El Emprendedor que Vendía Empanadas en La Calle y Ahora Tiene 5 Locales 🤔📝

The story of Alejandro Rodríguez, founder of "La Garosa." When he was in school, he sold candy, soccer jerseys, and tea to his classmates, but teachers harassed him and took his products away. After finishing school, he started selling empanadas on the streets of his city and grew little by little with patience and determination. Today, he is a successful entrepreneur, with five establishments, employing more than 80 people, and earning around $700,000 annually… How did he do it? The protagonist of this story is Alejandro Rodríguez, a young Colombian born on November 6, 1996, in Bogotá. In 2013, after graduating from high school at the age of 17, he told his grandmother that he wanted to start his own business. She gave him what Alejandro considers one of the best pieces of advice he's ever received: "My son, make what sells the most, which is empanadas." Those were his words. Initially, he wasn't sure he would do it because he thought about what his friends might say when they saw him selling empanadas, but he convinced himself that "money doesn't come with shame" and asked his grandmother to please explain how to make empanadas. She agreed to teach him and shared her recipe with him. Little by little, the young man began practicing the recipe until he perfected it. Then, with a capital of 50,000 Colombian pesos, equivalent to about $12 USD, he bought a Styrofoam cooler and ingredients to make his first batch of empanadas. Filled with determination, he went out onto the streets of his neighborhood to sell them to his neighbors and friends. With a lot of patience, Alejandro managed to carve out a niche in the market. His business became the favorite choice for several customers who would find him every Saturday to enjoy his empanadas for breakfast. He also began launching new products, such as corn water, which he offered in unlimited combos with the empanadas. The home factory he had set up in his parents' house became too small, so he looked for a much larger space. In this new location, he experimented with creating pizzas, cookies, brownies, cakes, cheese sticks, and other baked goods. In the mornings, he delivered orders to schools, and in the afternoons, he went out to sell the other products by shouting on the city streets. At the end of 2019, as the December season approached, Alejandro and his team began preparing to take advantage of the season by offering products like buñuelos and panes con jamón, which sell very well during this time of year. However, that December would be different… A friend asked them: "Why don't you make a buñuelo filled with lots of cheese?" They loved the idea, so they immediately got to work and launched the product under the name "Buqueso." They posted it on social media, and the next day the business was filled with people looking for that succulent buñuelo filled with cheese. The following days were the same: long lines of people waiting for their Buqueso. Over the next few months, the company continued with its growth plans. Alejandro invested in consulting with experts who would help him provide structure and a clear strategy for the business, factors he considers very important for business success. He also leveraged media outlets to make his story and company known to more people. Currently, La Garosa has five establishments, employs more than 80 people, and generates approximately $700,000 annually. Throughout its history, it has received various recognitions and awards for its impact on the city of Barranquilla, including Caribe Exponencial and Quilla Innova. In the coming years, it plans to continue expanding to other Colombian cities and gaining ground in the international market, bringing its delicious products to countries such as the United States, Panama, and Mexico. Alejandro, for his part, is 25 years old and continues to serve as the company's CEO. In his free time, he gives entrepreneurship conferences and workshops under his motto: "Pain doesn't make money," seeking to inspire other entrepreneurs. For him, the most satisfying part of entrepreneurship is being able to help many families with decent employment, knowing that what you do contributes to the growth of your city and your country, being able to impact the lives of others, and having a quality of life in terms of time and resources for yourself and your future generations. This concludes the inspiring story of Alejandro Rodríguez, a determined and passionate entrepreneur who didn't stop in the face of the obstacles he encountered along the way. More success stories at: https://www.negociosyemprendimiento.org/ Video credits used: • Big Stock Photo • Pexels, Pixabay Remember to subscribe to continue enjoying our videos. #Entrepreneurs #Success #Business