CITY OF SAN FERNANDO- Tarcila Santos shops regularly at SM City Pampanga here. On Friday, the same mall became her learning venue for entrepreneurship. In less than two hours, the 65-year old widow finished a free start-up course on fashion accessory making, one of five easy to do micro-businesses that SM Supermalls and the Technology Resources Center (formerly the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center) are offering to promote entrepreneurship among shoppers.

Called ‘ Negosyo 2 Go,’ the program is done in the retail giants 29 malls and began in SM Sta. Rosa in Laguna on June 11, TRC information officer Kate Daytec told the Inquirer.

‘Were bringing the courses closer to people,’ Daytec said. These courses include perfume making, laundry soap and dishwashing liquid preparation, and corporate giveway production. Santos, who was one of the 29 participants, said she found use for the course because she was ‘ looking for a sideline and i want to make use of my freetime.

‘I dont want to depend so much on the children,’ she told Gemma Cordero, one of the resource persons. Cordero, 42, is no armchair mentor. She has been earning a minimum of P3, 000 monthly from the bracelets, earrings, necklaces and mobile phone trinkets that she has been making and selling since December 2005.’

Pandagdag sa pamasahe ng mga bata ( to earn additional money for the children’s transportation money),’ was her aim when she, as a TRC employee took the course. Cordero of Guadalupe in Makati City, said that after learning the basics, she taught these to her children-Sherryll, 22; Jan Renz, 19; Denise, 18; and Nikki, 13.

They went to malls and surfed the Internet to check out on latest trends and to enhance or create new designs. With a capital of P500, Cordero bought a string of chinese beads worth P100 and a roll of garter string worth P25. She produce 10 bracelets, selling each for P75.

‘Its easy to do and the raw materials are cheap,’ she said. Her children helped market the items by modelling these to their friends and schoolmates, and getting orders as well. Very soon, she said, they joined bazaars or supplied orders for giveaways.

‘It’s not a difficult business. You can do these outside of office hours or on weekends. Aside from the extra income, I also managed to teach the value of money to my children,’ Cordero said.

She said she was happy joning the TRC’s pool of resource persons because she was able to women try their hands on small businesses. Another trainor is Anecita Pablo, a former TRC student, who ventured into balloon designing with her husband and eight children.

Much of the time, Cordero said the trainors are asked how much profit could be made. ‘ In making fashion accessories, the return of investment is 100% because 75% of the work is all about creativity.

The design makes a product stand out,’ she said. Aside from teaching, the TRC sells business kits with raw materials worth P75- P400. Santos wanting to start right away, got her set for P400. The TRC also gives free consultation and application on microfinancing and business registration through Negosyo 2 Go.

Its mictrofinancing partners offer minimum capital loans of P5,000. The center is also offering 28 courses next month. Each course is open to at least five participants. Enrollment fees are P5,000 and below.

Courses include organizing party fanfare, tilapia culture, design and operation of water refilling station, ornamental plant production and practical landscaping, food cart business, herbal bath soap making, ice cream production and setting up a travel agency.