Family enterprises amid the Covid-19 environment

Among the vulnerable groups highly impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic include workers and professionals who lost their jobs. Records show that as of April 2020, the country experienced an unprecedented unemployment rate of 17.7 percent representing 7.3 million Filipinos who lost their jobs as they bore the brunt of economic disruptions brought by the pandemic.

As we continue to face unfolding events in the sudden shift in work settings and lifestyles, we begin to notice the seemingly rise of enterprising household members who have seized opportunities to start microenterprises right within their homes. In particular, we refer to apparent symptoms of increasing home-based enterprises in the food business. We are witness to some friends and relatives who recently set up a small food business using their home as a production area. Through social media and networking with friends, relatives and old acquaintances, they have gradually developed a customer base to expand their business. As they can better pace their activities while at home, they have unleashed their creativity. Some have crafted a unique selling proposition for their product to enhance memory recall. While maybe lacking in formal entrepreneurship training, family members discover innovative ways to package their product to ensure safe consumption and efficient delivery, while maintaining the attractive features. Realizing that procurement and inventory are challenging in the light of uncertain conditions amid Covid-19, family members strive to be more resourceful in locating reliable suppliers to meet production goals. In this light, this sudden experience in “learning-by-doing” approach to micro-entrepreneurship approach augurs well for developing further small family startups which help mitigate the negative impact of Covid-19 on income streams.