The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
Our Correspondent / EMIRATES BUSINESS
Digital commerce is the fastest moving industry in the world , especially in South East Asia. It has become the torch-bearer for the genX and millenial dreamers to make it big as an entrepreneur with the fast mushrooming of start-ups in an uprecendented scale. As a ‘new’ industry, not so many professionals can claim expertise in the wide spectrum of the digital commerce much more its highly technical executions. This is the very premise of the birth of Hashtag Digital.
Founded in 2012, in the Philippines, by Mannix Pabalan, together with his like minded peers, Hashtag Digital’s success did not come as a surprise neither did it come smooth sailing as well. PLDTHome, Smart-Voyager, Viber Philippines, Ayala Land, Gardenia, Hallmark and Mapfre to name a few brands that have trusted Hashtag Digital for their digital marketing executions.
Mannix Pabalan, CEO, Hashtag, said, “The continuous growth of the region in the digital marketing has led us to believe that the demand for digital marketing professionals is set to rise. At Hashtag, we aspire to demonstrate exactly how digital marketing can be used in the most efficient way as a part of the marketing mix, and to maximise ROI for your business, whether it is a start-up or an annual or long-term.â€
Leveraging from his serial success in launching innovative challenger start-ups as the founding head of AyosDito.PH in 2008 and head of online and digital marketing of Rocket Internet’s Lazada in 2012, Hashtag Digital was able to springboard. Touted by industry stalwarts as a full assault digital marketing agency based on its unconventional end-to-end solution that have catapulted the successful brands they have assisted in creating efficient business over the internet. An industrial business management consultant by profession, he self learned the trade of the geek language and eventually shifted to be one of the country’s ‘DotCom’, e-Commerce’s previous name, early adpaters as the Country Manager of Web Solutions Philippines, an affiliate of WorldSites
Network of Canada.
A monumental and bold move in 2014, he led the team to open a branch in UAE as Hashtag Digital FZ LLC in anticipation of Dubai 2020 world expo.
Since its inception in the Middle East, it has already listed some notable companies in its sleeves such as HAWTHORN SUITES BY WYNDHAM AND RHOTELS, Emirates Grand Hotel, Oceanic Khorfakkan Resorts and Spa and Fujairah National Group to name a few.
If it is a must for Batman to have a Robin, his trusted colleague Alyn Espritu would very well fit the bill. He together with his lady Robin have practically braved the land of opportunities and is now reaping the fruits of their labour.
They would always remember how they have started business in UAE with that one time walking several miles in the middle of the Dubai
summer heat not having a ride.
Though not pittying themselves, and laughing while walking under the 42°C of desert heat wondering what they got themselves into, but promised themselves to pull it together and have a successful business in UAE.
In May of 2015, Mumbrella Awards Asia recognised Hashtag Digital as one of 4 Emerging Digital Agency of the Year in South East Asia. To them, just being recognised in a regional level is a great feat already for a startup independent agency. Such recognition gives the team enormous encouragement to learn and excell further in this business segment.
Hashtag Digital digital’s success story pretty much mirrored Mannix’ journey less travelled. He was a determined underprivileged student who had barely a few pesos in his pocket that can’t even afford him lunch neither dinner.
He has come a long way since, but nothing can pluck his feet off the ground as he would still prefers to be simple. Setting good examples for his team, Pabalan always tries to be the first man in the office. He also makes it a point to always share his successful experience and insights with his colleagues.
As individual professionals who thrived in start-up companies, Hashtag Digital will soon rejoin the e-commerce scene with its own start-up slated to be launched in Philippines, UAE and eventually in South East Asia and in the rest of Gulf Cooperation council (GCC).
Over the years, the company has established its niche in the burgeoning business ecosystem of the UAE. Now the company is keenly following the latest developments in the industry and is trying to make most out of the emerging opportunities in the market.
Pabalan has kept the standards of future expectations very high and he, along with his team members, is working relentlessly to take Hashtag Digital to remarkable heights.
