Nicolás Romero, Mexico.- In the neighborhood of Independencia, near the heart of the municipality of Nicolás Romero, in Mexico City, there is a Doña Lidia store, one of the six women for every 10 who frequent the grocery store in Mexico. . But Ms. Lydia is also one of every three women who claim to be the owner of their own business, according to data from the National Association of Small Entrepreneurs (ANPEC).
Lydia lived at 34 Agua Caliente Street for twenty years when she sent her money to her husband from the United States. Since then, his store has been his means of support and support for his two children, now professionals.
Doña Lidia, it could be said, is a woman who stands out from the middle in Mexico, according to Cuauhtémoc Rivera, the national president of ANPEC, since 7 out of 10 people who are butchers in Mexico are men. Although these issues are mostly run by women: 6 out of 10.
The data of the Federation indicate that many women face -mainly- 3 challenges that prevent them from owning their own business: the first is the lack of financing; secondly, that they should be those who take care of the houses most of all, and that time from doing work; and the third, to which they are constantly subjected to sexual and labor harassment.
“In Mexico, the participation of women in the economy is still low, below 40% and in other of the most developed economies in Latin America, such as Brazil or Colombia, it is 50%. It could be said that we are 10% below the average for OECD countries, by region” .
Add to this information the suspicions that are rampant in the village, from which no one is immune, but women are affected with a greater attack if the shopkeepers are in “red” areas.
Stories about life and community
Desiderio, Mrs. Lydia remembers twenty years ago, when her husband left for the United States of America, she began to send him wealth to support her and her children: “when he sent me a little money and with other savings. I was able to buy this little shop, which I was still able to maintain” .
Lady Lydia managed to obtain from his treasure resources not only to support herself and her two children, but also to put them through college. His son’s job, for example, took him to Canada and he became a naturalized citizen of that country.
“Moreover, by serving my neighbors, they not only sell to them, but also allowed me to socialize with them. It’s something like that that has made my life more bearable.”
For Alejandra Escalante, director of Expo Tendero, an event that will be held this Thursday and Friday at the Palacio de los Deportes, the work by women who frequent the supermarket is similar to the influx, but within their colonies. .
“They have a very strong and direct relationship with their customers, they have similar impressions of the neighborhood, brands and suppliers know this well, which is why they try to communicate closely with them. They are the ones who recommend or not their products.”
In an interview with La Silla Rota, Escalante also lamented the images of ANPEC about the participation of women in the local economy due to the lack of financial support and training.
In this sense, he highlighted that in events such as Expo Tendero, specific workshops are organized for women who want to become their own grocery business. “The goal is that beyond the supply chain, women are looking for and trying to become the owners of these properties,” he said.
Competition with Oxxo and suspicions
Doña Lidia regretted that she did not know the tools and technologies of technology, which compared her to a clear disadvantage to store chains and – also – against the criminal attacks that constantly harass these businesses.
At the Expo Tendero, according to Alejandra Escalante, workshops on digitization are organized so that men and women, store owners can better compete with other businesses, such as Oxxo and other distributed grocery chains.
Agreements with security companies are also offered, recommendations are made in the form of security cameras and software that they can use in small businesses to protect and promote them, to promote the solution of the public service.
Doña Lidia is a case of support from Expo Tendero, since someone has already advised her that her customers can pay by electronic transfer or by QR code, incorporating bank payment or balance sales and recharges on mobile phones. .
The use of new technologies and the support of the family was essential for Doña Lidia to be able to succeed with her business: the grocery store. The goal of the efforts that come from ANPEC and Expo Tendero is that more women can have their own story.
“I am happy with my store, I never want to leave it, it has made me the happiest, I like serving people, talking with them. I always wake up happy to open my business, because having gained something, it allows me to socialize with my customers and we are very well.”
