Help, pronto | A conversation with Ivonne Vazquez, principal, VIVA - Virtually Indispensable Virtual Assistants in Gorham
Photo/Courtesy Ivonne Vazquez
Ivonne Vazquez
Founded: June 2009
Employees: One freelancer
Startup costs: $10,000
Projected revenue, year one: $35,000
Projected revenue, year two: $75,000
Contact: 221-6671
PO Box 472, Gorham
www.vivavirtualassistants.com
What is VIVA?
VIVA provides executive administrative and business support services for small and mid-size companies. We provide a variety of support systems, perspectives and ideas to enhance the current operation of a business. For instance, if a business uses Excel spreadsheets to track sales or merchandise or inventory, I can offer advice on how to do it more efficiently. It may be project-specific or something as simple as data entry into a mailing list, but I can provide ideas and advice on how to work more efficiently in their day to day office duties.
Why did you start this company?
I have over 25 years of experience in a variety of business settings. I’ve worked in international executive search firms, wholesale and I’ve owned my own transportation company. I felt having owned a small business in the past, that it was very important to be able to provide businesses with a more holistic approach to how they work, not just the day to day. I also like to provide a bigger, clearer picture of how they can work more efficiently, how they can delegate some of the work so that they can continue expanding and enhancing their business operation.
How do you market your business?
I attend networking events and I have a fully functioning website that I update and try to expand as much as I can. I attend government vendor workshops, because part of what I offer is also government vendor support for companies that are looking to do business with either the state or federal governments. I’m also a member of the Maine International Trade Center, because part of my business is I speak Spanish as a first language and I offer Spanish-English language services to my clients, especially for those looking to do business overseas with Spanish-speaking countries, or in the United States with Spanish-speaking communities.
What’s been the biggest challenge running this business?
The biggest challenge — and it’s an ongoing challenge — is to educate people about what a virtual assistant is. It’s trying to get people to understand that someone who’s doing this from their own location over a secure server and e-mail is as efficient, if not more efficient, as someone sitting in their office. Maybe they don’t have the financial capability to hire someone full time, but they still need these administrative duties taken care of. By sitting down with my clients, I provide a one-hour free consultation and assess what their needs are and what I can provide to them. It’s the face-to-face meeting at the onset that really does help.
Why did you establish your business in Maine?
I’ve been living in Maine for 20 years so it was a natural course for me. Maine also has quite a few companies that are interested in pursuing international business and one of the fastest growing minority groups in Maine is Spanish-speaking people. So how do businesses target Spanish-speaking populations? Hopefully by using someone such as myself who speaks both Spanish and English and can help with correspondence and customer relations and building those business relationships.
How has the economy affected your business?
It’s actually been positive. If a company is downsizing, they still need this administrative work done and a point person or contact person to take care of the day-to-day, administrative and clerical duties. It’s cost-effective and beneficial for them to hire someone on a contractual basis, pay them a certain amount of money, and only have to worry about time on task. I’ve seen a rise from both small to midsize businesses and also from nonprofits, because the economy has been tough on them and sometimes just delegating those bits that don’t have to be done by your key personnel is a boon.
What do you hope to accomplish with your business in next 3-5 years?
I hope to have several other virtual assistants working for me and expand my business so that we’re working more readily and more easily within different languages. I’d like to become known as the international virtual assistant company.
Interview by Mercedes Grandin
New Ventures profiles young businesses, 6-18 months old. Send your suggestion and contact information to editorial@mainebiz.biz.
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