Final Might of this yr, we had been invited to the thirty fifth marriage ceremony anniversary celebration of a pricey pal. The celebration was going to be held in Tagaytay Metropolis, a well-liked vacation spot within the Philippines which is about slightly over sixty kilometers south of Manila. Identified for its cool local weather, Tagaytay sits on a ridge above the Taal Volcano island providing an expansive view of the lively volcano inside a lake.
Due to the placement and for the reason that celebration was going to be within the night, my spouse and I made a decision to e-book a spot for ourselves for the evening in order that we didn’t should make the sixty plus kilometer trek again to Manila after the festivities.
We’ve heard earlier than of Sonya’s Secret Backyard® positioned in Alfonso, Cavite, however we’ve by no means had the possibility to truly go there. We realized that it’s solely round eighteen minutes away from the marriage anniversary venue, so for this event, we discovered the right excuse to lastly strive it out for an in a single day keep.
Once we arrived in Sonya’s Secret Backyard® final Might 20, 2023, it didn’t take lengthy for me to comprehend that this model was each uniquely positioned and in addition executed in a wonderful manner.
As quickly as you arrive on the entrance, you’re instantly greeted by very useful and pleasant workers and the refreshing scent of important oils coming from its memento store close to the doorway, and in a really actual sense, each your physique and soul are transported right into a world that could be very completely different from one’s regular hustle and bustle setting within the metropolis. I instantly sensed that we had been up for a particular deal with for the weekend. However sporting my ‘Branding Nerd’ hat, I additionally sensed that I used to be witnessing first-hand one other sensible Filipino model up shut and private.
The Uncommon Model Founder
The model’s founder, Sonya Garcia, revealed in a 2021 interview that she actually had no marketing strategy for Sonya’s Secret Backyard® in the beginning. She was a dissatisfied (even depressed) ex-banker who merely wished to recreate her grandmother’s backyard which is paying homage to less complicated days and joyful reminiscences for her. “I look again, and I mentioned I believe I want to copy my grandma’s backyard the place I used to be most comfortable,” mentioned Sonya in a 2022 interview. It wasn’t suppose to be a enterprise enterprise. Subsequently, I’m assuming that she had no model positioning assertion to talk of, a lot much less a completely developed model structure plan.
Till the yr 1998, the model remained merely a ‘secret backyard‘ of Sonya. A private sanctuary that she created for her personal private wellness.
However unbeknownst to Sonya, that singular idea of a spot that would assist uplift each the physique and soul would show to be a compelling basis on which a novel and thriving enterprise can be constructed upon.
The First Paying Buyer
The model traces its sudden industrial roots from a easy love story.
Because it says in its web site, “All of it started with a declaration of affection. Amidst the verdant and flower-laden backyard, with nothing however thick hibiscus shrubs and romantic hydrangeas as witnesses, the younger man knelt on one knee earlier than the girl and requested her if she can be his sweetheart. She replied with a single-minded “Sure!” And what higher technique to have a good time the overflowing of the center than with the filling of the stomach? Dinner needed to be served! The desk was draped with high quality embroidered linen and laden with freshly picked lettuce and arugula, sweet-fleshed mangoes, pineapples, and different fruits in season, and an array of dips and sauces for drizzling over salads and pasta.
It was an explosion of flavors and emotions.”
In accordance with Sonya, this couple was the model’s official first ‘paying buyer’, upon the urging of her associates. ‘You need to begin charging friends,’ her associates inspired.
This love story, this explosion of flavors and emotions, uplifting for each the physique and soul, marked the start of what the model exclaims as “the general public’s love affair with Sonya’s Backyard.”
Model Positioning
Every time I examine a model for this weblog, I at all times have a look at two key areas. First, how is the model positioned available in the market, and second, how has it executed this model positioning throughout the three main phases of its model structure, i.e. model technique, model identification and model advertising and marketing.
Within the case of Sonya’s Secret Backyard®, if I had been to assemble its model positioning assertion, I’d take inspiration from the phrases of one in all its excessive profile friends, Mary Grace Dimacali (of Mary Grace Café fame) who’s quoted within the model’s web site whereby she mentioned: “Our go to to your haven was actually an uplifting time – good for the physique and soul.”
So, simply primarily based on its present enterprise mannequin, I’d think about that the model’s positioning assertion would learn one thing like this:
“Sonya’s Secret Backyard® is a refreshingly distinctive and idyllic haven, the one one in all its sort in Alfonso, Cavite, which uplifts each physique and soul due to its cozy, stress-free and rustic lodging amidst a lush and sprawling backyard, wholesome and natural farm-to-table dishes, big range of wellness companies, unhurried and extremely pleasant customer support, and all-natural and sustainable merchandise.“
Right this moment, the model has efficiently grow to be a pure extension of the non-public mission of the founder for herself which she is now providing for everybody else by the assorted touch-points of the model.
Execution of the Model Positioning
As I at all times inform my college students in The Model Structure course, a model’s positioning, whereas foundational and the start line of any brand-building endeavor, just isn’t what the goal buyer finally experiences. Somewhat, it’s the assorted model touch-points (aka model advertising and marketing combine) that can finally decide the singular idea of a model that it’ll personal within the thoughts of its goal clients.
And as I at all times emphasize, the important thing to the execution of the model advertising and marketing combine (aka 6 P’s) is each cohesion (every aspect working harmoniously with the others forming a united complete) and consistency (requirements are maintained on an ongoing foundation).
Sustaining the Model through Fixed Innovation
Within the third module of The Model Structure course, the idea of customer-centric innovation throughout the model advertising and marketing combine is the principle focus of the dialogue.
It’s exactly fixed innovation by the model throughout the 6 P’s of the advertising and marketing combine which permits a model to stay present, related and recent within the eyes of its goal market. Within the course, I at all times pose the query to my college students: “Does Starbucks® really feel like a fifty two yr previous model?” (because it was based again in 1971). And the response from my members is at all times a powerful ‘No!‘ And that is exactly as a result of the model has continued to innovate throughout the 6 P’s that are primarily based on buyer insights gained by each qualitative and quantitative means regularly.
Within the case of Sonya’s Secret Backyard®, in the course of the previous twenty 5 years of its operations, it has executed innovation upon innovation inside its 2.5-hectare haven. And primarily based on anecdotes from associates who’ve been there a number of instances, it’s clear that the model at all times provides a brand new expertise in succeeding visits which is a testomony to its dedication to innovation, for the advantage of its clients and stakeholders.
However the important thing to innovation is ‘focus‘. And by this, I imply, a relentless focus solely on improvements that construct the positioning of the model.
I’d like to focus on two distinctive improvements that Sonya’s Secret Backyard executed previously years, particularly, ‘Social Fencing‘ and ‘3-Day Grasp Class on Built-in Natural Farming’.
Social Fencing
In a 2022 characteristic on Tzu Chi Philippines, it was written that: “Sonya’s holistic method to her farm just isn’t restricted to simply the meals she grows, or the pure life-style she advocates. She takes it a step additional by hiring solely locals from the neighborhood, for all the jobs in Sonya’s Backyard. ‘My persons are a part of this place, they’re stakeholders,’ she famous, ‘we don’t want to rent folks to guard this place, I name that ‘social fencing’. For example, the therapeutic massage therapists she employs, and different well being and wellness professionals, had been all skilled, from the start, at Sonya’s Backyard. All through the years, in her make use of, lots of her folks had been capable of construct their very own properties and ship their children to high school to achieve success. ‘For me, that’s success, my success,’ she says, ‘they’re comfortable right here, as a result of they will thrive.’ For Sonya, the locals she employs are a part of the land, and a part of the concord that makes Sonya’s Backyard the idyllic place it’s.“
This characteristic highlights a give attention to a ‘folks innovation‘ that could be very a lot according to constructing its perceived positioning of uplifting the physique and soul. Clearly, the individuals who work with the model are doubtless uplifted by one of these organizational improvement technique employed by the model.
3-Day Grasp Class on Built-in Natural Farming
This grasp class was developed and is performed personally by Sonya herself. The newest one was held final June 5 to 7, 2023.
As said within the model’s web site, highlights of the grasp class embrace:
– Pure Farming Methods
– Land and Seeds Propagations
– Nursery and Plant Transplanting
– Composting Strategies
– The Position of Indigenous Microorganisms for Sustainable Surroundings
– The way to Make your Personal Natural Fertilizers
– Natural Greens and Herbs Propagation
– Pests and Bugs Identification
– Natural Pest Administration
– Product Improvement and Improvements
– Sensible Functions for 3 Days
I have to say, that is very spectacular natural farming content material developed by an ex-banker!
That is additionally very a lot aligned with Sonya’s Secret Backyard®’s model persona of being inclusive even with competitors. A grasp class makes a lot sense as an academic providing, even for the model’s rivals. In a 2021 interview, she was requested about competitors within the space and she or he says that she’s truly thrilled if she’s capable of encourage (she doesn’t wish to say ‘being copied by’) different entrepreneurs within the space to construct one thing comparable for the reason that model could be very a lot into uplifting the lives of individuals. She says that extra competitors will truly uplift extra lives by extra employment alternatives and extra.
However that is precisely how ‘focus‘ appears like when constructing a model. It’s these sorts of deep-dive forms of improvements that matter that are very a lot aligned with the singular idea that the model is working to ascertain itself on and personal within the minds of its goal clients. However the secret’s that improvements should at all times be aligned with the model positioning in order that by time, the possession of the idea turns into stronger and deeper.
These are simply two examples from a protracted checklist of improvements executed by the model by the years. And similar to Sonya’s Secret Backyard® and Starbucks®, my encouragement to model house owners is that there are a myriad of the way to innovate throughout the model advertising and marketing combine. The model simply wants to stay targeted, cohesive and constant.
We’d love to listen to from you!
In case you want to ask for extra details about this weblog or different methods for Branding Nerd to be of assist, please be at liberty to go away us a message by utilizing the easy type under. Thanks for being right here!