Majority of Filipinos come to the UAE in search for work that would provide them with the salary they need every month to provide for themselves and their family back home. However, for a few Filipinos who have jumped ship from being an employee to an entrepreneur, it’s a huge leap of faith that spells a lot of potential income than your monthly rate.
Jodie Pineda, founder of Al Khawand Luxury FZE, started her journey in the UAE like any other OFW. A graduate of Hotel Restaurant and Institution Management from De La Salle – College Saint Benilde, she worked in the hospitality sector for five years. But when she became a mom of two, she had to stay at home to take care of her growing kids.
Starting a business with Dh 700
However, being a housewife didn’t stop Pineda from helping her husband – she first decided to begin selling personalized accessories online, creating a website, Instagram, and Facebook page called Gabby’s Charms and Trinkets.
In a few months, she saw her online following grow as she listened to the requests of her clients to start selling other items. “May mga kliyente akong nag-share sa akin na pinagkakatiwalaan nila akong magbenta ng mga luxury bags. Kaya sinubukan ko and that’s when Gabby’s Luxury began,” shares Pineda.
As she gained the trust of more clients as days pass, she decided to turn it to a full time business, establishing the e-commerce company, Al Khawand Luxury FZE under the wing of the Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone with its own brand ‘Gabby’s Luxury’ selling through their official website, www.gabbysluxury.com
Mark of authenticity
Pineda now offers items from well-known brands complete with their original boxes and their certificate of authenticity. Gabby’s Luxury currently offers a wide variety of items from well-known brands including: Aigner, Escada, Cerutti, Police, Michael Kors, Christian LaCroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Versace, Armani, Gshock, Seiko, Casio, Steve Madden, Parfois, Coach and Balmain
Secret to selling
The Al Khawand luxury founder and owner shares that her only secret to gaining a huge following of clients that trust her and a constant stream of income is that she doesn’t overprice her goods with her family at the heart of her goals. “I sell not to earn, I sell only to sustain my family’s needs,” said Pineda.
Today, Gabby’s Luxury is trusted not just by individual clients here in the UAE, she now also has many buyers who are resellers all over the world including Riyadh, Kuwait, Philippines and more.
Jodie regularly posts their live video selling at their Facebook page, Gabby’s Luxury, with more info available at their official website: www.gabbysluxury.com
