Amid the health crisis, Filipinos sought comfort from this unifier: food. Chef wannabes and food enthusiasts whipped up signature dishes, searched for and shared recipes, and posted their creations online. Thanks to this trend, Gourdo’s, a family-owned local houseware store, is thriving and surviving still.
The journey wasn’t easy, but the pent-up demand for food helped Gourdo’s serve its purpose for their customers.
From palate exploration to business innovation
While cooped up at home, many people tried new recipes, cleared spice racks, took out pots and pans, and put them to good use. Palate exploration picked up at the height of the pandemic, bringing food trends like baked sushi, dalgona coffee, and more.
The craving for palate exploration was at an all-time high, so Gourdo’s stepped in—and stepped up. With the demand for cooking & other home essentials, the specialty store adapted to suit the needs of consumers who found joy in the art of cooking.
Susan San Miguel, General Manager of Gourdo’s Inc., shares that Gourdo’s searches the world to bring [to Filipinos] the best in cooking, entertaining, and relaxation at home.
Gourdo’s is a specialty store not just for kitchenware and tableware—it’s also a great source for bed & bath essentials. Catering to a varied customer base, the store’s products range from the most basic to the hard-to-find kitchen tools, with the guarantee of good quality at affordable prices.
Fulfilling needs to satisfy cravings
Doing everything online is one of the adjustments Gourdo’s made during the pandemic. According to San Miguel, their team had to exert more effort into their online platforms and social media presence, to better reach their customers in need of their product selection and services virtually.
Apart from their website, customers can now also shop for Gourdo’s products via Lazada, Shopee, and Zalora. Since customers are all about practicality and convenience, they also added delivery and payment options for consumers to choose from.
To better support its growing digital sales efforts, Gourdo’s also looked at expanding their customer service team to offer phone-in orders, and to address social media queries and other customer concerns.
For customers who still prefer in-store shopping, San Miguel explains that they made sure to implement the necessary safety measures in all of their store locations, complying with mall requirements and regularly conducting store sanitation.
For the love of local businesses
Apart from the love for food, the love for local businesses is equally vital to economic recovery. To help local businesses like Gourdo’s get back up, BDO and American Express have collaborated to bring the Shop Small movement in the Philippines. By supporting local businesses, American Express Cardmembers can get up to 5x Rewards*. The offer applies to every purchase made at participating Shop Small merchants using BDO-issued American Express Cards up until August 31, 2021.
Gourdo’s is just one of over 1,000 merchant locations, ranging from specialty stores to restaurants and retail shops. A variety of rewards, like gift certificates, gadgets, appliances, air miles, and more, can be redeemed for every rewards point accumulated.
Ignite your love for food and create your palate’s desires with Gourdo’s quality kitchen essentials. Support local with Shop Small and make a difference.
For more information, visit americanexpress.com.ph today.
Article and Photo originally posted by Inquirer last June 29, 2021, 7:00am.
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