Beauty content creator Teree Daisuke Castillon has just achieved a new milestone—he's now a business owner!
On Friday, October 18, 2024, Teree officially launches Tillo, his own lifestyle brand dedicated to hair accessories.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), TikTok PH's 2023 Beauty Creator of the Year shares more details about his latest business venture.
According to Teree, his brand embodies his identity as a beauty bestie.
He expounds, "Tillo is actually about sisterhood. It's your best friend. So parang... gusto ko makita nila, ng mga tao, ng mga consumers, si Tillo as me, yun talaga.
"So, as me as a content creator, as a beauty content creator.
"So, the products that we have here are mostly for like getting ready ng mga tools, beauty tools, like clips. Like yung suot ko ngayon. Ayan."
Teree adds, "And also talagang to make putting fun into functional. So hindi lang basta clip siya.
"It's something na ma-i-inspire ka to do your make-up, to start getting ready sa start ng day mo, yun ganon.
"Basta everything na gagawin mo, gusto namin na parang si Tillo nandiyan sa tabi mo.
Ganon."
For those curious, Tillo offers a variety of hair clips, headbands, and hair tools.
These products are available on Shopee and TikTok Shop, with prices ranging from PHP100 to PHP750.
TEREE DAISUKE: CREATING TILLO
Teree reveals that nearly a year was spent building his brand, thanks to the crucial support from his business partners, Paolo Salapatan and Aerol Dy.
"Actually, we started this... iniisip ko siya last year pala. Mga end of last year.
"Tapos, early this year naman, nakausap ko yung mga business partners ko. Nag-usap kami. Parang they proposed something... Ganyan.
"Tapos, nag-match lang yung gusto nilang mangyari."
But why name it Tillo?
He replies, "Basically, si Tillo is actually from my last name—Castillon. Kinuha ko lang siya doon."
PEP asks Teree why he chose hair accessories as the focus for his brand. With his reputation as a beauty creator, why not launch a line centered on make-up or skin care instead?
He shares that he wants to continue producing unbiased beauty content for years to come.
"Actually, pinag-isipan ko talaga ito nang mabuti. Kasi I know a lot of people would expect talaga na make-up line, skin-care line yung gagawin ko.
"Pero, inisip ko in 10 years ba, gusto ko ba ba makita sarili ko as a content creator? And my answer is yes.
"I started doing content. Nagwo-work ako before. May 9-to-5 ako. Pero, noong nag-start ako as a content creator, doon ko na-realize this is the job that I want."
Teree continues, "Nag-business ako kasi gusto ko lang ma-expand talaga yung, kumbaga yung knowledge ko about beauty.
"Pero, through naman dito sa mga tools na ito, gusto ko laging lang siyang parang support or parang kaakibat mo sa lahat ng bagay."
Teree mentions that he didn't struggle with finding an industry to enter apart from the beauty sector, as he is equally passionate about hair accessories, which he considers his own beauty bestie.
"Parang it makes sense din. Kasi lahat ng videos ko, lagi ako naka-clips. Lagi ako naka-headband.
"So, unconsciously... Yun yung gusto ko, e. Parang doon ko na-discover, unconsciously, 'Oo nga no. Parang ito lagi ko ginagamit.'
"Kasi kahit sabihin mo hindi ako mag-make-up, kunyare get ready with me ako ng fashion, mga damit.
"Lagi ako may headband. Lagi ako may clip. So, parang perfect talaga siya na brand or product or business for me."
TEREE DAISUKE: LEARNING FROM THE BUSINESS
As a novice entrepreneur, Teree has faced numerous challenges while establishing his brand.
Fortunately, he has a background in marketing.
"Actually, super challenging talaga siya, pero parang lagi ko siyang kinakabit sa pagiging content creator.
"Kasi ako, as a content creator, I am my own business. So, doon pa lang, parang medyo may idea na ako."
However, he still encountered significant hurdles, particularly in the operational aspects of building a business.
He says, "Siguro, in terms of technicalities ng business side, parang doon ako natututo ngayon sa mga mentors ko. Yun yung mga business partners ko.
"Wherein they teach me yung ins and outs ng pagbubuo ng business, pag-startup ng business.
"Kaya parang sa kanila pa lang, natututo na ako along the way. So, yung process talaga, yun na, para lang ako nag-aaral ngayon."
He adds, "Siyempre, yung operation side, yung paano ba ito, paano ba tumatakbo ang isang business? Yun yung inaaral ko ngayon, na I think, would also benefit me."
Having gone through these challenges, Teree advises future business owners to be hands-on with their ventures if they wish for their businesses to succeed.
He says, "Hindi puwedeng brand owner ka, [tapos] you don't know anything about the business, di ba?
"So, yun yung step by step lang, baby steps lang tayo. Eventually, hanggang sa matutunan ko talaga siya fully."
When asked about his future plans for Tillo, Teree already has plans of expanding his brand.
"Of course, siyempre, surprise lang muna ako sa mga collection, pero we plan a lot of collections na i-release namin soon.
"Ngayon talaga, focus lang namin is kung ano yung ginagamit ko sa content creator. But at least familiar yung mga tao, yung mga product na ito."
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