For troubled businesses, some advice
A series of workshops aimed at assisting local small businesses will not do much to help rescue failing Brazilian businesses downtown, says one owner.
Vera Dias-Freitas, co-owner of Vera Jewelers on Concord Street, called the workshops nothing more than an empty gesture.
"I think that they're good people with good intentions, but a little too late," Dias-Freitas said, adding that she believes she will not be able to keep her business afloat. Rather than the Band-Aid offered by the workshops, she said, "we need a surgery. The businesses are falling apart."
This week's session, planned for Thursday night in the Memorial Building downtown, will address cash flow for businesses, and is being led by SCORE, or the Service Corps of Retired Executives, a nonprofit organization that offers advice to entrepreneurs and promotes the growth of small businesses. The first workshop, held last Thursday, addressed marketing, of particular concern to many of the Brazilian businesses as they strive to broaden their appeal, say organizers.
The workshops are being sponsored by the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, the town, and other local organizations.
"The idea is that everybody needs this kind of information now that the economy is slowing down," said Ted Welte, president and CEO of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce. "It's all about being creative and how you can reach out to broader audiences with not as many resources."
In contrast to Dias-Freitas, another Brazilian business owner says his peers would do well to attend the workshops because they need to learn how to adjust to a different business atmosphere.
"People have to stop hanging those Brazilian flags in front," said Pablo Maia, owner of Pablo Maia Realty Group. "That makes customers stop and think the businesses only speak Portuguese."
Maia said he thinks Framingham officials have done a lot to help the community. "Brazilians cannot just sit around and expect the government to step in and help them," he said. "They have to change their mentality."
The town, with a Brazilian population of 15,000 to 18,000, according to the Allston-based Brazilian Immigrant Center, has in recent months seen some Brazilians leave, partly due to growing anti-immigrant sentiment and the weak dollar.
As Brazilian clients have left, businesses have had to scramble for ways to cater to a broader audience in order to get by. Helping to keep the businesses alive is an important part of Framingham's overall downtown revitalization, organizers say.
"I think we're putting an effort on many fronts and help where we can, and this is one of the things; it's not a fix or cure-all," Erika Jerram Oliver, Framingham's town planner, said of the workshops. "We're trying to find ways to bring people downtown, and keeping the businesses here open is one strategy."
Jerram Oliver said the town is trying to turn the workshops into an ongoing effort as a resource for local businesses.
John Steacie, chairman of Framingham Downtown Renaissance, a coalition of community groups that promotes the area's revitalization, said part of the problem is that the Brazilian business owners need to get more involved.
"We've got two problems," he said. "The Brazilian businesses themselves, and what do we actually need for downtown to appeal to people."
Steacie said one of its needs is to have more diversity in its offerings, as there are too many of the same kinds of businesses, such as beauty salons and travel agencies.
But shop owner Dias-Freitas says there should be more of a concerted effort by the town.
"Our businesses are not a liability," she said. "We are an asset for this community and they should help in times of struggle."
The cash flow workshop will run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Ablondi Room of the Memorial Building, at 150 Concord St. in Framingham. Call 508-532-5455 for more information. 