Entrepreneurship: The art of selling
For her, there is no greater art she could express well, than the art of selling.
In Cebu, Maria Natividad ‘Nene’ Treveño’s name is synonymous to antiques, and rare home accessory finds. She is the ‘go to’ lady when it comes to finding collectible fine things.
While she only has one store-showroom, the “Treveño’s Antiques”, Nene does not need to establish more stores, as she becomes the “walking store”. Her home even becomes an extension of her showroom.
“My house is my other store or showroom. Clients go to my house and pick whatever they like,” she shared.
Nene, together with professional designers, has beautified elegant houses and mansions, small studio condominium units, mostly customized, in Visayas and Mindanao, including resorts and hotels.
Her extraordinary knack for arts and excellent eye for fine things makes her the darling of customers with good tastes.
BORN TO
SELL
As a child,
Nene knew nothing but to make friends and sell just anything she could find and turn them into money.
From candies, papers, snack food, Nene always makes money while in school. Somehow, she discovered the thrill and awe of being able to turn anything into money— regardless of how much she makes in a day.
She grew up with entrepreneurial parents, who maintained a small eatery to fend for the family.
Nene, the eldest of the four siblings saw and experienced the life of having “not enough” despite the hard work of their parents.
But, she was convinced early on that she was “born to sell”, that despite her tender age (in elementary and high school), she was able to help her parents.
WALKING STORE
Although her second identity became a saleslady of anything she carries in her purse, Nene worked for several companies after earning a degree of BS secretarial at the University of San Carlos (USC). Having a stable job, she thought could provide her an assured income at the end of the month for her family’s needs. She juggled between a working lady and a “walking store,” an insurance agent, and other money-making sidelines.
Although she enjoyed her small earnings from salary and her sidelines, Nene said she was looking for something bigger that will allow her to help more, earn more, at the same time to pursue her desire to explore more places, see more unique things, and sell them.
Indeed, God is not too hard to give in to a prayer, especially for a hardworking, persistent dreamer and cheerful giver, like Nene.
Her prayer was granted when she got a job at Philippine Airlines (PAL) as ground crew in the customer service department.
Nene served PAL for 23 years, within those years, she was able to open her store, made supplier connections and customers who became good friends.
The benefit of serving with the airline, she said aside from good salary packages, is the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world, for free, and for lifetime!
A working trader, a walking store, and an airline customer service agent, she did this for 23 years.
“I never stopped selling even while I was working with PAL,” Nene shared. Her entrepreneurial appetite was even more empowered as she can travel all over the world and find beautiful and collectible things to feed her whims and sell them.
INTEGRITY AS CAPITAL
More often, she said no matter how good one is in sales, success in this exciting profession is only fleeting if integrity is not part of the agenda.
While working as an airline customer service agent, Nene was able to meet people who easily gave their trust to her.
Prior to the opening of her antique store then located in Banilad, Nene was selling fine jewelry to friends already. She capitalized her integrity to be able to concession products as expensive as fine jewelries.
She made money in this bigger leap into selling and opened her store she named as “Treveños Antiques” in Banilad.
Recently, the store was transferred to a bigger area along A.S.Fortuna Street in Mandaue City.
She described herself as collector of beautiful things that appreciates.
From jewellery, Nene’s for sale collections expanded into wood home furnishings, antiques, paintings, among others.
She collects them, display them in her store, and used some in her house, and sell them to the right customer at the right price!
BEAUTY THAT APPRECIATES
After retiring from PAL, Nene focused her entrepreneurial passion and went on from merely selling valuable finds, to offering hands-on service of interior design, in collaboration with licensed interior design professionals.
Her forte is to provide the right piece of art or decorative accents in empty walls, barren corners of homes, resorts, and restaurants.
Nene believes that “what you appreciate, appreciates.” She said she has been a lover of anything beautiful. Something that lifts a spirit. The reason why, she stumbled into selling things that appreciate in value over time.
“I appreciate this vocation ever since, and truly [good] things were happening in my life, such as being able to connect with suppliers because I always love and appreciate this gift everyday.”
Nene, did not spend and borrow money in order to open a business, she makes entrepreneurship her way of life, by collecting things, and makes money out of it.
She said having a business, which “you love and appreciate” will give you unlimited opportunity to earn. “Just keep your integrity intact.”
“There is nothing like you can buy and do whatever you want and love. It is also heartwarming to be able to give because you are too blessed,” she said a bit shyly.
While she admitted being a collector of valuable pieces of art, jewellery, wood carvings and home furnishing pieces, she said she does not have any attachment to her collections.
Everything can go— when the price is right.
SELLING IS AN ART
While she realized that she maybe was born a seller, anyone however can succeed in selling as long as he masters the art of selling.
For Nene, her wisdom in selling is sharpened by her experience and first-hand account.
She found out that selling is also an art. Like artists, anyone can have their own style, strategy and way of expressing it. She, however, also took up Masters in business administration along the way.
Like an artist, whose fulfillment is not measured on outward rewards (such as money/profits), but on how people appreciate what he does and creates. Nene is the same, selling is another spiritual practice for her. She does from her heart. Doing so, makes her more alive, motivated and appreciate life more. It is an art, she mastered and can’t be taken away from her.
She is willing to share this to anyone—anytime, anywhere.
She said anyone can be an entrepreneur. “Start small. Start buying things that you love. Sell them and make small profit and continue the cycle.”
At 58, Nene continues to turn things into money. Like a genie, she fills empty homes with beautiful things that appreciates in value over time, in turn inspiring people to appreciate the beauty of being alive.