The king of the hammocks

Another in my series of translations of Dia a Dia’s People like me. The real stories of real micro entrepreneurs in Panama.

Rey de las hamacas

Evidelia Velásquez | DIAaDIA

Walking beside the Avenida Federico Boyd offering the hammocks, which provides substinance for his family.

Ricardo Valdivieso says that due the lack of work he decided to start a business a year ago, because the life can’t improve without doing anything. (ED. I wish people in Denmark would think like Ricardo).

His brother and he joined their capital and bought merchandise like hammocks, diaries and accessories for cellulars. Since then they have been on the street every day from 9am offering their goods to the motorists who pass by this street.

According to Ricardo, the quincena (paydays) are the best, because sometimes they sell their entire stock. What people most want at these times are the hammocks. People love to bring them on trips to the beach or river.

Richard is the father of a girl and says that for him working hard to provide her with everything she needs is the most important thing. He is also the only bread winner in their home.

He thinks it’s much better to be doing something beneficial than to be doing nothing and have nothing to eat.

Ricardo says he chose this spot because of the afluence of the people who pass.

Since he was a boy his dad taught him that his first priority should be to earn a living in a healthy and decent way. Because of this his brother and him carry out this work together, so they this way can help them selves and each other.

“The family is one of the most important things in the life of people, for this all of the human beings must fight to conserve it and give it all the love and respect that it deserves”, says Ricardo.

Fotos: Mirna Rogers.

Cost

Each hammock has a price of 13 and 15 dollars, which represents a profit of 3 to 5 dollars each.