"Challenges are prevalent in any industry, and we are not alone in facing the challenges. New technology, competition, port congestion and forever evolving consumer behavior, we just try to do our best to work hard, develop what we feel the Philippine market needs, and power through the hurdles and adversity of day-to-day life."

WHEN Chand Daryanani, the third-generation president of Canadian Manufacturing, was thrust into the helm of the family business, he was never ready for the job.

"It was definitely a challenge to say the least, that I wasn't completely ready for," Daryanani told The Manila Times.

"As the years have gone on however, in gaining experience and handling multiple difficult situations, I've gotten more acclimatized to the responsibility that comes with being the president of the company."

Daryanani officially joined the company in 2012 as sales and marketing director. A decade later, he was given the honor of becoming president.

Daryanani's family managed to make the company grow through the years and admirably kept it going for 65 years.

"I admire my family and our loyal employees for their consistency, dedication and service to our company and brands," Daryanani said. "I would say their biggest success is innovation, hard work, empathy and love.

"Those are the key factors I try my very best to emulate and use during the day-to-day operations of the organization. We try to be ahead of the curve and develop new products, work very, very hard in doing so, as well as loving and sharing the success with our partners/employees in the organization."

During the recent Covid pandemic, Canadian Manufacturing's products were considered "essential" as they supplied hospitals and health care facilities with linen.

"Considering that many hotels were utilized for isolation purposes, as well as hospital occupancy levels hitting record highs, I feel like we had a small, yet integral role in making sure these establishments were able to get fresh products during those uncertain times.

"We were able to do schedule shifting within our organization in order to provide employment at a time where companies were completely shut, as well as provide these essential establishments with fresh products for the hygiene and well-being of their patients and guests."

Annually, Canadian Manufacturing presents a showcase of its products, both new and repeatables, so they invite some of the biggest retailers and institutions all over the country. So you count the hotels, resorts, spas and hospitals.

Recently, Canadian Manufacturing opened its 16th trade show, the third after the pandemic. The trade show apparently helps the company and its products.

"More than anything, the trade show concept began during our 50th anniversary to connect with our clients and celebrate that milestone," shared Daryanani. "Over time, however, it has become a necessary tool for us to get in touch with our clients all over the country, as well as showcase our products for them to see.

"It's a great opportunity to meet clients on a personal level to be able to cater to them better as well as continue to foster and nurture those valued relationships."

Even during the pandemic, Canadian Manufacturing did an online trade show. They never stopped the trade show and kept it going, as much as possible.

"We didn't want to ruin the momentum. We just couldn't service face-to-face."

Although Daryanani refuses to go into details, to do the trade show for 16 years and keep it still going has been an "effective marketing tool" for Canadian Manufacturing.

"It's both a relationship with our existing clients, which is something we want to preserve continuously," Daryanani said. "Which is why we are still blessed to be here. So we are proud that our clients continue to support us. They fly in from the provinces to support our brands.

"However, of course, it's also a venue where we can effectively look into client acquisitions for new customers who are interested in our products."

The raw materials of Canadian Manufacturing are imported. However, they are manufactured here in the Philippines.

"Considering the situation from the start of the pandemic even up to now, there are many, many challenges in importing raw materials," said Daryanani.

"I guess we are not the only ones feeling that. It's an industry-wide situation. Among the challenges are port congestion, being able to get a feeder vessel and maritime rates (shipping rates).

"Considering we're in the textile manufacturing industry, those challenges hurt us, of course. Before we put the products out to the retailers, our price points were a little bit different. Our capacity is about 3,000 pillows a day, about 1,500 sheets per day and about 3,000 pillow cases."

The sister company, New Creation, manufactures infant's wear and ladies wear. It is managed by Daryanani's brother, Anil Daryanani. They both belong to the third generation who ran the business. Canadian Manufacturing supplies beddings, towels, pillows and bedding accessories.

Through the years, Canadian Manufacturing undoubtedly encountered challenges, from port congestion to maritime rates, especially during the recent pandemic.

"Challenges are prevalent in any industry, and we are not alone in facing the challenges above," Daryanani said. "New technology, competition, port congestion and forever evolving consumer behavior, we just try to do our best to work hard, develop what we feel the Philippine market needs, and power through the hurdles and adversity of day-to-day life."

The consumer's priority has shifted, insisted Daryanani. "The e-commerce shift has been drastic," he noted. "The habits and mannerisms that were gathered during the pandemic, that became a permanent shift.

"We are moving forward now in the industry with e-commerce that is all over the map. The market has fundamentally shifted. It's a bit of pressure because that opens doors of competition. However, at the same time, it opens doors of opportunity."

Being a business owner has its advantages and disadvantages. Clearly, Daryanani's job has its fulfillment and occasional hardships.

"Everything I have had in life is a blessing," said Daryanani. "I am blessed for my family, my team and the blessing of being able to be a part of this organization. Whatever the difficulty, everything has been a blessing and will continue to push forward with our dynamic and innovative team."

Daryanani's initial childhood ambition was apparently far from what he envisioned himself to be. He dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player.

"My childhood ambition was to be a professional basketball player, however injuries, the lack of physical gifts, as well as taking my education in the United States, definitely derailed those dreams. No regrets with how things turned out."

He majored in Business Management with a focus in marketing, and he continues to attend seminars to keep updated and refreshed about the business.

A work-life balance is extremely important to Daryanani. "Also, being a director with HR (Human Resource) Spectacles, as well as a Board Member of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce Inc. takes up a lot of my time outside of work.

"Outside of that, my hobbies are taking it easy with friends and family, watching sports, yoga, basketball and just started golf. Those activities usually cover my week."

At present, Daryanani is employing 220 workers for Canadian Manufacturing, with 300 external workers. He is looking at reopening their office in Boracay and all their three other regional offices.

They had four regional offices before the pandemic — Boracay, Cebu, Davao and Coron (Palawan). However, to cut their operational expenses, they were forced to shut the offices. He inked a new lease to reopen their Boracay office.

They also want to reopen again in Cebu and use it as their Visayas hub. "On three main islands, I want to have a hub on each main island," Daryanani said. "Part of our plans is that our main base is in Manila, but we want to open in Cebu and Davao — to have a hub in each respective land mass."

Canadian Manufacturing is now trying to transition into sustainability, hence their self-packaged items. Although they still carry plastic items.

"You can't avoid dirt and dust on the shelves," Daryanani lamented. "We're trying to do self-packaging now and biodegradable products, as well. We have mostly cotton and other fabrics like bamboo and tencel. The latter uses eucalyptus extract turned into fiber, super soft to the skin for the sheets."

The Canadian Marketing pillow line is now doing very well in the market. Their accessories, like their waterproof mattress protector, are quite unique.

They used to export to as far as Europe, but that no longer happens now. Starting in April 2024, the Philippines started to build bamboo processing plants.

"Right now, bamboo is just one product line in one collection out of our whole collection," informed Daryanani. "If you want to put a number on it, maybe 10 percent out of our whole collection. We make bamboo bedsheets, bamboo waterproof mattress protectors and bamboo towels."

Thankfully, Daryanani gets a lot of support from family and loved ones in the work that he does.

"I get a lot of advice from my family," he allowed. "I'm blessed to still get advice daily, and I have them to lean on in troubling circumstances. Main thing is to stay humble, be a good person and work hard."

His dad (Ravi) and 92-year-old grandfather (Hero) are his biggest inspirations. "They started and grew this business to give myself and family the lifestyle we have today," Daryanani said. "Their sacrifice has led to the opportunities in my life and for that I am eternally grateful.

"Everything I know comes from them, and I am glad to have the opportunity to impart their wisdom to the next generation of Canadian Manufacturing employees."

Quick Questions

What is your biggest fear?

Cockroaches.

What really makes you anrgy?

Breakups.

What motivates you to work hard?

My family and personal satisfactions.

What motivates you to laugh the most?

My friends and I have been friends since childhood, and they are hilarious.

What would you do if you won the lotto?

Retire and commit the rest of my life to serving others/charity.

If you could share a meal with an individual, living or dead, who would they be?

Michael Jeffery Jordan.

What was the last book you read?

"Zero to One" by Peter Thiel.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself living in the Philippines for eight months and remotely the other four months of the year.

Which celebrity would you like to meet for a cup of coffee?

Sabrina Carpenter and

Katy Perry What is the one thing you will never do again?

A form of bungee jumping... never again.

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