Starting a business while juggling motherhood and a career is no easy feat. It demands not only passion and the drive to succeed but also the courage to tackle the obstacles that lie ahead. For Wilma Daga, the full-time mom and entrepreneur behind Le Vourge Scents, the secret to success lies in her strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Originally an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), Wilma had decided to return home to the Philippines to start a business with her husband. Investing their hard-earned savings in a promising food franchise, the couple ventured into the world of business filled with hope and optimism. “After four years, I went home for good in late 2019. My husband and I decided, mag stay na lang ako sa Philippines, para di na ako mag work and mag-business na lang so I can stay close with my first child”, Wilma recalls.

Their aspirations were dashed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and disrupted businesses across the Philippines, including their own that was just about to start. Despite this setback, Wilma did not back down and decided to look for new ideas to start a business during those challenging times which also brought a new family member, her second child.

From buying and selling clothes online to starting a perfume business, Wilma is now the proud owner of Le Vourge Scents, a name that means “The Kind”. Armed with only a small capital and a lot of research gathered online, Wilma was able to receive training on how to make perfumes in the French-style and sell her perfumes made of high-quality fragrance oils sourced from France. 

The main challenge for her less-than-a-year-old business was gaining trust for her perfume brand. “Pag perfume mahirap ibenta. Paano ko ibebenta ang isang perfume na hindi naman nila naamoy kasi nga online, wala akong physical store. How do I market these? (Perfumes are hard to sell, especially online, without a physical store that allows customers to smell the scents),” Daga realized.

Le Vourge Scents’ owner found a way to get the word around by letting families, friends, and vloggers sample her perfumes. She steadily gained trust for her quality perfumes as she asked for reviews and posted them on her page. Her major marketing breakthrough came when she joined last year’s Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) Christmas Bazaar.

Reflecting on her participation in the MMPH Christmas Bazaar, Wilma’s eyes light up with excitement as she recalls the overwhelming support she received for her products.

“Grabe, sobrang hindi ko talaga siya in-expect. Bago pa lang ako, wala pa kong idea. First bazaar ko lang talaga ‘yun…Ang dala ko lang doon na bottle is parang 100 bottles lang. Ganun lang siya kasi hindi ko masyadong in-expect na ang daming bibili, ang daming magugustuhan yung product. Tapos naubusan ako ng dala doon sa PLDT office. Sobra akong natuwa kasi hindi ko in-expect na ganoon nila susuportahan yung business ko. So sobrang proud din ako kasi alam ko na maganda talaga yung product,” Wilma said.

Wilma’s efforts are paying off and she is witnessing the growth of her family business.

“Mas nakikilala na yung products ko. Mas marami na rin akong repeat buyers ngayon! Dati pa isa-isang bottle lang, ngayon sa isang buwan nakaka-hundred plus ako na bottles,” Wilma proudly shares. 

Today, she balances the demands of her work-from-home full-time job and her home life with two kids as she runs her thriving business online. 

Wilma, like most mothers, practices multi-tasking. She switches between her e-commerce daily job and her own business’ needs. She has also engaged her family members to help with the small enterprise. She creates her perfumes at night when the children are already asleep. “Time management, determination, and commitment – these are what I needed as a working mom with a toddler and an almost-teenage child,” states Daga.

As she takes each step forward on her entrepreneurial journey, Wilma does so with the knowledge that she is not alone. She is supported by a community of fellow mothers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who understand the unique challenges she faces and stand ready to offer their support and encouragement.

Wilma is part of Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH), an online community of moms and entrepreneurs like her who support each other to start and grow their businesses from home while spending time with their families.

She shares this tip for fellow mompreneurs: “Pag gusto mo maraming paraan, pag ayaw mo maraming dahilan. Ang mindset dapat: kapag kaya nya, kaya ko rin.”

With her business steadily expanding, Wilma is setting her sights on opening the first physical store for Le Vourge Scents.

Wilma’s journey is proof that trial and error is a big part of starting one’s business, demonstrating that resilience and determination will ultimately lead to success despite the challenges.