Post on 08-Mar-2016
description
“I want that my workshop grows”
A difficult beginning,
His story started 30 years ago when
he had to migrate alone from
Andahuaylas (Apurímac, Perú) to
Lima, looking for better living
conditions. In the capital, Justiniano
stayed at his cousins' house and
worked selling candies and ice
creams, among other kind of
activities as means of subsistence.
He met his wife in Lima and had
three children: Oscar (23), Hilda
(22) and Alexander (4).
Years later, he realized that the
eventual jobs which he was
involved were not going to improve
his life. As a result, he decided to
study dressmaking in a local institute
and then after a while, encouraged
by his wife, he established a small
workshop at his house in Huaycán,
Lima. By that time, he only had a
domestic sewing machine which
used as a working tool. “I was born
to do this, I liked to be a
dressmaker”, he says.
For Justiniano, the adventure of
having his own business had as
major protagonists: his own family.
His wife and children were his right
arm, they helped him to elaborate
the moulds, cut the fabrics and
perform the quality control for each
undergarment. At the beginning, the
production of lingerie was limited;
therefore, he made a profit of S/.
100.00 per month ($ 35.00). “What
we earned was not enough even to
eat”, he adds.
Business emerges slowly
Little by little, his business was
improving and Justiniano could hire
his first employee. Thus the monthly
production of lingerie increased.
Justiniano started selling his
merchandise in some garment
stores located in Gamarra, one of
most important Commercial Center
of Lima. For him, this meant a big
step because from a small lingerie
producer, he became a wholesale
supplier.
“I was afraid of taking
money out from a bank; I
would prefer to advance
little by little”
In these circumstances, Justiniano
realized that it was time to apply for
a loan from a bank in order to get
some money to buy more
merchandise, sewing machines,
and hire another employee.
“For the future, I hope to get more industrial sewing m a c h i n e s a n d m o r e personnel. I want that my workshop grows”.
However, he had some doubts about
the scope of his business and he
wondered if the money that he earned
in that moment would be enough to
pay the loan. “I was afraid of taking
money out from a bank; I would prefer
to advance little by little”.
The training that he needed
It was then when Justiniano heard
about the Family Life Project, an
initiative of Agape Association which
search for the improvement of the
family relationships at home and the
business establishment. He and his
wife attended a local church of
Huaycán (East of Lima) and they were
invited to participle on the Project
workshops which were performed
once a week for free, thanks to the
recommendation of their pastor.
On the workshops they learned how
to apply for a loan from a bank, how to
save and invest their money, how to
make a business plan, among other
topics related to finances. They also
learned about the proper treatment at
home. In addition, his wife received
training about weaving crochet,
cuisine, chocolates, etc. They
recognize that the topics taught on the
workshops encouraged them to start
work.
Justiniano had also the opportunity
to study a majoring course of
dressmaking at the “La Cantuta”
Enrique Guzmán y Valle National
University (Lima) thanks to an
a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n A g a p e
Association and the University.
During two months, he learned
about market access, auditing,
finished garments, among others.
With this knowledge, Justiniano felt
more secure about the potential of
his business and decided to extend
his monthly production of lingerie
and hire more employees.
According to Justiniano, his goal at
that moment was to take advantage
of every end of the year when the
demand of this type of garment
increased on the local market. The
result was positive: the sales
increased and he got a profit 4 times
higher than previous months.
Future Prospects
Recently, Justiniano received a loan
of S/. 350.00 (almost $ 100.00).
With this money he could buy
merchandise for his business. This
money was obtained from a
microcredit Program of Agape
Association, as part of the second
phase of the project. He says that
unlike the previous years, he feels
secure that he is going to pay
according to the payment schedule.
“I have already returned half of the
money”.
Justiniano wishes that Yomaira
Fashion, Tu línea íntima (trademark
and slogan of the product) be known
among the sellers and buyers of
Gamarra. In order to get that, he
needs more money to buy sewing
machines and materials which
allows him to produce on a large
scale. He is optimistic about his
business future: “For the future, I
hope to get more industrial sewing
machines and more personnel. I
want that my workshop grows”.
Justiniano Quispe has a lingerie
workshop at home, and has three
employees that work along with him
from Monday to Saturday.
Justiniano Quispe
has rece ived a
microcredit of S/.
350.00 from Agape
Association.