For many years, Kultura has been the go-to place for uniquely Filipino products. From apparel, homeware, and even personal care products, Kultura serves as a platform for homegrown brands to thrive.
Kultura is a marketplace where micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) showcase their products and offerings as well as an avenue for these MSMEs to hone their entrepreneurial skills and grow their businesses, and a catalyst that inspires more businesses to embrace sustainability, one step at the time.
“We are with our MSME partners as they navigate mainstream retailing and provide the platform that the need. We’ve built our supply chain through partnerships with these MSMEs from all over the country,” said Ivy Yap, President of Kultura.
Locally sourced products
One company that has benefited from this is Wonderful World of Wellness, the parent company of the all-natural personal care brands Jabon Jabon and Sibol. The brands offer locally-sourced and genuinely natural products.
Through their partnership with Kultura, Jabon Jabon and Sibol found a platform for their brand to be closer to consumers. Amidst local disasters and the impact of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns it entailed, Jabon Jabon and Sibol were able to find triumphs amidst these trials. They were able to boost their presence online while being available in retail through Kultura.
Aside from providing genuinely natural products, Jabon Jabon and Sibol also created employment as they continuously grew their product line to 20 full time employees. The owner Ricky Lopez also shared that Kultura’s Support Local campaign and the launch of its online store have helped keep their brands visible and accessible to consumers.
Community upliftment
Another SM partner, Cocobody shared the same sentiment that being a partner local enterprise helped them uplift the communities.
Despite being the second largest producer of coconuts in the world, many coconut farming communities still face challenges with regard to marketing and selling their products. For years, Cocobody founder Reynaldo Pacheco has studied the benefits of coconuts and has been able to create various products.
To create its products, Cocobody practices fair trade as it sourced coconuts from Maguindanao and Lanao del Norte, two of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. They also employ indigenous tribes and local communities for their workforce.
Upskilling of workers
But beyond employment, Cocobody instills upskilling to their workers too. They make it a point to teach practical skills such as basic computer literacy to empower their workers as they learn to communicate with workers based in Metro Manila, manufacturing processes and quality control.
What SM has been able to promote is not only good for communities; it is also good for the earth and for everyone in general.
By being a platform for sustainable MSMEs and social enterprises to thrive, more consumers get access to items that are good for the environment and helps uplifts communities. With every purchase, consumers help sustain the livelihood of Filipino artisans and MSMEs, as well as support the foundations and craft communities Kultura collaborates with,” Catherine Ileto, SM Retail Vice President for Corporate Communications said.