From Being Thrifty To Owning Two Thrift Shops: May’s Journey
July 25, 2025 |
A single mother, a domestic worker in Singapore, and the proud owner of two thriving ukay-ukay (thrift shops) back home in the Philippines. This is May Martin’s story of courage, love, and the power of learning, sparked by a chance encounter with Aidha.
Originally from Isabela, Philippines, May came to Singapore in 2011 to work as a domestic worker. Her motivation was simple: to support her family and give her then 12-year-old son a better future. Like many who leave home to work abroad, the hardest part for May wasn’t just the workload but the emotional toll of leaving her son behind.
“I worried that the distance might affect our relationship as a mother and son,” May shares.
May and her son in Singapore (left). May and her son at his graduation ceremony (right).
During August 2022, May’s life took a hopeful turn when she learned about Aidha through a relative who had previously studied there. Encouraged by her employer, she decided to enrol with the hopes to improve her financial skills and learn more about business management. What she didn’t expect was how deeply the experience would transform her.
“Aidha empowered me…professionally and personally. I loved how Aidha built my confidence.” May shares, highlighting that she wasn’t able to introduce herself in the beginning but has since grown in her confidence to speak in front of a crowd.
With the help of Aidha, May learned essential skills like breakeven analysis, daily journaling, inventory management, and even how to use Google Sheets – something she had never done before.
“I can say that Aidha helped me with the success of my business.”
May Martin’s thrift shop, Maya’s LaBoutique, in Jones, Philippines.
The support and training she received at Aidha gave her the confidence to officially launch her family-run thrift shop, ‘Maya’s LaBoutique’. With the help of her family, ‘Maya’s LaBoutique’ is open for business in two locations, offering affordable, high-quality clothes to her local community.
Customers in May’s thrift shop (left). Bales of clothes from May’s supplier in her thrift shop (right).
For May, her shops aren’t just a business, but a way to bring city-quality clothing to everyday people like farmers and drivers in her hometown. Her thrift shops are located in a rural province, about nine hours from Manila.
“I want to bring those quality clothes into our community. Now, they can afford to buy those (and) they don’t need to go to Metro Manila because they have it in our community.”
At the core of her business is her family. Besides bringing quality clothes to her hometown, May was also determined to create a business her family could run independently. “You know the saying: teach a man to fish, don’t just give him the fish,” she says. “Instead of sending money every month, why not help them earn their own? Since the business has started, I no longer need to send money to them.”
May with her parents (left) and her wider family (right).
Even with a thriving business, balancing her job in Singapore while running two shops back home isn’t easy. But May makes it work thanks to her family, who now handle daily operations while she plans for the future of her businesses from abroad.
“Before, I used to micro-manage everything, but now they already know the drill. They can run it. So at the back of this – the inventory – that’s my thing…it’s really helped to motivate me when I see my family… I see them as one good family working together with all the business I started for them.”
May and her family at Aidha’s Graduation ceremony in 2024.
When asked about her business milestones, May shares that her proudest moment was writing letters to prospective investors – a skill she picked up through Aidha. Her courage paid off when two investors came on board to support her dream.
In October 2025, May aims to take her business further as she prepares to open her third shop – an accessories store selling jewellery, bags, and shoes.
“Now that I am equipped, I am very excited to start with the expansion.”
May in front of her second thrift shop.
Looking ahead, May’s dreams remain rooted in the love she has for her family. She hopes her business will continue to give them stability and that her son will build a successful life of his own.
Her message to other domestic workers aspiring to be entrepreneurs?
“Don’t be afraid to dream big. Learn about financial literacy. Programmes like Aidha have helped me build my confidence and (teach me) about money management, financial literacy and most especially, business management. So, keep on saving, keep on fighting!”
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