How Maroons kept its vibrancy through the years
With the rise of online stores and organizations in University of the Philippines – Diliman selling UP-themed shirts on the Internet, the clothing store Maroons have a lot more competitors aside from the stall beside theirs.
However, Maroons’ owner Michaelangelo Esteves does not bother to make an online version of their store like their competitors do.
“It is only a hassle for me, because aside from the fact that I am not that familiar with the technology, problems could arise with online ordering such as wrong sizes and damage,” said Esteves in vernacular.
Esteves, who used to print shirts for UP on 1970’s, eventually printed and sold his own shirts as he established Maroons gradually by saving for its capital worth 18,000 pesos.
T-shirts are the first and main product of Maroons. Their other products such as the lanyards, ballers, varsity jackets, and accessories followed through time. He also ventured into novelty
items such as religious items, school supplies in addition to his sales.
Also, Esteves is open for partnerships. The footwear that is on sale in Maroons is his friend’s business, and he allows him to sell those there by getting a small percentage on the footwear’s sales.
He does not have an idea on the exact number of his customers every month, but he is sure that June and December are the peak seasons of his business.
“Every June, students, especially freshies go here and buy shirts, lanyards. While on December, most people go here to buy gifts,” said Esteves in vernacular.
Esteves explained that UP students is the main target market of Maroons, thus which is why the name of the store is Maroons. There are also non-UP students who buy Maroons’ items as souvenir or gifts.
Annicca Albano, a Speech Communication major in UP Diliman, buys a Maroons shirt every start of the school year and it has become her habit. “A Maroons shirt will always be a Maroon’s shirt, that’s why I still buy there even if I’m selling my orgs’ shirts,” said Albano.
Though Maroons does not venture on the Internet, their customers’ patronage remains the same. What makes people patronize Maroons despite the number of its competitors is their established reputation over the years of providing good-quality and affordable shirts. ###
