Dani Barretto is amazed by the rapid growth of her business, Wellness Whispers, over the past few months.
At the grand launch in August 2024, Dani introduced five supplement drinks.
On Thursday, January 9, 2025, Dani added three new wellness drink variants—two coffee flavors and a mixed berry smoothie.
Read: Dani Barretto taps Julia Barretto as her brand's new ambassador
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had the chance to catch up with her during the event.
When asked if she anticipated the rapid success of her business, Dani humbly replied, "Hindi talaga!"
She went on to explain, "I mean, siyempre I believe in my brand and I believe in my product. But I didn't wanna be overconfident that it's gonna reach na ganito na siya kaagad in eight months.
"Pero alam ko kasi, marami pa kaming kailangan i-improve. Marami pa kaming ilalabas.
"Marami pa akong gustong patunayan. Bilang bida-bida ako, kailangan marami akong papatunayan. So nagsisimula pa lang tayo sa [Wellness Whispers]."
DANI BARRETTO ON BUSINESS BEGINNINGS
Looking back on the early days of her business, Dani shared that her primary goal was to provide solutions for health challenges she had personally experienced, such as hormonal imbalance and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Dani shared, "Well for me, ang wellness, kasi very wellness junkie din talaga ako.
"I like to drink supplements. I love, parang, I value my supplements. And I have so many friends who suffer kasi from hormonal imbalance in PCOS.
"So parang sabi ko, 'Bakit parang wala pang gumagawa masyado ng para sa PCOS management and for hormonal imbalance?'
"So it really started with hormonal imbalance. And then, very nocturnal din ako, so mahirap ako matulog."
One of her considerations was that the product had to be easy to consume.
The content creator continued, "So I said, I wanted to come out with something that has everything that I take but it's easier kasi they can just drink it.
"Hindi yung paisa-isang supplements, parang ganoon. So it started from there tapos bumunga na lang siya ng bumunga ng mas marami pang wellness products."
DANI BARRETTO EXPANDS BUSINESS
Initially focused on women's wellness drinks, Dani expanded her business to offer options for men as well.
Due to numerous requests from men during her live-selling sessions, she was inspired to introduce a mixed berry smoothie designed to enhance energy and stamina.
Dani told PEP, "We asked kung ano ba yung gusto nila. Kung ano bang klaseng pang-men. Hindi naman din puwede na maglalabas ka lang ng [any kind of drink] for men.
"So yun yung gusto nila. For stamina, libido, yung mga ganyan. For working out, energy. So, yun yung nilabas namin for them.
"But this is not only for them. Puwede siya for men and women. So pati yung mga couples that are trying, puwede iyan sa kanya."
Similar to her company's initial launch, Dani noted that it took them over a year to release the new products.
This was primarily because they wanted the drinks to be backed by science.
Dani expressed her deep gratitude to the experts who assisted in formulating these wellness drinks.
Dani said, "Intensive din yung [research and development] process namin. Bago pa makarating sa akin yung mga samples, matagal iyan inaaral.
"Kasi, isipin niyo guys ang supplements na tinitignan ng taong may hormonal imbalance. Mga six supplements iyan.
"So, nilagay namin yun sa isang drink. So, kinailangan ni R&D kung paano ii-space out yung dosages niya para mapasok yung isang drink.
"So, it really took a while. But then, I'm glad that we were able to come up with something na it works for everyone."
DANI BARRETTO: WHY PRODUCT SELLOUTS COULD BE A BAD THING
With the rapid growth of her business, PEP asked Dani what she learned through the process as a new business owner.
She realized that believing in her products is crucial.
For instance, the Immunity Booster Pomelo drink didn't sell well at first, but eventually became popular and started selling out like her other drinks.
Dani recalled, "Kasi before, yung pomelo, yun yung pinakamahina namin na variant.
"So parang inisip ko to make way for the other variants that we're gonna come out with, I was supposed to phase it out."
However, feedback from her family and her husband Xavi Panlilio made her rethink this decision.
She continued, "Pero pinaglaban talaga ng pamilya ko na huwag ko siyang i-phase out, saka si Xavi, kasi iyan yung pinaka-favorite nila.
"And I'm glad kasi ngayon, nagso-sold out na rin siya.
"People just needed to try it, to experience also the drink. So ngayon, okay na siya, hindi ko na siya tatanggalin.
"Every time yung naso-sold out siya, hinahanap na siya sa amin. So yun naman yung parang business move that I had to learn."
Selling out products is typically positive for a business, signaling high demand and potentially boosting sales and revenue.
However, Dani learned it can also have its downside if inadequate stock prevents meeting customer needs.
Through this experience, she and her husband Xavi came to understand the importance of effective forecasting to minimize stock shortages and ensure a steady supply of products for their customers.
Dani told PEP, "Well, natuto na kami as a business na we really have to forecast.
"So since alam na namin ngayon yung traffic, how many people, kung gaano kadami na yung nauubos sa isang week, so ngayon na kami nagfo-forecast.
"Tini-triple na namin yung stocks namin. At nag-sold out pa rin siya.
"So we're still learning also as a business kung ano ba yung gusto ng mga tao, ilan ba ang kailangan natin or every when ba kami kailangan mag-live.
"So we're also learning as we go."
dani barretto on working with husband xavi
Dani is deeply thankful for her inspiring team that has supported her journey to success and learning.
She especially values working with her husband Xavi, recognizing how they support one another, both personally and professionally, as business partners.
She said, "Siya kasi yung ano ko, e, he balances me out. So he balances my craziness.
"So when I'm panicking, when I'm having anxiety, and I'm super stressed, siya yung tagasalba.
"Tapos he's my back-end guy, so he knows everything.
"May strengths kami. Yung strengths ko, weakness niya. Yung weakness ko, strength niya. So it works.
"Kailangan ko siya sa weakness side kasi yun yung operations ko, yun yung finances. Siya yun e, taga-benta [naman] ako dito."
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