set, aparador, mga ganun."

One of Grace’s customer actually couldn’t help but gave her comment about the store during the interview. "Convenient nga dito. Hindi mo na kailangan pang pumunta sa malayo gaya ng Manila. Dito pa lang ay sulit na." The old lady gladly said while holding the pile of used magazines and pocketbooks in her hand before the counter.

It was not easy, according to Grace, to put up a business. But since that she had a canteen business before, she dared to venture into something she really likes. Now that the Practical Shop is reaching its eleventh year this coming July 8, she had promised that she would continue to get better goods from her sources and contacts in Manila and other places that she had refused to mention any of them.

She also has a piece of advise for those who are planning to engage into any business, "Make sure you love what you are getting into and do some research first before laying all your cards on the table."

For more info, contact:
Grace Cariaga
Practical Shop / The Grove's Thrift Shop
Lopez Ave., Batong Malaki, Los Banos, Laguna
Telephone number: (632) 536-7017