GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- Trade Promotions Officers (TPO) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 12 recently benefited from the agency's one-day training on visual merchandizing, which aimed to equip TPOs with the knowledge and skills to effectively help showcase the products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) that are considered the backbone of local economy.  

DTI 12 Regional Director Flora Politud-Gabunales explained the rationale why it was very important for the TPOs to have a “working knowledge on visual merchandizing,” saying they are the ones assisting MSMEs or the entrepreneurs on how to ensure that they capture the attention of the public through products display and presentation they are mounting in stores and trade exhibits.

She further explained that by making the display more eye-catching, it will rouse the interest of the public to engage with the entrepreneurs and may actually buy the products they are pitching in those significant events.

More improved products display will lead to more purchases of the products, and thus help MSMEs generate more sales and income for their businesses, the official said.

Gabunales was also hopeful that the effort will propel some of the MSME products to be recognized and be sold internationally. 

General Santos City-based entrepreneur Rain Ramas, who has vast exposure in visual merchandising for international brands and creative design and marketing, served as resource speaker for the activity.

The training was also in preparation for the conduct of the Treasure of Region 12 Trade Fair in General Santos City in November, which the DTI 12 holds annually to provide MSMEs with the venue to showcase and promote their products not only in Soccsksargen Region but also to the world.

The Treasure of Region XII is not only a promotion of the many bountiful harvests that the region has been endowed with but also a celebration of people’s unity and resiliency amid cultural diversity and challenges.  (CTA, PIA SarGen/With reports from DTI 12)