A business born out of a love for shoes

“The first thing déjà vu leaders do to succeed is to listen to their hearts and invest in their inner desires and drives,” so writes Dr. Henry Cloud in his book 9 Things a Leader Must Do.

This is exactly what good friends Jenny Legarda and Anna Abes did. A year ago, while having breakfast with friends, talk veered to shoes and bags. “Anna had the experience in selling at bazaars while I had the shoe manufacturing facility,” says Jenny. “We both shared the same passion for shoes and bags, and the acquisition of well made and fashionable shoes and bags without depleting our bank accounts was our obsession.” And so a business was born to give other ladies what they were obsessing about.

Teal Shoes and Bags basically targets women like Jenny and Anna, who like stumbling on great “finds,” are fashion forward, and yet are conscious of their budget. Both of them brainstorm on the designs of their products. “Basically we design shoes that we ourselves would wear or something that we see our friends in. We get inspiration from everything: artworks, interiors, people we meet, our lifestyle, our current needs and wants, trends, everything,” shares Jenny.

Teal’s shoes are trendy; they also come in classic styles with a twist through the addition of color or detail. Their first collection featured matching classic ballet flats for moms and daughters. They since introduced platforms, wedges, fringed sandals, among others. Their holiday collection has just been introduced.

Jenny has a shoe factory in Marikina that she owns with a partner and they do subcontracting for other shoe stores in the country. So this is where Jenny’s and Anna’s designs for ladies’ shoes come to life. The bags and kids’ shoes, on the other hand, are subcontracted.

Quality is a top concern for the duo. “We don’t compromise quality for price. We don’t cut corners in manufacturing because we don’t want to cheat our customers in the same way we don’t want to be cheated by other retailers,” says Jenny. “Our shoes are proudly handmade in Marikina. The lining of our bags are well made,” shares Anna. They are also particular about exclusivity. “Only a maximum of four pairs per size per style are made,” adds Anna.

Right now, Teal’s shoes and bags are sold online through their Multiply site and through the various bazaars they participate in. “We chose bazaars because this [strategy] helps us keep our price at an acceptable level,” says Jenny. Their ladies’ shoes are priced from P950 to P2,000 per pair; kids’ shoes go for about P600. “Bazaars entail only low overhead costs, so we get to keep our prices low. And I enjoy it. I get to tell clients to please try on our shoes,” says Anna.

Both of them see the big potential for growth in the shoe business. From an initial capital of only P130,000, the partners got their return on investment within a year. “We have been asked to consign to a popular outlet and we are considering this venue,” says Jenny. They are also in talks with a group in San Francisco, California who wants to sell Teal’s products there. As for a store, Jenny says, “Why not? It’s the ultimate dream.”

As Dr. Henry Cloud writes in the same book, “Grasp your dreams. Reach for them. Take appropriate risks.”

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