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Looking to build a sustainable business? Steve Sy shares his 'four Ps' and more in his new book — From Great Debt to Great Deals: How I Built the Fastest-Growing Company in Asia PacificThe digital retail space is booming. With everyone wanting convenient shopping, budding entrepreneurs are asking: where do you even start? How do you bounce back from debt? And how do you stand out in a crazy competitive online world?
These days, Filipinos love shopping online—think Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, and all those social media marketplaces. But growing an online business? That's tough. That's where Great Deals E-Commerce steps in.
Great Deals is an online distributor that helps brands nail their online shopping game. They handle everything—content, marketplace management, digital campaigns, logistics, you name it. They’ve worked with big names like Lee Kum Kee, Unilever, P&G, Nestlé, L’Oreal, and Maybelline. And now, their founder, Steve Sy, is sharing their journey from zero to hero in a new book.
Steve just dropped a hundred-page book, spilling the beans on how to build a company and, more importantly, how to claw your way out of financial messes.
“From Great Debt to Great Deals,” his first book, is all about helping people get their budgets together and actually make it in e-retail.
At his book launch, Steve talked about how money problems—whether personal or business—can wreck you. He knows this firsthand. His whole rags-to-riches story is what built Great Deals.
For Steve, this book isn’t just for business gurus; it’s for anyone stuck in debt, looking for a way out.
His life on pages
From selling stickers in school to helping Filipinos build real companies, Steve’s laid it all out. He’s finally sharing his secrets.
But, even with all the leadership and career advice, will his story hold up?
“I was contemplating the title. Originally, it was ‘Even if it takes a lifetime,’” he said, but he changed his mind.
Steve’s not just throwing out quick tips. He wants to give people a formula that works, no matter what trends come and go.
He believes timelessness is key to lasting business growth. And how do you get that? By tackling the common startup headaches and investment risks.
“I prayed for a book that could stand the test of time. I didn’t write ‘how to grow your e-commerce business now’ because, let’s face it, that might be useless next year,” he said.
Steve’s big on “taking time” for growth, both personally and in business. It’s how he got where he is.
Now, he’s not just running a booming e-commerce company; he’s also a dad of four. And his oldest daughter? She’s running her own business, SOFI AI Tech Solutions.
What’s next?
Great Deals isn’t just about Steve. He wants his book to inspire others to step up and lead.
He even dropped some hints about the book’s main points.
“[The] four Ps of a business [are] profit, purpose, people, and plan,” he told the crowd. “It’s a solid framework for starting anything.”
Steve explained that profit is what separates a business from a hobby. You need to make money.
“A business has to be profitable; otherwise, it’s just a passion project or charity. It needs profit to fund the [next P, which is] purpose.”
Talking about Great Deals, he said it’s all about solving problems for brands—content, marketing, logistics. By fixing those issues, they boost profit and fulfill their purpose.
“Three, you need to take care of your people… We don’t need to squeeze every last cent of profit, but we [can] optimize it,” Steve said.
Supporting your team is key to long-term success.
The learning never stops, right? As Great Deals keeps growing with new partnerships, Steve says the book is a reflection of everything he’s learned from his mentors and how he’s finally becoming the guide he always wanted to be.
