LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas’ Latino-owned companies are adapting to new challenges from clients’ anxiousness, elevated product prices, and the dearth of the Tremendous Bowl this 12 months.
The Latin Chamber of Commerce has helped Nevada companies for practically 50 years, however the previous few months have offered new challenges for the success of its members.
“When we’re still out here not knowing who’s going to get picked up, who’s next, that creates a little bit of uncertainty, which creates fluctuation in the market,” Peter Guzman, president of the Latin Chamber of Commerce in Nevada stated. “And that’s not what businesses like. Businesses like to know what’s coming. They like stability. And there’s, there’s just not enough of that right now because of the immigration situation.”
Guzman has labored for the chamber for nearly 30 years, beginning on a volunteer foundation, and says for the previous 15 years he hoped and pursued altering in coverage, not politics.
“I’ve been pushing for comprehensive immigration reform,” he stated. “I like policy because that’s what businesses need.”
Peter Guzman, president of the Latin Chamber of Commerce in Nevada (KLAS)
The chamber’s coverage has come to the help of many Latino-owned companies: a $250,000 grant for small companies, mentorship applications, bilingual DETR management occasions, and a Financial institution of America partnership.
“We have this thing called Cafecito, which is predominantly women entrepreneurs in a room once a month,” Guzman stated. “Getting just such valuable information to make sure that they maybe avoid some of the pitfalls.”
Final 12 months, the chamber additionally helped Antonio Munoz, proprietor of 911 Tacos, discover a brand new location after increasing out of a business kitchen.
“They brought us that opportunity, and we took advantage of it too,” Munoz stated.
Final 12 months, the chamber additionally helped Antonio Munoz, proprietor of 911 Tacos, discover a new location after increasing out of a business kitchen. (KLAS)
The slowdown in clients is impacting the Boulevard Mall taco bar, in keeping with Munoz.
“Comparing year to year, this is a slower time where we saw probably about a twenty percent decrease in sales in the past six months,” he stated.
A number of elements are at play, in keeping with Munoz: meat costs by no means considerably dropped after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tremendous Bowl isn’t in Las Vegas this 12 months, and tourism has seen a stoop.
“I can’t say that tariffs are an issue with us, because most of the stuff that we purchase is made in the United States,” Munoz stated.
The Latin Chamber of Commerce has helped Nevada companies for practically 50 years, however the previous few months have offered new challenges for the success of its members. (KLAS)
Munoz stated the challenges, each outdated and new, haven’t stopped him from adapting and discovering what brings clients to his taco bar—together with a karaoke evening. 8 Information Now requested Munoz for a number of menu suggestions for future clients studying this story.
“You know my favorite is the ribeye, and I really love the shrimp tacos, it’s a Baja-style taco with a Chipotle cream sauce,” he stated. “It’s amazing. It’s fresh and it’s delicious.”
