Julie Nyhoff de Valladares. Back in 2011, David and Deborah Bercot visited a most unusual business in Siguatepeque. It was a tiny lawn supply shop owned by Alvaro and Karlita Bautista. The building was only ten feet wide by four feet deep. At first glance, David and Deborah thought that such a small store couldn’t possibly do much business. However, during their brief visit to the shop, customers kept streaming in and out of it.
Before opening his store, Alvaro had done mowing and gardening jobs around Siguatepeque. However, as his family grew, it became difficult to support them with this type of work. Alvaro realized there was a need in Siguatepeque for a shop that sold lawn and garden items. So in 2007, Alvaro and his wife Karlita took out a $1400 interest-free loan from the Society of the Good Shepherd and started their small shop.
In speaking to them this past week, I (Julie) learned that when they first opened their store, they had very few sales. So Alvaro began doing lawnmower and weed eater repairs, working on the sidewalk in front of their store. They told me that without the interest-free loan from the Society, they never would have survived the first few months of business. However, little by little through word of mouth, they began to obtain customers. They faithfully paid off their loan, and God blessed their faithfulness.
In 2012 or 2013, another store location opened up, which was owned by Karlita’s father. It was nearly double in size (12 x 20 ft.). Nervously, they made the choice to switch the business over to the new location. At the time, the new building felt huge to them. But soon after moving into it, their business began to steadily grow, and they needed all the space.
Both of them listed various things that have helped their business grow. The first thing they named was their faithfulness in repaying their original loan and trusting God to bless their faithfulness. Second, they have always lived within their means (both at home and in their business). Also, they have tried to avoid all debt in their lives, to the extent possible. Also, they have invested their profits back into the business. In addition, they have listened to what their customers have needed and then worked to fulfill those needs. Finally, they provide quality goods and services at a fair price.
Although their initial goal was to sell weed eaters and lawnmowers, as I have mentioned, they soon realized that there was a huge demand for repairs and replacement parts for lawn equipment. Lawn service professionals were often unable to find the replacement parts they needed for their equipment, or to obtain the necessary repairs. They would have to travel to Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula to obtain parts or service—each city being a six-hour round trip. These people soon began flocking to Alvaro’s shop.
Flipping the calendar ahead 18 years, today we find that Alvaro’s business is quite different from its humble beginnings. A few years ago, Alvaro and Karlita were able to expand their shop to about triple its original size of 12×20 feet. When they enlarged the building, they created a room in the back to store all the small replacement parts they sell.
They now not only carry a complete line of Husqvarna weed eaters, but also lawn mowers, chain saws, lawn tractors, shovels, rakes, clippers, gardening tools, fertilizer, and practically every item a homeowner or lawn professional would need. They have even branched into small farm equipment. For example, they now sell a variety of machines for grinding coffee and corn (Honduras’ two main harvests). They now also employ two repairmen and have hired their nephew to help with the business.
Through the years, Alvaro and Karlita have remained faithful to their commitment to always pay their suppliers on time. As a result, most of their suppliers offer them generous credit terms—anywhere from 90 days to 6 months—for purchasing inventory.
Alvaro and Karlita have witnessed how God blesses Christians in their businesses when they are faithful, honest, diligent, and practice utmost integrity. They want to thank those donors who made their original loan possible 18 years ago!
Julie Nyhoff de Valladares
The Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210 • (717) 349-7033
Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Honduras Donations
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