Susan Flores, owner of Karissma, treats hers as a millionaire’s business. They’re now on their 5th year in the industry; yet, it’s their first time in the Negros Trade Fair.

Although it may sound ironic, the Yolanda incident in Tacloban paved way for Susan’s business. She has an American friend who gave her a call that time, asking her if she was affected by the typhoon. This friend of hers who’s a chemist and dermatologist in the USA wanted to extend her help to Susan. She gave her a formula in creating chemical-free soaps. Susan said that her friend is a chemist who hates chemicals that’s why she exerted effort in researching for fruits and vegetables in the Philippines which are good for the skin. It was only through Skype where they communicated to produce the soap.

Susan also shared the story behind the name of their brand. She said that during her younger days, it was very easy for her to gather people and she was always told by people that she has charisma. That incident gave her husband gave the idea of naming their brand “Karissma”. At the same time, it also means caress and charm.

Karissma soaps are all natural and handmade. Susan herself is the one who processes them in her small laboratory. The physical appearance of their products proves that they are using natural products. They include fruit and vegetable peelings in the soap.

Susan only started with 3 kinds of soap – banana, radish, and cucumber. Within a year, they were able to come up with more such as guava (anti-bacterial), avocado (moisturizing), charcoal (detoxifying), and many more. Their bestseller is the radish soap which has a bleaching effect. Each of their soap (150 grams) costs 180php.

The owner remains very down to earth. She understands that her business won’t flourish at once. “It’s slowly growing”, she said. Susan has been to many places because of Karissma. She’s been getting invites nationwide.

What’s more inspiring about the owner is she shares her success to other Filipinos. She welcomes distributors. They have packages for resellers, especially OFWs. This is her way of helping other people.

31st Negros Trade Fair "One Sweet Spot"

September 14-16, 2016, 

Glorietta Mall, Makati

MAMABEL'S HOME GARDEN

31st Negros Trade Fair "One Sweet Spot"

September 14-16, 2016, 

Glorietta Mall, Makati

TRIBAL MIRACLE OIL

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31st Negros Trade Fair "One Sweet Spot"

September 14-16, 2016, 

Glorietta Mall, Makati

FRESH START ORGANIC

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31st Negros Trade Fair "One Sweet Spot"

September 14-16, 2016, 

Glorietta Mall, Makati

26 HERB GARDEN

31st Negros Trade Fair "One Sweet Spot"

September 14-16, 2016, 

Glorietta Mall, Makati

31st Negros Trade Fair "One Sweet Spot"

September 14-16, 2016, 

Glorietta Mall, Makati

Negros Trade Fair at 30

"Truly Negros"

30th Negros Trade Fair, 
September 16-20, 2015, 
Glorietta Mall, Makati

In the 28 years of its existence, the membership of the Association of Negros Producers have grown by leaps and bounds. It has evolved from just 48 founding members to more than 100 today.

Among the new breed of producers that have joined the association are husband and wife team Francine and Chin Chin Uy. True to form of being the new breed, they have established “Fresh Start”, a company that specializes in organically grown produce and other health and other products that are all-natural.

They had a funny start, actually. It was purely be accident. They were first involved in producing machinery and equipment used for vermin-composting to produce natural fertilizers. It was in response to the passing of the waste management law in 2005.

To prove the efficacy of the fertilizers they produced, they had to set up a demo farm in Silay City where they produced high-value crops like lettuce and various herbs. The demand for their produce opened their eyes to an untapped market for organically grown produce. They started with a small farm stand at Sweet Greens in Bacolod City.

With the growing demand for their produce, they cultivated their orchard in Sagay City. They increased their production and was then invited by a popular mall to open a small stall. That was where they saw the great demand for organically grown produce. This is when they established Fresh Start.

Since then Fresh Start has grown and they have started networking with producers of other all-natural products. They now have a wide array of different produce as well as other products that all boast being organically produced.

It was only in 2009 that Fresh Start became a member of the Association of Negros Producers. That was also their first year to participate in the annual trade fair. They started with just a small kiosk and were in fact stormed in on their first year.

Since then, Fresh Start has grown and has now opened a stand-alone restaurant in one of the more popular malls in Bacolod. They serve sandwiches and other dishes using their organically grown produce. Even the coffee and teas they serve are all-natural.

They have been very happy with the results of joining the ANP and the trade fair. Their market has grown and they have seen the potentials of further growth through the exposure the trade fair has provided.

Their success has allowed them to continually expand their operations. In fact, they have already opened their second restaurant in Bacolod and are about to open their restaurant in Manila soon.

With the encouragement and support the ANP provides, the new breed of members like Fresh Start are given the opportunity to grow consistently.

***

Check our Facebook updates at  www.facebook.com/negrostradefair.page. You may also email us at evolvinglifestyles@gmail.com.

In the 28 years of its existence, the membership of the Association of Negros Producers have grown by leaps and bounds. It has evolved from just 48 founding members to more than 100 today.

Among the new breed of producers that have joined the association are husband and wife team Francine and Chin Chin Uy. True to form of being the new breed, they have established “Fresh Start”, a company that specializes in organically grown produce and other health and other products that are all-natural.

They had a funny start, actually. It was purely be accident. They were first involved in producing machinery and equipment used for vermin-composting to produce natural fertilizers. It was in response to the passing of the waste management law in 2005.

To prove the efficacy of the fertilizers they produced, they had to set up a demo farm in Silay City where they produced high-value crops like lettuce and various herbs. The demand for their produce opened their eyes to an untapped market for organically grown produce. They started with a small farm stand at Sweet Greens in Bacolod City.

With the growing demand for their produce, they cultivated their orchard in Sagay City. They increased their production and was then invited by a popular mall to open a small stall. That was where they saw the great demand for organically grown produce. This is when they established Fresh Start.

Since then Fresh Start has grown and they have started networking with producers of other all-natural products. They now have a wide array of different produce as well as other products that all boast being organically produced.

It was only in 2009 that Fresh Start became a member of the Association of Negros Producers. That was also their first year to participate in the annual trade fair. They started with just a small kiosk and were in fact stormed in on their first year.

Since then, Fresh Start has grown and has now opened a stand-alone restaurant in one of the more popular malls in Bacolod. They serve sandwiches and other dishes using their organically grown produce. Even the coffee and teas they serve are all-natural.

They have been very happy with the results of joining the ANP and the trade fair. Their market has grown and they have seen the potentials of further growth through the exposure the trade fair has provided.

Their success has allowed them to continually expand their operations. In fact, they have already opened their second restaurant in Bacolod and are about to open their restaurant in Manila soon.

With the encouragement and support the ANP provides, the new breed of members like Fresh Start are given the opportunity to grow consistently.

***

Check our Facebook updates at  www.facebook.com/negrostradefair.page. You may also email us at evolvinglifestyles@gmail.com.

When people say Negros, sugar always comes to mind but when it comes to muscovado, the byword for locals and tourists alike is the Alter Trade Manufacturing Corporation. Founded at the height of the sugar crisis in 1978, Alter Trade is a company experienced with exporting products overseas with its first overseas export sent to Japan in 1987. Today, its muscovado milling plant in Ma-ao, Bago, same district as the once mighty Central Azucarera de Ma-ao, continues to produce for their expanded international markets.

At the Negros Trade Fair, the team spotted a number of boxes with labels in German, French and Italian under the Claro and Alter Eco brands which is Alter Trade’s official brands for marketing in Europe. Currently, Alter Trade exports their muscovado products to South Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Austria, Japan and France which finds its way to pastries, liquor drinks and even the famed Swiss and Belgian chocolate. Alter Trade is one of only few mills in the country to pass the strict international fair trade standards.