Case Studies

30/10/2008
Florinda Henderson - Incallajta

Case Study of: Florinda Henderson

My name is Florinda Henderson. I am Bolivian, married with children and living in Yorkshire since 1991. My business is called “Incallajta” which means “Land of the Incas”. I started my business in April 2003, which sells Bolivian crafts and helps to maintain the traditional crafts from South America.

When I went to see my family in 2003, my sister lent me the money to bring back some crafts made in Bolivia. These sold one day a week in York Market (although I lived in Leeds at the time) because I thought tourists were more likely to buy the products. Then slowly I brought more items in a wider variety. I was motivated to being able to meet the craftsmen and women who make the crafts I sell.

At first I didn’t know how the system worked in England, and was having to reinvest all my earnings in new stock. I have learned a lot both from experience and from courses. Selling in the market is very hard and I don’t want to do this permanently. I would like to rent a shop but this is very expensive, so in the meantime I took advice and started to develop and website.

I had no advice when I first started but then I went to the Business Advice Centre in Fishergate, York for help because I wanted a shop. They advised me to consider a website instead, so I decided to develop one as a way of expanding the business. Then I found out about YNYCC-Women in Enterprise from an Ethnic Workshop that was being run by York College and the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Women in Enterprise Initiative, where I met Sue McKeon, Business Coach.

What do I know today that I wish I had known when I had started?

I wish I had known more about how businesses work in England, or that I could have met someone from England who wanted to work in selling Bolivian Crafts.