Naybaz Creates Opportunities for Belizean Entrepreneurs

Owning and operating a successful business is, perhaps, at the top of the list of achievements for Belizean entrepreneurs. Naybaz, a Bowen and Bowen Holdings Limited company, is making this a reality for entrepreneurs across the country. To date, the company has entered into partnerships with more than fifty Belizeans that are passionate about managing their own convenience store. These partners are equipped with all the necessary resources and skills to operate a successful company. They are then released into their communities to do just that. News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at the business model and how it is empowering individuals and communities. Here is that report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Naybaz Stores have been popping up across the country over the last few years, leaving many to wonder who owns this franchise and how are their numbers increasing so rapidly. Naybaz is a subsidiary of Bowen and Bowen Holdings Limited. Fifty-two stores are currently in operation. Jason Solis is the Director of Retail Stores at Naybaz.

 

Jason Solis, Director of Retail Stores, Naybaz

“The idea is rooted in our mission as Bowen and Bowen. Our mission is to build a stronger Belize and so Naybaz is a direct result of that mission whereby we get to support our Belizean entrepreneurs and in effect we also get to support our local communities across our country.”

 

Beatrice Flores is a Naybaz Partner. She manages a Naybaz Store on Chetumal Boulevard in Belize City. Flores and other Belizean entrepreneurs, like herself, are the backbone of Naybaz’s operation.

 

Beatrice Flores, Naybaz Partner

“I started as a cashier for one of the partners up in Ladyville. Basically they gave me the opportunity to work with them as one of their partners. Me as a business person, I like being independent, so I took the opportunity from them.”

 

Jason Solis

“That is exactly what it is, it is a partnership between Bowen and Bowen and the Belizean entrepreneur, so that partnership is whereby we support our local entrepreneurs. We support them in terms of stock, we support them in terms of marketing, we support them in terms of sale support, inventory, capital support, skill training, IT support.”

 

Flores is a mother of two. She has been a Naybaz partner for the last two years. She operates her location as an independent entity and receives the majority share of the profits derived from the store’s revenue, according to Solis. Flores started working in retail as a cashier at a supermarket.

 

Beatrice Flores

“They helped me learning managing, advertise more the business, how to communicate with customers, give a warm feeling to every customer that comes into the store. Honestly it is great. Like I said, they give you an opportunity to flourish, to grow and you feel more positive, the positive energy about yourself that you can actually do something in life, that you can actually manage a sytore on your own without doubting yourself.”

 

Each of the fifty two stores in operation is managed by entrepreneurs like Flores. Bowen and Bowen is the primary investor in Naybaz Stores, but the products on the shelves are not confined to what they produce.

 

Jason Solis

“We have seen house wives go from sitting at home to run a Naybaz up from their home. I think that is powerful. We have seen villages like Georgeville, popular individuals get a Naybaz store, they know everybody in the neighborhood, in the village and the profit they get they are able to help out kids in the villages. We are not here to compete against the current retail market that exist. What we are doing is we are looking for where there is opportunity for a convenient shopping experience, where there is opportunity for comfortable shopping experience. We make that analysis and decided whether we feel like a store would be good in this area or not. Our Naybaz partners purchase Bowen products at the same prices. They do not get any preferential price or treatment and Naybaz stores also sells non-Bowen and Bowen products because we have to cater to our communities and the demand.”

 

Beatrice Flores

“It does give me much pride and my sons look at me and say my mommy can do this, because I have two sons and I really feel proud.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How old are your sons?”

 

Beatrice Flores

“One of them is eight and the next one is seven.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And they see mommy as a full time business owner.”

 

Beatrice Flores

“Yes they do, yeah.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.