Hanabishi marks 30th anniversary
Forges new partnership and expands line-up to assert position as number one homegrown appliance brand in PH
HANABISHI, the leading homegrown appliance brand owned and marketed by Fortune Buddies Corporation (FBC), celebrates its 30th anniversary by growing its existing line-up of practical household appliances. As the Kapartner ng Praktikal na Nanay at Bossing since 1986, Hanabishi continues to develop its product line to offer more high quality yet affordable products catering to the needs of every Filipino home and small business venture.
Having made an impressive impact on the fans and small appliances category by being the leading brand in terms of volume sales, Hanabishi takes a big leap and ventures into the big appliances category. This new category includes bulkier appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and LED TVs among others. In line with this, FBC announced that a partnership with Hitachi Home Electronics Asia for the exclusive distribution of their LED TVs is now underway.
"We are both happy and excited about this partnership. Hitachi Electronics Asia is one of the leading technology companies today and we are very thrilled to work with them to bring a unique TV experience to our Filipino consumers. Through this, we are positive that we will be able to spread Hanabishi's practical and productive way of living further," shares Hanabishi Vice President for Operations and Marketing Cherish Ong-Chua.
Aside from baring their expansion plans, Ong-Chua also underscored the company's on-going commitment to safety and excellence. "As we have always done in the past years, we still continue to ensure that all our products are compliant with government regulations such as the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) and the Bureau of Product Standard's certification. Our customers can be assured that all the products in our line-up are of top quality," adds OngChua.
Over the last three decades, the Hanabishi brand has already established its place in the industry. Ong-Chua proudly shared that, Fortune Buddies Corporation, continues to grow as can be seen through the increase in their number of employees, expansion of product lines, and addition of warehouses. For the past five years, the company has been enjoying a steady growth. Operating with only around ten employees and a limited number of products 30 years ago, the company now has a salesforce numbering close to a thousand.
Humble Beginnings of the Hanabishi Brand
Ong-Chua said that her father used to work for a relative doing door-to-door selling of glassware. She shared that her father used to wake up before dawn to deliver products around Binondo and at marketplaces.
It was during a trip abroad that her dad, together with his partner then, realized the potential in venturing into the appliance industry. They believed that there was a growing need for quality yet affordable appliances which Filipino families can own without draining their pockets. And because the Philippines is a tropical country with a generally hot climate, they found it suitable to start with electric fans which they branded as Hanabishi, a name that came from two words: hana which means flower, and bishi which means diamond.
By 2006, the brand has been passed on to the second generation of the Ong Family. The leadership of the new corporation has since then been assumed by the present president, Jasper Ong; Vice President for Merchandising/Purchasing, Jevon Ong and Vice President for Operations and Marketing, Cherish OngChua.
From selling electric fans, Hanabishi now offers home appliances such as microwave oven, washing machine, television, refrigerator, air conditioner, insect killer, stove, juicer, flat iron, sandwich maker and blender, as well as commercial appliances like chest freezer, mixer, deep fryer, and beverage showcase chiller.
Giving Back
Over the years, Hanabishi has been supporting civic organizations and foundations such as the Bantay Bata 163 and GMA Kapuso Foundation, which the company has been donating to since 2012. Hanabishi also regularly responds to the needs of the calamitystricken. It donated home appliances to 200 families affected by Typhoon Sendong in 2011, and 600 families affected by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Earlier this year, the company embarked on an outreach program at the Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porres Rehabilitation Center, a dwelling place for street children, foundlings, abandoned children, victims of domestic abuse, and victims of child labor. Hanabishi and its employees hosted a fun-filled, wholeday program for the underprivileged children of the shelter.