| There
are so many opportunities in Import-Export in Ecuador today...but
many readers have expressed doubts and fears...can they succeed?
Well,
here are a few stories... if I can do it so can you!
It
was late in 1969. I had been studying in Continental Europe for
over
two years. Now, it was time to go back to the Deep South. The weather
had been bad a lot during those years. My father had died. The
family
business that I was to enter was on very tenuous grounds. I had
changed
a lot, learned a lot and experienced a lot. I was determined
to follow
my entrepreneurial path and maintain my freedom, integrity and
desires.
I
had been toiling, studying and coaching in the dark, damp gray
of
most of Europe.
At
times in breaks between studies, I would cross the Brenner Pass.
Just at that moment of crossing the top of the mountain, guess
what?
Sunshine! Every single time. This helped formulate a plan that
I did
not want to miss out in my life the advantages of being a
multinational...to go where life is best. (Much later of course,
I
married the epitome of the Multi-National Man...Gary Scott, who
helped
me fine tune a life of wealth, worth and wonder.)
Suddenly
it was time to return to Georgia. I did not want to spend a
rainy, gray winter there and yet refused to be a burden. I felt
adamant
that there must be a life for me that would fill my dreams, my
pocketbook and my desires for the sun and sea.
Without
help from others, I figured I had $500 to spare. After less
than a month of research, it struck me that what I wanted was the
following:
1) to make money but to help others less fortunate at the same
time
2)
to spend time traveling to exotic locations learning, discovering,
helping
3)
to be free from the daily grind, but at the same time be willing
to
work.
Nothing
seemed to marry these desires but a whispery idea of bringing
products from other countries (those I wished to experience)
and
selling them in my own country. I don't think I even knew the term"
import/export".
Wrestling
with all of this and seeing winter looming put me under great
pressure. So, I jumped in. With one import product, I began!
My
first
small ad (cost $499) in House and Garden magazine brought in a
whopping
$5000! I quickly took those profits and expanded out to other
magazines: Audubon, New York Times, House Beautiful, Smithsonian,
etc.
I
took a bit of profit and set off for Mexico. It was a long but
beautiful drive from Georgia all the way to Brownsville. What
were the
plans? Well, of course get down to the sun and the sea and explore
as
much of that country as possible. My 1968 Mercedes diesel brought
back
from Germany was a natural. It was rough in Mexico in those days-rough
roads, rough experiences, rough maps and no signs. After putting
12,000
miles on that car inside of Mexico, I found lots and lots of
opportunities.
Some
very radical ideas were forming. What I expected was to find
tons
of products that I could bring back. What happened was that I
located many great craftsmen, excelling in wood, pottery,
textiles and
papier mache. However, none of their products seemed right in their
appeal to my audience.
Designs
popped up from nowhere. I sketched off some rough drawings. Meanwhile,
although I was a language major, I was desperately trying
to
add Spanish! Before I knew it, there were lots of products pouring
out....all I felt would be great for my markets.
The
first year, profits were (for those times) a staggering $80,000!
OK! Had an editor visit me from House & Garden to do editorial
backup.
Found an orphanage in Mexico whose children wanted to paint the
designs
on the nursery products. Found a chain of stores who wanted their
own
designs made. Discovered how to work both roads...import and
export. Friends in the Yucatan desperately wanted German scissors
(aha!
my
background there solid with contacts) and men's cotton shirts
(aha! Georgia, the largest textile manufacturer in the US at
that time). I
learned to fly down with my scissors and men's shirts and come
back
with loads of hand carved mahogany suns, exquisite 3' tall handpainted
papier mache nursery animals, collections of hand made cotton
outfits
and more and more.
After
a few years, I grew restless...sold the company, took 5 years
off
to study and recoup. Traveled around in my 65' yacht (complete
with
captain) off the shores of Florida and the Bahamas.
Then,
as life would have it, I received an invitation from Baby Doc
(just taken over from Papa Doc) in Haiti. Went down, had a look,
was
invited by the Mellons (who had devoted their life) to the Dr.
Albert
Schweitzer Hospital for lepers.
What
a turn of events! There I fell in love with that whole colony,
saw
their beautiful hand made rugs and wooden items and brought back
their
work to America. Helped the Mellons get doctors/nurses and medicine
for
their projects.
Now,
import and export once again became the center of my universe!
The
look of devotion on the faces of the badly deformed lepers when
I
bought everything they made! Ahh...what sweet pleasures in
life...enjoying their company and laughter and getting to know
the
Mellons (one of America's wealthiest) who lived in a small cottage
and
toiled day and night to better this forlorn country. Seeing,
experiencing these people, their talents and their zest for life
changed me forever. And of course enjoyed the sunshine.
I
repeated the import-export plans over and over again over the
next
years. Every time discovering new countries, helping, traveling,
making
money and just being a multinational.
But
that was the past. What about Import-Export for the future? Compared
to the 60s and 70s starting a business today is incredibly simple
and cheap. Keep in mind, I had huge expensive monthly commitments
to advertisements. I had to be right month after
month.
Today,
I'd follow the advice of my wise husband and start up by Thinking
Big and Spending Small. I'd follow my Passion to Profit. I'd
get a website and/or ebay (with practically no set up costs) and
begin!
Today, just offer your import items on the Internet....the world
can
beat a path to you.
And
where would I begin? There's no thinking on that one. Ecuador,
the
Land of the Sun.
By
chance, Gary and I were invited to go down there 12 years ago.
We
had really no great desires, no expectations. Who would have guessed
that we would fall in love with this beautiful land?
We've
traversed almost every inch of the country, hiked its mountains,
swam in the clear seas, soaked in glorious hot waters, eaten
incredible
foods, lived with the indigenous, bought a hacienda with 800 acres,
learned a bit of Quichua, started a foundation to help others
and
taken
1400 + people down there. And everywhere we go, we see opportunities
of
a lifetime in Import-Export.
All
of this is so easy in Ecuador. First of all, the Spanish brought
the Guild System from Europe. So, instead of searching all over
a
country like I did in Mexico (following countless leads, getting
lost,
getting threatened, worn out). Today just go directly
to the one
village that specializes in your interest.
There's
Cotacachi-leather workers, San Antonio de Ibarra-woodcarvers,
Zuleta-embroiderers, Chordeleg-filigree jewelers, Bulcay-Ikat
weavers,
San Bartolome-guitar makers, the Paute River-sweater makers (there's
a
90 year old weaver there who wove for Gary with the colors to help
him
fill his mission in life!) Gualaceo-pottery makers (throwing 60
pots a
day per person), Peguche-rug weavers, even Ibarra-the ice cream
makers!
(plus hundreds more) And of course Otavalo, the greatest indigenous
market in South America.
I
could go on and on and on. But the point is: Ecuador is organized.
You can go to a single village and talk with dozens of people,
look at
their wares and pick the best- simply, easily and with a lot of
fun.
Because
of the machismo of the Mexicans, there were always problems for
a woman down there. Also, their lack of follow through was notorious.
When I lived in Quitanana Roo (this was the days when Tulum was
just a
sparkle in Pablo Bush's eye), I discovered the Lebanese of Merida.
The
Lebanese are some of the best business people in the world. After
my
organization got so large, I found it was necessary to have them
follow
through. They controlled most of the textile industry.
In
Ecuador, it is much different. The national drink is Chamomile
tea...not espresso coffee. Got any ideas of the implications
of this?
We deal directly with the indigenous thus giving them all the money
and
also giving ourselves the great pleasures of knowing and being
with
these gentle souls. Also, the country dollarized in 2000...so there
are
no currency exchange worries.
There's
an infectious joyousness in these people that Gary and I have
fallen in love with.
How
about follow through? Let me give you a true story. A delightful
client of ours went with us to the village of the wood carvers.
She
found in a little workroom a great French desk. This was carved
in the
grand 17th century tradition. Behind that desk was a small, wiry
man
beaming with pride. They made a deal (at an unbelievable price).
The
client left. She made plans to return for the table. Time went
on. A
year later, she called me, didn't know the man's name and couldn't
find
the invoice.
Gary
and I went to the wood carvers' village. I had translated for
her
and vaguely remembered his location. I peeked in door after door
and
finally saw this old craftsman, diligently carving. He looked at
me,
burst into a smile (one year later), wiped his hands and rushed
out to
greet us. "Senora, your friend's desk is ready!" He disappeared
into
his shop, brought out the original invoice and thrust it in my
hands!
The man had the desk, it was ready and was so happy that the lady
would
receive it.
Tell
me what other country do you know like this? Import-Export is
so
much easier when you have organization, willing people, and a tradition
of follow through. Besides nothing can be more pleasing than
helping
others.
What
makes me recommend Ecuador? 1) multitudes of unique products
2)
easy relations with craftsmen 3) easy to find craftsmen 4) good
communication 5) great prices...who will make just one of anything
at
the same price as an order of dozens 6) excellent follow through
7) a
chance to make a difference in people's lives 8) a country with
sunshine without heat and humidity 9) favorable import-export
laws
10)
an easy to reach country just 3 1/2 hours from the US.
We've
brought forth BIRM from Ecuador, an unusual herbal product with
a
history of great successes. Clients and friends of ours in their
mid
80s moved down, bought a farm and now export tourism! Another client
came down as a single young man with nothing special in
mind...discovered the superb religious art (icons, Santos) started
selling artifacts over the Internet with a resounding success...but
guess what else? Found a beautiful bride and now has one child
with
another on the way!
A
well known retailer in Atlanta helped an entire village of weavers
by
placing orders for hand made shawls embroidered with hummingbirds
(Ecuador is famous for them). Her first sale in the US was for
$60,000!
The opportunities are endless; the rewards divine.
Gary
encourages you to follow your Passion to Profit and we hope that
you will join us in Ecuador, the Land of the Sun!
Merri Scott
P.S.
Focus on Import-Export with Merri and me and tour Ecuador on
our
Import
Export Expedition.
Vendor at local market near our new home in Cotacachi Ecuador
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