<strong>Product</strong> Name: Coco Fiber <strong>Product</strong> Name: Coco Peat <strong>Product</strong> Name: Charcoal Briquettes DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VII <strong>Product</strong> <strong>Catalogue</strong> 2011 38
MODS S.A. Phils. Inc. Decoration Furniture From The South Scanning the pages <strong>of</strong> an issue <strong>of</strong> a MacKenzie-Childs Ltd., Mail Order Magazine-<strong>Catalogue</strong>, some <strong>of</strong> the items that catches one’s attention are the following: an attractive, well-designed Bossa Nova Bombay Chest worth $5,000; a matching Bossa Nova Mirror costing $2,500; a Pet Palace for $3,400; a beautifully decorated Child’s Rocking Chair prized at $485; and, a Carriage Lantern for $350. All the components <strong>of</strong> these products are custom-made in a factory in Barangay Canamucan, Compostela, Cebu, Philippines, accessorized and sold at MacKenzie-Childs Ltd., Aurora, New York, USA. “It took one year to develop MacKenzie-Childs Ltd., make the sample and have it approved and pass the three tests <strong>of</strong> Bureau Veritas, an international Testing Lab. ” That’s how Engr. Romeo L. Toledo, a Chemical Engineer and owner <strong>of</strong> MODS S.A. PHILS. INC., described the tedious process that they had to undergo to become the first and only supplier <strong>of</strong> MacKenzie-Childs Ltd. MODS S.A. PHILS. INC. is an export manufacturer specializing initially in custom-made stone furniture designed for everyday living and later, furniture made <strong>of</strong> wood. The company got its name from an original buyer <strong>of</strong> stone tables in Europe whose main outlet is MODS France, UK and Germany. Since exclusive distributorship is desired, the same name was used. MODS is derived from a French word meaning Muebles Decoracion Du Sud. In English, this means Decoration Furniture from the South. This arrangement started in 1998 and ended three years later when the original buyer closed shop. That was the end <strong>of</strong> stone made furniture and tables. This development was a great blow to MODS. “The company would have been closed without <strong>DOST</strong>,” Engr. Toledo reminisced. The woodworking needs <strong>of</strong> the company were assessed and in 2003, MODS applied for <strong>SET</strong>-<strong>UP</strong> assistance. 39 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VII <strong>Product</strong> <strong>Catalogue</strong> 2011 The assistance enabled the company to purchase a router pneumatic overhead, heavy duty band saw, thickness planer, and radial saw, necessary equipment to meet the high quality standards and accurate delivery time demanded by its customer. It was at this time that MODS had MacKenzie-Childs as its regular customer. The orders from MacKenzie-Childs alone, which came in quarterly, provided growth and pr<strong>of</strong>itability for MODS. Business was doing well for MODS for the next five to six years until the recession in the US happened. What originally were considered as regular orders became irregular. Since the local market was untapped, the company was caught unprepared for this development. MODS experienced another batch <strong>of</strong> difficult years until Engr. Toledo met a friend in the shipping industry. Refurbishing the boats <strong>of</strong> Lite Ferry 11 and 15 meant making new wooden bed bunks. This was the break needed to resuscitate the company. This event signaled the start <strong>of</strong> taking a serious look at the potential <strong>of</strong> the local market. MODS now supplies the tables and chairs <strong>of</strong> some restaurants and pension houses in Cebu and Mandaue. It also furnishes some custom-designed beds, tables and chairs <strong>of</strong> some affluent families in Cebu. While orders still come from MacKenzie-Childs, local orders constitute 50% <strong>of</strong> what is manufactured. Despite the lows experienced in the business, the Chemical Engineer who started as a paint chemist and who pioneered the use <strong>of</strong> non-toxic paints in furniture in Cebu, has much to thank for. While some <strong>of</strong> his colleagues who were even bigger than him in the furniture industry closed shop, he has survived. MODS S.A. Phils. Inc. Cebu City Engr. Romeo L. Toledo General Manager / Owner Tel No: (63)(32)316 1068 Telefax: (63)(32) 425 8306 Email: asfcebu@gmail.com