(Editor’s note: This is the 10th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each is asked their views on minority-business conditions in the state and for ways to improve those businesses’ chances for success. You can read previous installments here.)
Javier Brown | O2J Inc. owner
Javier Brown says he felt lost when he and his family first arrived in Rhode Island from his native Venezuela 20 years ago.
His brothers already lived here, but he didn’t speak English very well. And like many who immigrate to this country, he faced the harsh reality of starting his life over in a foreign land.
“I didn’t know what to do,” recalled Brown, who once had aspirations of being a fighter pilot in his native country before he earned an engineering degree.
After turning to family members in the U.S. for support, he followed the advice of one of his brothers and researched starting a business providing packaging and fulfillment services to other companies. He took the leap in 2001, using money he had saved while working in Venezuela to rent a small 300-square-foot office in Pawtucket and launch O2J Inc.
He also took an English class to become fluent in the language, something that he said was crucial to operating as a minority business owner. He spent four years studying English at the Community College of Rhode Island.
Brown also used the programs and resources provided by the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center at the University of Rhode Island, and SCORE Rhode Island to broaden his business acumen.
In essence, Brown said, he adapted.
“You have to think like American people think,” he said. “Unless you understand that, you will have trouble succeeding in business here.”
Brown said he believes in some cases minorities feel discrimination because they are not getting the responses from the business community that they are seeking. “Sometimes we are the problem due to the fact that we did not do the work to learn what is required,” he said.
Brown does not feel that he is discriminated against, noting that ignorance can be the culprit. “When you don’t speak the language, people can take advantage of you,” he said. “But when you learn it and can speak it properly, people look at you differently.”
Now he is fostering relationships with businesses, 95% of which are owned by Americans who speak English.
In 2008, Brown moved his business into a 1,500-square-foot office. Due to demand, he now occupies a 3,000-square-foot space, managing a growing e-commerce-based packaging, fulfillment and warehousing business. O2J packs and ships as many as 5,000 to 10,000 packages a week for various clients.
Brown said that although his business was thriving before the pandemic, O2J has struggled to survive. He said his company benefited from two Paycheck Protection Program loans, the first one for $22,500, and the second for $11,000 to keep his staff of three employed.
“We are still having a hard time, but we’re moving in the right direction,” Brown said. “It will take a few years to get back to the way things were in 2019. But, most importantly, we’re still in business.”
1. Do you believe racism is keeping minorities from starting businesses in the Ocean State or succeeding when they do? I believe that unfortunately there is still racial discrimination in some sectors of our society, and we must [ensure] that minority businesses have opportunities. However, we have to establish the strategies to help them achieve their objectives in the short, medium and long term.
I always explain to my workers the importance of learning English, as well as understanding the American culture of this great country that opened its doors to us. Ninety-five percent of our customers are Americans, thanks to the fact that I learned English, which opened up new opportunities for my business.
2. How dependent is your business on the support of other minority groups? Is that a sustainable business model? For us, the support we have from other small businesses involves outsourcing some of our services. And it is of great help for both parties because we contribute to the generation of employment, we maintain the profitability of the business and we can offer more-competitive prices. Since we operate in this fashion, we believe that we have built a sustainable business model. It’s all about building and maintaining relationships while keeping the lines of communication open, inside and outside of the minority-business community.
3. What one thing could Rhode Island do to boost the odds for minority-owned business success? I think that the state government, together with organizations such as the Small Business Development Center and the chambers of commerce, should develop annual events where different companies can have the opportunity to promote themselves by making themselves known in the regional market. Equally important is maintaining training programs for owners of companies and maintaining and improving upon incentive programs for small businesses to establish themselves in the state. We could also establish programs in the school system based on the new market trends and demands, especially in areas of science and technology. By using this approach, we would all win, not just minority businesses, by providing resources for small companies, which could aid the state’s economy.
4. Have you had to turn to an entity other than a bank for a loan? Do you believe the state’s lending institutions generally treat minorities fairly? In my experience, I have received fair treatment when using financial tools such as bank loans and lines of credit. We have to remember that banks are businesses that take risks by making loans. So obtaining their financial support is often based on being able to provide a business plan. That plan demonstrates the feasibility of a project, or in other cases demonstrates that we can produce a profit. After all, that is what banks are interested in, profitable businesses that can pay off their loans. So, yes, I believe that banks treat minority businesses fairly.
5. If another minority entrepreneur asked you where they could turn for support for their business, where would you direct them? This is an interesting question that is rarely asked. On the occasions that I have had to give my opinion, I recommended that they contact the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, R.I. Commerce Corp., and SCORE RI, among others. These groups provide various types of support and information, including programs, training, legal assistance and relationships with government institutions. I advise other entrepreneurs to reach out to them for the resources and guidance that they offer.
Cassius Shuman is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Shuman@PBN.com.