In general, shopping is no longer a taxing job for most of us. With just a click, we can already enjoy what we want without leaving our homes. While online shopping is really convenient, noting beats personal shopping. That's mainly because you get to see the product first hand. For instance, if you are looking for specific clothing, you get to feel its fabric and check the product's durability. Not to mention its quality and its fit towards your body size.
Such is what I and my good friend Jireh believe in common. Jireh, whom I call Jin, is now an owner of a fashion brand called
Rampa PH. From its humble beginnings of providing convenient shopping experience through various platforms, Rampa finally has its own physical store which is located at the recently-opened
Ayala Malls Central Bloc.
I visited Jin's jam-packed store on its grand opening day where we had a chit-chat about her brand - how it came to be, what motivates her to expand, and her future goals as a young and modern entrepreneur.
Before diving into Rampa, I feel that I have to tell you something briefly about Jireh. Jireh and I know each other for quite some time. We've been friends since the 5th grade where we also first met. I remember that her family moved somewhere in the Visayas before settling down in Cebu. Jin and I remained friends in high school and expanded our circle of friends since we also go to the same high school. During college, we seldom meet because we no longer attend the same university. However, we didn't lose contact since most of our high school classmates still gather together. Reunions - as we call it though they weren't that formal. If there's something I know about Jin is that she's one of the most generous person I know even when we were still kids. I remember she would often buy something for the class to share.
Fast forward, I'm thankful and happy that my good friend is now thriving and doing well in life. Aside from being a full-time entrepreneur, Jireh is also a full-time mom and a wife. Isn't she a superwoman?
Where It All Started
Rampa is a noun which directly translates to English as a catwalk or a leisurely walk. The brand started five years ago and has been slowly expanding ever since. It all started with Jireh's love for fashion. She is a huge fashionista at heart who loves experimenting with her looks and expressing herself through her #ootds.
As such, she also loves browsing through different shopping platforms where she buys trendy items of clothing. Jireh later found a shop that directly supplies fashion accessories and perfumes - other things her heart craves for. An idea came into her mind that it would be a good thing if she could also share her love for trendy yet affordable clothing to other women. From accessories and perfumes, Jireh started selling women's clothes.
She does everything through online selling with the help of social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram. Various fashion bazaars invited her for pop up stores and eventually this month, Rampa opened its first physical store in one of the major malls in the city.
Styles & Sources
Jireh personally handpicks and shops for all the items that come out of her shop. She regularly travels to Manila to meet with her direct suppliers which are often coming from Thailand - one of the biggest mass producers of fashion items of clothing in the SouthEastAsia to date. The most important things when shopping for clothes according to Jin is the following: the cloth used, the stitches, and the style.
Security & Risks
Just like any thriving business, Rampa has its own share of security issues and risks. There were stealing incidents that took place and some items that were damaged. Gracefully, the brand was able to overcome it all and has solid plans on how to prevent future incidents, especially in their newly-opened physical store.
#Goals
Like any other entrepreneur, Jireh seeks to expand her brand and possibly open more physical stores in the near future!
Current Favorites
Just as I am expecting, Jireh's favorite colors and outfit ensemble this season are peaches or any pastel color combinations. Her style often changes with her mood and with what's vogue in the fashion world.
Rampa does not only offer clothes - but it also has various accessories ranging from earrings, necklaces, and sunglasses.
Rampa also sells trendy tops and shorts for men. There are so many playful prints and colors to love in the men's section.
Proud that my friend also sells eco-friendly products on her shops such as metal and bamboo straws!
Unlike other fashion stores, Rampa has its own chic fitting room!
Various makeup items are also up for grabs at Rampa. I love their castor which I am religiously using as of the moment. Fingers crossed - I am going to write a review about it soon!
Pearl hair clips and oversized earrings are so "in" these days, right? I love the heart-shaped ones from Rampa!
I am more than proud of what Jireh has achieved. If you are still racking your brains on what to give to your manito or manita this Christmas season, Rampa is the best place to go for affordable and trendy fashion finds.
Find out more about Rampa PH here. Images by yours truly. Rampa PH's first physical store is located at 2nd floor Trading Bloc, Ayala Malls Central Bloc, IT Park, Cebu City, Philippines.
