Growing a Family Small Business
Francisco and Fidel Aleman are brothers working together to run a wood artisan business that has been in their family for the past 15 years. They were initially taught the trade by their “abuelo” Jose Jacinto Aleman. Jose is now 95 but still hangs around their workshop during the day.
Through partnering with Opportunity Nicaragua for the past 2 years as part of the Artisan Community Program, Fidel and Francisco have been able to export their products out of Nicaragua. Because of this, they have hired 3 additional workers from the community and increased their production and sales – sustainably growing the size of their small business. Fidel has 2 children that already have started learning the trade and helping out in the shop when they can. While they hope to keep the business “in the family”, they want to continue grow by training and hiring additional community members to work in the shop.
An employee in Francisco and Fidel Aleman’s Workshop in Nicaragua
Another view of Francisco and Fidel Aleman’s Workshop in Nicaragua
Francisco and Fidel Aleman’s Workshop in Nicaragua
Francisco in his Workshop in Nicaragua
Products created by Francisco and Fidel Aleman in their Workshop in Nicaragua