Tags
frustrating things about ecuador, monkey making ideas in ecuador, things you miss in latin america, what do i need to bring to ecuador
Moonlighting! Sidewalk Broom Factory – Cruzita Ecuador
Are you looking for a simple business in a tropical country with low overhead and a chance to sell to a captive market? Three options come to mind, and perhaps one might pique your interest!
1. BROOMS – Someone laughed once when I suggested opening a broom-manufacturing company as a way to make money in Ecuador.
Quickly I retorted, “I’m not kidding! I haven’t found a decent broom in this country! There were no good brooms in Costa Rica either!”
The type of brooms pictured above work well for scrubbing a concrete floor in an open area, but they are lousy at reaching beneath furniture or coaxing the dirt from corners. (Do I hear an “Amen’ from other keepers of the casitas?) These brooms are sold in local markets, along with equally-frustrating plastic versions.
Once I saw an old man peddling old-fashioned straw brooms, and I regret not buying one. (Or three!) One thinks twice before buying something that has to tag along on the bus journey home!
The Crazy Hubbub of Santo Domingo de los Colorados
About six months ago I spotted a spiffy model in one of the larger supermarket chains. “Yippee! A decent broom!” I proudly paid twice the price of the common brooms, though I did not retrieve the handle. One ponders every item before transporting it back on a five-hour bus journey, and the handle from an old broom would work fine!
Look closely; did the shoe truly fit?
Sigh; the old broomstick did not fit, so the next time I was in that market, I asked for assistance, but the young guy couldn’t find a handle to fit that style of broom! I returned home and found a way to marry the new model to the old broomstick!
Hey! The splint worked!
What’s next?
Some of you who live in a tropical climate probably know what’s next!
2. MATCHES – One often needs a good supply of candles and matches in the rainy season when power failures (in the country) happen regularly. Do you think that the manufacturers personally test these products?
One has to hold the match perilously close to the head, or it bends or snaps! (And it bends and snaps anyway!) In the rainy season, the matches are moist from humidity, so one might strike a dozen or so matches before getting a flame! Try lighting a gas cook top with one of those tiny matches!
How many matches to light the stove top without burning one’s fingers?
Usually I triple the matches, attempt to strike them, then light a candle, then light the stove top burner… (-No, usually I reach for the pistol lighter!)
Why are companies so frugal with the wood? I remain baffled! When one strikes a dozen duds before achieving success, couldn’t they just make stronger matches and not put so many per box?
3. CLOTHESPINS – Roll that thought to the clothespins; I was so pleased to see wooden clothes pins – until I used them!
They too are undersized and flimsy. When I hung a few small unframed watercolors from a line, the brand new clothespins often twisted apart and broke! The petite plastic ones have their faults as well. The tropical heat weakens the plastic, which eventually snaps!
Luchy and Cesar after a Zeebra Tuesday feast!
The next time you strike a match, and it’s a strong little burro of a matchstick, would you wrap that little box and send it priority express to me in Ecuador?!!! (And throw in some clothespins and a few good brooms as well!)
If anyone is considering one of these unique business opportunities, I volunteer to help with a logo in exchange for a percent of your gross! I might even find a few hard-working employees or a general manager wearing a big smile!
Escobas, anyone? See many examples of wood on this week’s Where’s My Backpack.
Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.
Hehe, could use a place in the sun, so maybe brooms… 😉
Fun! They couild be magic brooms to compliment the magic carpet! You’re surely ready for longer and sunnier days! z
You always make me smile!!! Thank you…
ha! if only everyone were so easy to please! thanks! z
Hey….send me your address and I’ll send you matches…no, wait, the USPS probably wouldn’t let that happen. Dang it. Isn’t it the simplest of stuff that makes life flow?
you’re right; matches would probably cause problems, though travelerlynne suggested that i send the magic carpet.. i’ll exchange tropical flowers and organic shrimp for a case of sturdy matches!
What a delightful post, Lisa. One would think that these items are standard throughout the world, but obviously they aren’t.Send the magic carpet back and I’ll load it down. 🙂
buenos dias! the internet was too sluggish to reply last night, and it’s being tempermental this morning. i’m going to log off and hop on the magic carpet instead to deliver my thanks in person! see you and ron soon~ (so far i’ve not been able to load his post this morning..i’m sure it’s a lovely one as always.)
Very eclectic group of photos!
thanks! yes, they are a bit eclectic, aren’t they?!!! have a good day! z
My brother owns a broom and mop factory in Thibodaux Louisiana. Still hand made use the old fashion machines. Cancienne’s Broom and Mop factory. When I go home I bring back some supplies.
well tell that brother of yours to COME ON DOWN and set up shop!
i’d love to see a broom and mop factory!
google’s image search gleamed a great story! http://povhouma.com/made-in-usa/
how very interesting! z
amen to all three, especially the matches and let’s not even mention the cost of the clothespins. No wonder they keep disappearing off my clothesline. great post Lisa !
oh my; the mystery of the vanishing clothespins!!!!
i’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Oh yes! Brooms. I think I’m going to make a twig broom with my escoba weeds I pull out of the lawn. They have really looong roots. OK..I have three more businesses to add to your list. 1. Bags of ice cubes. Can you find ready made bags of ice cubes? We really need an ice maker machine here. 2. Mops. I have yet to find a decent mop. Every time I go back to the states, I pick up a different kind of mop head. All they have are those heavy stringed mops that splash all the water around the floor. 3. A soft pretzel store like Aunt Annie’s Pretzels. I crave pretzels and we don’t have any here. Your post was so much fun!
how strange; i was thinking of soft pretzels yesterday, and that’s not a food that i often eat or crave, but i pondered making them (and quickly pondered not to make them!)
every time i pull ‘escobas’ i think about making a broom. you and i should both do that, though there are more escobas thriving in the mindo area than here. i’ll wait til i return to mindo!
in costa rica, many people use the ‘top side’ of the escobas for their brooms, but i’m with you – i think those raices are the best part for making a broom.
…(Ice cubes? what are ice cubes?!!!)
A good broom is hard to find anywhere; ditto with clothes pegs. Matches…mmmm…..I now buy the extra long safety matches. They seem to be more robust.
i think of those long safety matches often when i’m trying to light the stove top burner!
sometimes i think of designing my own little skinny broom that reaches hard-to-reach areas.
I am sure you could design something suitable. Do you use solar powered torches or the wonderful little nite lite/torch combo which charges in the socket and then provides torch power if the power goes out?
i haven’t seen those for sale here, though i am rarely in a city to explore those options. in the usa, i usually buy the latter.. i’ll make that a ‘must buy’ when i return to the usa! thanks!
I have them as part of my earthquake kit and my sister found them very useful during the huge cyclone they went through in Cairns a while back.
i had one solar-charged flashlight, but it finally grew old and stopped taking the charge. it didn’t last very long on the charge, but it was nice to have for emergencies!
Yes! One of my solar powered torches has a dynamo as well. I think I am a bit paraoid about being left in the dark. I also have some battery operated LED torches.
I think you’ll enjoy this old Irish proverb: “A new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom knows the corners.” Isn’t that just the truth!
And trust me – matches and brooms are going downhill in this country, too. The best matches I have are those in books collected by my folks as souvenirs – in the 1950s and 1960s! I’m running low, too. Soon I’ll have to start looking for new stock.
i wonder if there’s some kind of hidden omen that parallels to the economy and skimping on what goes into a product…
We planned to go to Ecuador but I was afraid of the crime I read about so we went to Mexico again and I got the horrible travel but and I’m still sick so maybe we should have gone to Ecuador??
Good employment opportunities for sure!!!
ja, and sponges! a good sponge for cleaning is hard to find!
It is interesting the simple inventions we take for granted until they are no longer readily available. I remember the flimsy clothespins only too well during our time in Mexico.
i used the clothespins a few days ago to hang more ‘bare’ watercolors, and if i didn’t ‘squeeze’ them right, they broke!