NU 6: Iloilo Road Ads Standardization - minimizing eyesore by Christian Rafael

NU 6: Iloilo Road Ads

by: Christian Rafael

Regis MBA Iloilo

What pisses me off about the main highways in Iloilo is the fact that they are constantly bombarded with ads, but more so on ads that add more eye sore rather than beautify the city. Ads about the events happening in the city are great and promotes the city, but i believe it can promote better if the local government can standardise these ads. Its as simple as 3 steps

1. come up with a plan which areas / roads / highways are usually requested for ad postings. I feel that if they dont know where i suggest 2 streets only - Diversion Road up to the Airport and General Luna up to the Atrium Mall. 

2. decide on a standard and force all ads to be "that size". We usually see these ads on a bi monthly basis and usually, about 90% of them are of the same size more or less, what is stopping them from enforcing a standard

3. fabricate banner holders according to the standard set, this way ads will be forced to be on standard sizes, and will not be an eyesore. Considering that fabrication of these is about 10 times the price of an ordinary bamboo (temporary holder) with Labor cost. This can easily pay for it self in less than a year, considering that these ads come out every 2 weeks

I understand the Local Government of Iloilo will be implementing a "No Billboard" rule on Diversion Road in 2015, i think this will be a great addition to minimize distractions on the road and at the same time still promote the city  4

NU 6: Acoustic Lounge by Christian Rafael

NU 6: Acoustic Lounge

by: Christian Rafael

Regis MBA Iloilo

Back when i was still in college and even after college, i have always wanted to have a restaurant where i can hangout to with my friends and family that offers great food. One of the things that stop me in doing this is when i realize that most of those restaurants dont really last longer than 5 years, others are forced to do renovations, rename, rebrand etc that makes this industry one of the most highly competitive industries not just in the Philippines but in the world. One differentiation idea came to me was bringing in a live band with a twist. I have always believe that in a restaurant, the core product should always be the food, the quality of it and the experience comes next, but i saw that most restaurant have it the other way. 

The idea is to bring in a surprise mini concert every once in a while probably 4 times a month at random, may it be a weekday or a weekend with just decent sounds (system) and basic instrument setup (acoustic guitar, grand piano, bongos etc) but by great bands like Eraserheads, Rivermaya, Urbandub etc. Iloilo would be more than happy with these bands but eventually bring in international bands that were visiting the country

Signing local bands can be cheapen if you only ask them to play 4 - 6 songs. This also works great for you so as to keep your core which is your food at the center rather than overshadowing it with the entertainment, more so if you are signing foreign bands

Another way to compensate for the lack of songs is to ask these bands to make a "lounge version" of their hits. relaxed, simply, jam like versions of their hits, where people may be able to still sing it but would rather hear these new versions.

With these mini concerts, basic video coverage with 2 cameras can also be requested from the artist. Uploading them on youtube.com can be a great way to advertise the restaurant

With these concerts happening on a regular but random basis, customers will see to it that they dine out in your restaurant in the hopes of spotting famous bands, even foreign ones, but will be more than happy to enjoy your great food  3

NU6: at UI MBA Regis Tablets for Iloilo Taxi

NU 6: Taxi Ads

by: Christian Rafael

Regis MBA Iloilo

Competition in the Taxi Transport in the Philippines is getting fiercer everyday with a lot of fly by night taxi services being offered, and i thought that its high time that a taxi service differentiate it self buy bringing ads to its customers, to make it sound better, customers will be given information about the city or events that will happen in a week or new restaurants that are opening and other stuff. With the advent of electronics getting cheaper and cheaper everyday, taxi companies will be able to equip their cars with tablets and bring value to their customers

The tablet will open a whole new world for operators especially here in Iloilo where the city is slowly becoming a commercial hum for Western Visayas but for Visayas as a whole. 

Tablets will be able to do the following

1. keep customers informed of the route so as to minimise confusion

2. inform customers with events in Iloilo through ads, and by doing so generating additional income for the operator

3. give customers a chance to relax despite being in a traffic situation, as the City of Iloilo continues to grow, the traffic problem needs to be solve and this can be a solution for the customers of the Taxi Company

a tablet can be had for about 5,000 pesos and cheaper ones are also available. If a Taxi Company will be contracting an advertising venture with a certain business for a very low price of P70 per ad, per day, the tablet will be paid for in less than 3 months, Plus with the options of tracking your route, customers will more than likely prefer having that rather than non, even if you dont need it

With more to offer and having the same fare rates, the Taxi Co will be able to attract more customers and bring in more profits by differentiating with very minimal 4

NU6 at UI AGSB by Christian Rafael -Calle Real Walk

NU 6: Calle Real Walk

by: Christian Rafael

Regis MBA Iloilo

The "Calle Real Walk" has been the new venue for places to see here in Iloilo, attracting locals and tourists alike. It has hosted a few grand activities like a full orchestra concerts, magic shows and a lot more. People seemed to be thrilled with all of the activities that take place in the area, but taking all of that, there really isn't much else in "Calle Real Walk" now that will force people to stay and make it a destination rather than a venue, and i feel that there is a need to market it into something 

3 suggestions

Add more activities to make it a destination

- a food destination, with lots of coffee shops, and restaurants to entice people to have meetings there, a hangout place for friends to chat. I think for this to be successful, they need to market "Calle Real Walk" as a place to hangout and meet friends, colleagues and family rather than a "place you go to because there is a concert". The point here really is to make the activities they had so far as incidental rather than highlight that as the main event.

- ask main stay restaurants in the area to put up tables on streets. Restaurants like Robertos, Jollibee, Mang Inasal etc, there are plenty of historic restaurants there as well that could bring value to the whole "Calle Real Walk"

Artists and "Culture" Promotion 

- Iloilo is full of artists that dont really have a venue to show case their work, may it be paintings, sculptures or to something more dynamic like small live bands, or ballet dancers. This will also bring impression to tourist how much dynamism there is here in Iloilo City

Advertise Heavily

- Website

     - there is no current website that updates people on what is happening in Calle Real Walk, and the get more information about it. Searching the internet, it seems that its only the local bloggers that are putting information about it in the internet, and its not always enough, especially for a project like this. Putting up a website may be the most cost efficient advertising they can make, considering that aside from the locals, their main target are tourists

- Billboards

     - with considerations for budget, it think the Local Government should atleast study and look into putting up a billboard, preferably coming from the airports or ferry ports, just to inform tourists that there is such a thing as a "Calle Real Walk" here in Iloilo

- Flyers (at ports eg airports, ferry ports and bus terminals)

     - "flyering" could be very effective especially in this season where a lot of OFWs are going home and that a lot of tourists are coming. Targeting the airports, ferry ports and bus terminals could greatly increase the awareness of people coming and living in Iloilo  4