Shirley Ecot

Going Nuts

If you’ve ever had anyone go to San Carlos in Negros Occidental, one of the most probable “pasalubongs” from the trip would be baked or garlic peanuts, considered one of their specialties now. Perhaps you may have even come across these treats in Pasalubong Centers around the city. As one munches through the peanuts, from the noticeable packaging of the item, you may be scoffing through “Fritzie’s Baked Peanuts.”

Shirley Libunao-Ecot is the owner and head of operations of Fritzie’s peanuts, one of the fastest selling peanut products in the local market today. Looking back, nobody would have thought then that a young sales lady in a bakery in Cebu would become one of the trendsetters of pasalubong entrepreneurs. But Shirley always knew that she would get into business, a passion indoctrinated each day while growing up with her mother who taught and trained her that going into any business, no matter how small is better than being an employee.

Twenty years ago, Shirley met her husband Alexander Ecot through the same bakery. They fell in love and soon after married in 1989. Luckily, Alexander also believed that it is better to own a business. They both quit their jobs and went on to become vendors. Their first venture started out very small – selling cigarettes in the streets of Cebu. They would buy cigarettes in bulk in as much as their capital would allow them to and go out to sell these in the streets. With their income, they would continue to buy more in bulk. After some time, they would have add-ons like candies and peanuts.

Shirley realized that the drivers and passersby would choose to buy the peanuts as compared to the candies so she learned how to cook these peanuts herself. From the small income that they earned, she and her husband looked for a wholesaler of raw peanuts. Having their own salted peanuts, they went out to peddle it and saw the potential of earning better as compared to selling the cooked peanuts from a supplier. Because of the increase in sales and patronizing customers, the Ecots had to produce more peanuts and work harder until Shirley got pregnant. It was then that the couple decided to go home to San Carlos, Shirley’s hometown.

In San Carlos, the couple got a small stall in the local wet market and continued to sell peanuts. Needing more capital, the couple approached  loan sharks who charged steep interest rates. Without any choice, they went ahead with the loan and used the money to supply a “rolling store” for their peanuts, the very first used in their city. Experimenting on cooking skinless salted peanuts and grease-less peanuts, the small enterprise was working out for the couple. Unfortunately, they could not keep up with the high interest rates.

In 2002, a new door of opportunity opened up for the husband and wife team. With Project Dungganon’s microfinance program of offering loans without any collateral that can be paid on a weekly basis, Shirley and Alexander decided to avail of the loan offered by Project Dungganon once they have completed their payment with the lending entity. For Shirley, this was one of the best decisions they have ever made. It changed the high interest rates.

With the first loan, they were able to buy cooking materials and a second oven because of the growing demand for their peanuts. The couple kept managing their budding business as if it were their own child. Being blessed with only one child, a daughter named Fritzie, the time spent on cooking, delivering and devising new ways to sell peanuts, became part of the family routine. Also, bigger loan amounts were being entrusted to the couple because of their good repayment.

With the innovation of high technology, Shirley used the mobile phone as a means to become more easily accessible to clients that contributed to the significant growth of their orders. Since the business was expanding, they decided to brand their products by using their daughter’s name – Fritzie’s. Soon, Fritzie’s peanuts became a household name.

When they had enough money and a bigger loan, the couple purchased more than five hectares of land for planting and constructed a house with a big stock room built beside it. Although life has been very promising for the Ecots, trials and disasters were no stranger to them. One day, their house burnt down.

Shirley and Alexander picked up the pieces that they could salvage from the fire and moved on. Despite this dent in their business, they continued to work twice as much in order to recover their losses. Faith, hard work and determination made it possible for them to purchase an additional land from a person who was in need of money. With seven hectares of farming land, they now had their own peanut and corn plantation. From the aftermath of the fire, a new kind of light burned. It was a light that told the couple their work was not in vain.

In just a few year, Fritzie’s Peanuts had a steady stream of customers. With their business booming, in spite of the disaster, it has certified the strength of the name and the foundation of the enterprise. To have been able to reach this level of marketing is in itself a feat worth even more than the financial reward that one may attain.

Shirley and Alexander built this business together, raised their daughter together and enjoyed every moment of it through sickness and in health. They did everything together.

In February of 2008, Alexander Ecot passed away. Shirley never imagined that in a short span of two decades after getting married, it would just be her and the business. She had to continue without him and maybe, someday, what used to be “they” or “we” between Shirley and Alexander can now be shared with her only daughter. Although a look of grief is still very fresh on Shirley’s face, it will take some time for her to move on.

“My life has to go on. I have to make good now, more than ever, for our child and for Alexander,” Shirley said.

Shirley has asked Fritzie to join her once she has graduated from Accountancy. however, Fritzie, just like her mother, has bigger dreams. She feels that the peanut business is too small for both of them. Shirley, who never gives up, has challenged her to build and expand it into something better. Although she would never force her daughter to work on the peanut business, she is still hoping that Fritzie would join her someday.

At present, Shirley was able to avail of a P120,000 loan from Project Dungganon. She would like to use the money for expansion by making more products and opening more branches, a dream she feels she can fulfill in the next years to come. It took something as small as a peanut for Shirley and Alexander to go nuts and become big in San Carlos City.