Siu Ping Par, the Chief Operating Officer of the subsidiary company of PR Gaz Franchising Corporation, says that “successful women entrepreneurs can be found in every country and under all circumstances.” A member of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) Board, she cites that women of today have the equal opportunity to make a difference in the business community and in society unlike decades ago when they had to fight for the right to self-determination.”
Describing herself as foremost a wife and a mother, Par keeps a very simple and straightforward business philosophy. “My father has taught me that hard work, perseverance and discipline are the key in achieving success. Careful, efficient and long-term planning and strategizing are important, too.”
According to Par, who also sits on the Board of the PR Gaz Haus Group of Companies, a good management style should not be grounded on skills alone. “One must have the heart and passion for running a business,” she states. “The challenges and demands of being an entrepreneur can be multi-dimensional, and women, because of the various roles we play in society—daughter, wife, mother, sister, teacher, or friend—are uniquely equipped for this.”
Thus, when faced with challenges Par reveals that she not only draws support from her team. “I also get an overflowing dose of inspiration and encouragement from family and close friends.” Married to Nelson Par and a mother of four, Par gives priority to family life. “Pages of my office note planner bear important school dates of my children, family events or functions, to ensure that I don’t miss out on anything. Likewise, technology has made the job for busy moms like me a lot easier. I am always a phone call away.”
“On weekends, we go on short, out-of-town trips because the change of scenery is sure to charge up one’s spent ‘batteries’. Watching movies with my husband and kids is a great stress-buster, too,” Par confides. “And to keep fit, I attend a bootcamp class once a week and I play badminton as often as I can.“
Par recounts that she was a full hands-on manager during the initial stages of their family business. That was in 2001 when the company she helped grew with her husband set up refilling plants in Metro Manila, Cavite and Zambales. A year later, the company began putting up its own retail outlets, called PR Gaz Haus—the first LPG convenience store in the country. “But now, we have a different organizational set up and I am able to focus on the bigger, more important requirements of my division.”
A Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) graduate of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives (run by the US-based International Franchise Association), Par narrates how she and her husband got into franchising in 2004. “We needed a proven way to extend our reach and franchising provided us the means to do this. So, we tried to learn as much as we could about the concept and we found out that many popular brands employed franchising to grow their business. We also attended franchise shows like the Philippine International Franchise Conference and Expo (PIFCE) to get more information. In 2005, our first franchised store opened in Cavite. Less than two years after, we had a total of 34 franchises in our chain.”
Par attributes the growth of their franchising business to having the right program, people and processes. “You must constantly employ innovations in business and update yourself with developments in the industry. It is also a good move to link up with peers in the franchising sector and tap the benefits of being in a franchising association such as the PFA.”
She adds that it is vital for franchisors to be always connected with franchisees. “We hold conference with our various franchisees to update them on company developments and to discuss concerns. We also have good relations with our franchisees even on an individual level. We consider our franchisees as active partners in growing the business.”
To date, PR Gaz Haus has over a hundred outlets operating in Luzon. This figure is expected to grow by at least 60 more stores before yearend. “This is part of our company’s “500-in-5” vision, in which we aim to set up 500 stores by 2015,” Par says.
When you say the word 'Franchise', most people immediately think of business-based franchises like those that are top listed in popular business magazines every year. But, it is important to remember that there are hundreds and thousands of franchises out there, some that are spectacularly successful, others that are total failures. Obviously, you want to avoid the latter.
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