Banaue, Ifugao’s Mary Ann’s Souvenir and Gift Shop was registered and established in 1992 with an initial capitalization of PhP100,000 and employment of four. Specializing in souvenirs and novelty items, the shop located at Poblacion, Banaue, Ifugao produces and a manufactures various woodcarvings and other handicraft products which are sold to tourists. These items are also sold to bigger buyers in Manila, Tagaytay and Cebu and exporters.

Owned and managed by Mary Ann Tacio, who is a residence of Banaue, Ifugao, the gift shop engaged in the production and manufacturing of woodcarving products primarily souvenirs, Wearable & Homestyle and novelty items.

As part of the Trade Facilitation and Marketing Assistance of DTI-Ifugao, Mary Ann’s Souvenir and Gift Shop was regularly invited for trade fairs participation. Tacio was able to attend various provincial trade fairs that made her qualified to participate in the regional trade fairs and eventually qualified her to participate in various national trade fairs like CITEM’s Manila Fame, National Art Crafts, and other National Trade Fairs being conducted all year round.

After qualifying to participate in the 2nd phase Manila Fame Exhibits and selling fair at the World Trade Center and the Sikat Pinoy National Arts and Craft Trade Fair at the Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Ann’s Souvenir Shop was also endorsed to participate in the Regional Trade Fair at Fiesta Mall, Alabang.

The enterprise was able to participate in various trainings like Negotiation Techniques and Skills training, Productivity Enhancement, Business Management and other entrepreneurial trainings.

Also, Ms. Tacio availed of productivity improvement and enhancement having been consistently endorsed to designers from Manila for product designs. Her shop was entered and included in the Export Pathways Program in 2008 with level 3 as the entry stage. As a growing business, the shop was endorsed to PLGU for the Ifugao Certified Products.

With DTI’s Trade Facilitation and Marketing Assistance Ms. Tacio’s enterprise was able to maintain three big buyers in Manila who are into domestic and export markets, the Christian Ventures, Balikbayan Handicrafts and Grandma’s Handicraft.

At least fifteen new product designs were recently introduced and a systematic production schedules were likewise introduced. For the CY 2016, Tacio’s firm recorded a total of 2.2M as of August 31, 2016. The increase in sales each year was attributed to the increase of buyers, joining trade fairs and improved designs from enhance prototypes. From the initial investment of Php 100,000.00.

The firm has reached an investment size of 5M from an initial employment of 4. Today, Tacio’s enterprise already employs and maintains at least 12 regular workers and 10 contracted workers. From level 3 as an entry stage of the EPP, the firm is now marked at stage 5 and soon to graduate from the EPP classifications.