John Matthew Spa & Salon

Ruminations of a former shop owner

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

The NEDA has observed that two years is the length of time that any business had to hurdle for it to be in the running with other businesses in the market. Those that exceed five years of operation have  a better chance of surviving the rigors of the trade. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has negated this because even businesses operating for longer than a decade have succumbed to its invisible clutches.

Like some great equalizer, the pandemic has severely affected both established and new undertakings alike. It has winnowed markets all across the globe, notably off-shore outlets of popular apparel brands. Locally, a number of SMEs have folded up and filed for bankruptcy as their revenues could hardly sustain the overhead costs of operating their businesses.

“My business, John Matthew Spa and Salon (JMSS), had been smoothly operating for the past 15 years. We constantly exerted efforts to professionalize our services by updating the products and services we offer. As a result, our shop acquired a regular and loyal patronage which paved the way for a good monthly revenue through the long years of operation.

“When Covid-19 entered the Philippines, I instantly thought of the great danger that my staff would be exposed to. It was like risking our lives every time a client enters the shop. Our anxiety escalated each day, considering that spa and salon services are intimately given to each customer. My staff, comprised of Alma Sabuito, Raquel Desuyo, Jin Tañedo, Maida Lacuadra, Estella Bornasal, and Marlon Romero, were in a constant dilemma as to which is more important – their respective health/wellbeing or the money they needed to support their families. On those options, I made the crucial decision of temporarily closing the shop days before the government issued a lockdown order all over Metro Manila.

“There are two primordial reasons why I am closing my business. First is the health and safety of my staff who will always be at risk every time a client comes inside the shop. There are a lot of asymptomatic persons and our services entail us to be in close proximity to them for us to deliver the spa/salon service sought. If one of us will be infected, it will mean closure of the business because the government will surely tag my shop as virus-infected place.

“Secondly, we noticed that people, until now, are still reluctant and distrustful to enter our shop despite the strict sanitation protocols we have been observing to protect both client and staff. When we reopened last June 7, our sales dropped to a mere 15 per cent of what we used to earn. This could not even afford me to pay our steep monthly rental. As a businessman who has been doing this for the past 15 years, I can clearly see bankruptcy looming so I know that it is time to quit. Prolonging the operations would only result to more losses,” lamented proprietor Jonathan Cruz over the loss of what he considered has become a community of friends over the years.

With the closure of JMSS last June 30, Jonathan steps down from being an entrepreneur and has focused on penning teleplays for the Rainbow network, as part of its writers’ pool. He hopes all of his staff recovers in time and find lucrative undertakings in the process.

But not everything’s grim in the business scene. While it is true a lot has been severely affected, revenue-wise, there are equally a great number of businessmen who are holding on to their reins. A line of clothing has promised to supply department stores with his apparel even if he knows the sales would be minimal because he is very optimistic this pandemic will soon pass. Another entrepreneur, who owns a comedy bar, and had to temporarily close until the government allows them to reopen, has conducted an online competition for all his bar employees so they get monetary rewards while ‘weathering the storm.’

As of presstime, the Philippines has 39,587 reported cases with 10,438 survivors (and counting). Globally, there 10,620,237 reported cases with 5,826,921 who have survived the pandemic (and counting). The countries most severely affected by the pandemic are the United States, Brazil, Russia, and India. All countries around the world are on the lookout for a vaccine that would bring things back to normal.