Precision at Every Stitch

Mary Ann Mariano from Bataan started her dry goods business in 2001 together with her husband, Ruben. Since Ruben’s family was also in the line of dry goods, he passed on his sewing techniques to his wife, a skill that became their business’ foundation. The couple ensures the precision and quality in every stitch to keep their customers coming back.

“Originally, we could only afford yards of fabric with our limited capital. However, as our customer base grew larger, we were able to invest in rolls of fabric, allowing us to expand the variety of dry goods we offer,” Mary Ann Mariano reflected on her business journey that began with just PHP 1,500.00 in capital.

Their creativity shines through the home living products they offer, including bedsheets, pillowcases, curtains, rags, customized dry goods, and more.

Aside from their store in Balanga Public Market, they also engage in fiesta bargaining from time to time. Fiesta bargaining involves travelling from town to town during local festivals to set up and sell their products. They usually stay in one place for about a week before moving on to the new location.

They used to rent a jeepney whenever they went out to do bargaining, but in 2008, they were able to acquire an L300 vehicle, which they still use today as their service when travelling to different places. In 2015, the couple also started an ukay-ukay (thrift store) business as an additional source of income, showcasing their items during the fiesta bargain.

Mary Ann’s eye for design eventually earned her recognition. In December 2024, she won the Gawad Malikhain award during the annual Pagkilala sa mga Likha ni Inay. Along with the recognition, she received a PHP 25,000.00 cash prize to grow her dry goods business further, allowing her to continue turning her ideas into a livelihood.

To support the ongoing needs of their business, Mary Ann occasionally secures loans from CARD SME Bank. She currently has an active loan of PHP 300,000.00 that she uses to purchase fabric and other essential materials to carry on with her venture.

Mary Ann is also wise with her finances, saving a portion of her profits for personal needs or unexpected expenses.

“Prioritize your needs, and instead of buying your wants, invest the money into business, and soon you will see that discipline will pay off, “she said.

Five years from now, she envisions owning a farm lot and venturing into agriculture— an opportunity to further diversify their business.