BizTalks Presents: Miko Pacia for AGP Trading

One of the key challenges faced by trading companies is striking a balance between having enough diversity in their product line to bring in new consumers and take advantage of new opportunities in the market, and also having enough focus on, and mastery of, their core offerings.

In this BizTalks article, our VP Miko Pacia tells us what their family company AGP Trading Inc. has done to set themselves apart from similar businesses, and how they’ve remained adaptable in a constantly changing — and, lately, very challenging — business landscape.

Tell us about AGP Trading’s beginnings.

I was working with FedEx in 2002 when my father, Augusto G. Pacia, retired from working with a packaging company where he put in long hours. He decided to set up AGP Trading, Inc. to continue to be active. It was the beginning of a small trading company to keep him occupied and for extra income.
Being a natural salesperson, he was confident with his business idea. He realized that he needed administration and finance to backstop his sales and marketing. That is how I came into the company when he asked me to handle these roles.

Almost two decades since and after countless business lessons in the school of life, I now lead the organization and now on my sixth year of being President.

How did you go about setting your company apart from similar trading companies?

Our strategy was to source unique products for the Philippine market. To grow our range, we picked those that ‘synergized’ with current offerings. From selling one product type to our customers, we added more products related and connected to their needs.

What are your company’s core offerings?

Today, the company provides security seals, test and measure equipment and personal protective equipment. We continue to establish partnerships with international manufacturers to introduce their products to the country.

The company supplies various industries like energy, water, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, oil and fuel, electronics and banking and finance. We are recognized as a qualified and reliable supplier of the government with complete compliance, permits and clearance documents.

We are particularly proud to be the exclusive distributor

1. ZERA GmBH – a century old German company that develops and manufactures devices and systems for producing, measuring, testing and calibrating electrical quantities. Our equipment focuses on meter and transformer test systems as well as precision laboratory systems;
2. Red Phase Instruments of Australia Pty Ltd. – a company that designs and manufactures a large range of test and measurement equipment and instruments used by electric utilities all over the world such as portable testers and earth testing equipment; and
3. Packtica Philippines – a supplier of security labels and a provider of online authentication platform that enable consumers to verify the authenticity of products. This is done by embedding QR codes to differentiate and secure products from being copied.

What measures did you take in order to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic?

Even as the pandemic continues to bring uncertainty to business, we managed to consider opportunities and to mitigate risks. We increased sales for health-related equipment that made up for the other products.

Our background in the agriculture sector prepared us to immediately implement biosecurity protocols in our workplace at the same time to quickly launch and marketing our disinfectant product. We were fast to set up our online marketing activities through social media and online store. We solved our marketing challenges by internet technology.

The next challenge was how to service orders and to solve the logistical issue including delays in importation and restrictions in mobility.

How does a family-owned business evolve in the face of something as challenging as a global recession?

AGP Trading Inc. as a family company is nimble and innovative, secure and forward-looking. We constantly study how to effectively market online and how to maintain coordination with customers. We have invested in lead generation techniques while at the same time keeping our people safe and open to communication.

The search for opportunities remains a focus. The pandemic is a great leveler – it is now open season for those who can adapt and change. Small or big business have more even chances – most selling activities are no longer done face to face. As businesses take advantage of technology and reach out to potential customers and clients everywhere will ultimately look for and fall back on the time tested values of Quality, Price and Service – and this is what the company started by my father and now run by the son is all about.

What would you consider the main ingredients that family-run trading businesses need to thrive?

In my years in JCI Manila, I learned to develop and maintain a set of core values in all our dealings. For almost two decades now since taking the lead role in our family trading firm, we relied on good pricing, good service and good people.

We believe in providing fair prices; to always do our best to provide fast and timely; and to consistently support our customers in every way.