Km Eight is a cafe located in uptown Naga that started in the height of the pandemic in 2020. Its beginnings can be traced back to a simple alfresco cafe that Chloe Estrella started at Kilometer 8, Pacol, Naga City. According to her, the idea of starting up a cafe started when she had quarantined after going home for the first time since the borders were opened again to the local residents of Naga who were residing in Manila for work during the lockdown. Despite having the option of staying in a quarantine facility for her 14 days quarantine, she chose to stay in their old empty house in uptown Naga. While on quarantine, she noticed the number of bikers passing by and thought that it would be nice to put up a station for these bikers where they can rest to have some water break or coffee. Also passionate about coffee, the idea she just thought of eventually came to reality as she finally put up little by little an alfresco cafe which became Km Eight.
Providing comfort to the bikers, travelers and coffee enthusiasts through their little alfresco cafe, it was frequented by even those from Naga Proper to check out this thriving cafe uptown. As the restrictions during the pandemic continue to lighten, Chloe decided to expand the alfresco cafe she had started. She was able to realize the hassle during the rainy seasons and the inconveniences for her customers. The Km Eight now, is far from the Km Eight that Chloe had started. For their loyal customers, it was unrecognizable that they had to ask if the management changed. It was still the same management that started it all, there were just some improvements made to continue giving the customers the comfort they deserve when having their coffee uptown. From a kubo-kubo alfresco cafe to an aesthetic indoor cafe, Km Eight came a long way.
Thriving a business during the pandemic wasn’t easy for Chloe. She had also faced challenges, including hiring the right people and being uptown. Km Eight operates from 10 am to 9 pm and some of her staff had problems when going home since there were no modes of transportation by 7 pm and some also had problems going to work when the rain was pouring hard. Chloe had it resolved by having her staff stay in. Being a cafe located uptown has some challenges too in the business; it is not easily reached by those from Naga Proper unless they have a service or car since public transportation is also difficult in the area. There were times when the food traffic was not that strong, so she had to market the cafe properly since there was a time when their sales went down so, she relied on social media marketing. Also, cafes are everywhere in Naga, especially in downtown, so the competition was really high. This has made Chloe continuously improve Km Eight, not just its physical structure but also its service and the quality of coffee that they make.
With the expansion and improvement of Km Eight, a lot of money was invested for it. Chloe was thankful that she had relatives overseas who had invested in her business and pitched in for the expansion and improvement of the cafe. Moreso, she also added the total earnings of the business to start the renovations and to add some chairs, supplies, and equipment. She was able to manage the profits well because she made sure that the earnings of the business is not entirely hers but for the business itself to keep the cash flowing.
“Make sure yung pera sa business ay para sa business talaga. Dapat yung kinikita sa business, yun din yung gagamitin sa pag improve, pang bili ng supplies at may salaray din ako. Dun ko minamanage yung kailangan hindi magalaw kaya may sariling bank account yung business para sa funds na pumapasok dito,” shared Chloe. For her to manage the cash flow well, she treats herself as if she is not the owner. She have a separate bank account for herself and would just a lot a salary for herself every month like any other employee because if she will be acting and feel like the owner, she will continue to spend the money that they are earning.
Like any other business owner, Chloe also considered loaning in a bank for expansion. However, the number of requirements, documents, and high-interest rates have prevented her from doing so. She had put the thought aside, although she is still open to it in the future if she will be needing it. She’ll grab it if there’s a chance as long as she has the capacity to pay for it.
Starting with a low capital, Chloe was able to utilize the old structure of the hardware where Km Eight stands. Her machine still needs an upgrade, and she still looks for suppliers online offering low prices to keep the business going. But her small efforts eventually led to her making a mark in uptown Naga. There is a difference between seeing how far she has come and where she has started.
“I thought of a lot of things to further improve the cafe and I am inspired to do more to be better in what I do because, at the end of the day, it is how you make an impact.” She said. Chloe has been hands-on in managing the cafe and sometimes makes the orders herself since extra manpower is needed, especially when there are a lot of customers. She also admitted that having this kind of business is challenging but fulfilling for her because when she sees people are satisfied with the product that they serve, she get to have the motivation to keep getting better and manage it well so that she will not miss out on anything
Her advice to those aspiring to start a business, “Just start. When you start, you learn. Along the way, makukuha mo na rin lang yan. Wag ka maging perfectionist agad. Minsan kalaban natin and imposter syndrome saying, ‘what if hindi mag work?’ Pero what if mag work nga?”
Like Chloe, you might want to start your own business too, but sometimes we are afraid of the risks. But what if it works? Don’t you think that it is worth a shot? Hearing the word loan may make you feel intimidated as well, considering the requirements you have to meet. But you can put your worries to ease because at Bank of San Jose you can easily avail Negosyo Loan that is being granted to small and medium-scale enterprises with minimum requirements. As long as you have filled out the form, have 1 valid ID, Proof of Income, Medical Certificate, and Cedula, you can avail of a Negosyo Loan amounting to a minimum of P100,000 to P5,000,000 with a term of the loan from 1 to 5 years.
