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But she always had it in mind to do something with her homeland. For this reason, in one of those many conversations that she had with her husband, a name of hers came up: Ecuamaki, a word that combines Ecuador with hands in Quichua . In this way Aspiazu-Enríquez obtained a trademark, although she was still unsure of the product.
The conversations continued, like a good entrepreneur, and seven years ago she was inspired by the world of superfoods. “I have a degree in real estate, I sell insurance and a notary public. My husband also has his job, but We always dreamed of something of our own. This is how we connected with Ecuadorian entrepreneurs who wanted to place their products in the US market.”
Along the way, this businesswoman spoke to many people. Some had products that worked and some that didn’t. This executive relates that at first Ecuamaki was a showcase of nostalgia products with Ecuadorian sweets and then it evolved into a window of superfoods. “In October of last year we connected with Carlos Jurado, who knows the banana industry well and makes an organic fertilizer made from banana peel. It is an innovation that takes advantage of what many think is waste, but in reality it is a raw material.”
This fertilizer is Ecuamaki’s big bet. “Bringing the product to the US was a process, with testing and analysis to obtain permits. One day we received an order for tons and we were shocked. “It is a high-volume industry.”
Jurado says that he has been making fertilizer with banana peels for six months. This businessman from the banana sector developed the product from scratch with the help of his suppliers. “It is an idea that was born from research and circling the industry. Right now we are shipping 1,000 kilos every month. I think that by the end of the year we will achieve at least a couple of 46,000 kilo containers.” And with these figures, Ecuamaki estimates that it will have income of more than US$5 million this year.
For the distribution of products, Ecuamaki has its e-commerce, but it also relies on e-commerce giants such as Amazon, eBay and Walmart.The three Ecuamaki partners comment that in the United States anything can be done as long as the law is respected and all processes are followed. “We are importers and we have a license. We have met all the requirements,” Enríquez details in a Zoom interview.
The company – which has a team of eight people – also helps as an import agent and with permit issues from the US authorities. “We distribute products with our brand or with the producer’s brand. The idea is to facilitate the entrepreneur who uses our showcase. We always look for products that identify us, that make us present with quality. The vision is to go to the roots of the products,” adds Aspiazu-Enríquez. (I)
