A little piece of haven

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El Paso’s national profile is generally what many El Pasoans see when they live in this town: A “small” big city without a chance to grow in these harsh economic times. Despite what many people think of their town, this is not the case. El Paso’s growth is actually much more drastic that what most citizens notice. Let us take a look at the facts:

Myth #1 – You can’t find a job in El Paso.

While it is true that we currently have a 9.5% unemployment ratio, we are still under the national average, which is 9.6; in addition, before the 2008 market recession, we were close to full employment, with the unemployment ratio at 5.6% during 2007. It is important to remark that there is a trend which suggests that El Paso could come out of this high unemployment in the next 2 years or so.

Myth #2 – El Paso doesn’t have enough teachers.

Even though the quality of the school systems is always debatable, the number of education jobs has increased heavily since 2000. This is mainly due because of the Paul Foster Medical School, which has allowed a near 47% increase to the field. The opening of University Medical Center has also contributed to this increase.

Myth #3 – People have stopped buying due to the recession

Despite the fact that there was an approximate $800 thousand decrease in consumer spending in 2009, that number is at its highest point in the past decade with a near 1.2 million increase, leading to an $8.6 million total. It should also be noted that this amount is on track with El Paso’s rising sales prior to the recession.

While some economists still debate over the timeline of the recession, one thing can be understood; El Paso is coming out of this recession stronger than ever.

Source: REDCO Business Barometers, 2011

Ruby Mijares, owner of Fudge-n- More spoke to us about how she has been able to keep the family owned business firm and traditional for her customers, in this harsh economy.

For ten years she has been dedicated to provide to her customers good quality deserts for any occasion. Favorites include chocolate covered strawberries, brownies, and of course, fudge.

Ruby has managed to keep her business running with a simple motto: “a day at a time”. She has dedicated to make her place feel like home; which it’s evident when you enter her store, located at 914 N. Mesa St: a small locality, filled with motivating cards and figurines, showing also a lot of Miner Pride. Ruby makes people feel welcome and special by treating everyone as part of her family. “I think about what I’m going to give them [her customers]”, she said.

In the background, her older son helps her with the making of the treats. “My other children help me when they can”. She also keeps photo albums of most customers that enter the locale.

She spoke to us about an incident that shows her dedication to her customers. A fire broke out in a building in the same street as her store. The fire department closed the block and prevented her to fulfill a major order requested for that day. After getting permission from the fire chief to enter her building, she was able to get her kitchen utensils and meet the order in time. “I never reject an order no matter how big”, Ruby says proudly.

To satisfy the best seller item on her menu, the chocolate-covered strawberries, she buys the strawberries anywhere she can. These are sold year round, however, they are most popular around Valentine’s Day, one of the strongest, if not the best time for her business.

Ruby invites us to feel the passion she puts in her place to make her customers feel welcome and part of a family

From experience, I have learned that it is a lot easier to open a business in the United States than in Mexico. Everything is simpler and you can do it all through the internet and in fifteen minutes you have your business. The whole system is made to work for the consumer and we would have never expected such the great demand that we have here and the facility that we have witnessed to opening your own business. Opening a business in Mexico can carry a more tedious process.

We can’t give up on Juarez. Unfortunately, it’s a very sad situation and for thirty years we have been giving it our all and to see what is happening in Juarez is a very lamentable feeling. Thanks to God we had the opportunity to move to El Paso and unfortunately millions of people do not have the opportunity to move because they are trying to earn a living by getting by each day. However, I think that with the new governor, things have a chance to turn around. Maybe not drastically, but there is hope that maybe they can have the capacity to solve the problem. We are expecting a lot from them. We are currently in hard times but it is important to still maintain hope.”

In Mexico it is a lot more complicated to fit the requirements to have a business, but the consumers are a lot more loyal when it comes to sticking to the product. For example, in El Paso people can maybe pass a business while driving and see that it is very nice and attractive. However, that is not always enough to lure the client in. Although the process of having a business in the United States is simple, in order to have more costumers it is important to implement a marketing strategy. In Mexico this is not as necessary – people just go. We did sell more ice cream portions in Juarez and at a smaller price. In El Paso, we are selling less but the ice cream is more expensive. In the end, there is better utility in El Paso. In Mexico, the minimum wage is up to 30 to 50 pesos a day, while in the United States it is $7.50 per hour.

The violence in Juarez has affected my rhythm of life. I practically had to change my residence from night to morning.  Leaving your family and your friends and inclusively your own property is something that is very difficult. Abandoning many things and starting all over again with few friends and with a new lifestyle that is 40% more expensive than what you are accustomed, is not easy. I am originally from Juarez and now I just visit my hometown only once a month to see any issues with my house and I immediately go back to El Paso.

I believe it is going to be very difficult to recuperate the economy and the trust of the employees in Juarez. Even if the violence were to end today, I think the recuperation of trust and getting rid of the fear to invest in Juarez or in Mexico in general in order to generate employment is going to take a while. I have basically witnessed that the people that move to El Paso in order to escape the violence in Juarez are mainly owners of a business that have the necessary income to move. The owners that are closing their businesses in Juarez are leaving many employees without a job and this is causing a chaos in the economy. It is very unfortunate for those that do not have the necessary means to move to a safer environment. As directors of a franchise business, we have at least two years without seeing any possible clients that are interested in opening Gelato in Mexico. They are terrified of investing, much less going to Juarez.

1. La violencia en Juarez si ha afectado mi ritmo de vida cambiar residencia de noche a la maniana. Dejar familia y amigosinclusive tu casa propia es algo muy difícil y aqui pues cambiarte tan rápido abandonas muchas cosas y aquí es empesar de nuevo con algunas amistades y con la vida un 40% mas caro de lo que estamos acostumbrados. Una vez al mes para ver la casa y me regreso. Yo creo que va a ser muy difícil la recuperación de la confianza de el emplealdor en Juarez aun que la violencia se acabara el dia de hoy yo creo que este efecto de esta confianza tomoara por lo menos 3 anios al que el empleados o inversionista tenga la confianza de volver a invertir en ciudad Juarez y asi general empleo. YO básicamente veo que la persona que viene a el paso es el duenio de la tienda esta gerando un caos en la económica en Juarez y la gente se queda sin trabajo. Algo importante también es la confianza de la recuperación del empleo va a ser muy difícil. Nosotros como directivos de la franchisia, tenemos [por lo menos 2 anios sin recibir visitas posible compredadors de nuesta marca en la republica. Porque tienen miedo de ir a Juarez. Llevamos la propuesta de la tienda Mexico y fue una de los detonantes que los aurillo a abrir a El Paso. Para ver las tiendas modelos que hay aquí en el paso. Por eso mencionaba que trabajamos bajo el eschemo.
2. Empesamos en el 2005 y el de el paso abrimos el 21 de diciembre del 2009. Bajo un sistema de francisia. Abrimos en mexico bajo francisia.
3. Me motivo que es un producto de impulo que caundo la gente lo ve la gente se la antoja consumir y de muy fácil control de los desperdicions.
4. Dado que arreglue mis papels y que en Juarez y que estaba percivieando tiempo a la baja decidimos con el continuar con el crecimie nto del mercado americano que son altos consumidores de helado y que en especial entienden mucho sobre la cultura de gelato.
5. Directamente yo no recibi extgortion pero si llegaron a subrir agresiones o asaltos los empleados de lo confianza. Le rebaron su carro.
6. El 60% DE LA  gente que conozco que se dedica al giro restaurantero de la construction o en general empresarios ha tenido un tipo de extorción o de asalto dentro de sus negocios a mano armada.
7. En Mexico es mucho mas complicada cumplir con los reqesitos para tener un negocio pero la gente es mucho mas noble a momento de consumir el producto. En Mexico se usa que la En El paso el proceso es sumamente sencillo pero para tener consumo de la gente aquí es muy importante y necesario un buen marketing de lo que la gente va a consumir. En Mexico no es necesario la gente nomas va. Vendemos mas porciones en Juarez pero a menor costo a mucho mejor costo para el consumido que en estados unidos. Alla vendemos mas helados pero es mas barato. Aquí vendemos menos pero es mas caro. Al final hay mejor utilidad en El Paso. El Salario minimo en Mexico esta entre 3 a 5 dolares al dia y en e.u. es de 7.50 la hora.

When pursuing your life’s goals and dreams we know that actions, rather than words, help us achieve them. All it takes is to make the first move and keep going forward. With financial security we need to follow a similar pattern in order to be successful.

We all have priorities and important things in life. My question would be: have you taken any actions to better protect these financial priorities or even considered them? The following steps are to help you consider taking some actions towards them.

A long term plan is crucial because you want your assets to build over time. A plan like this can help reduce risk on the financial security in retirement.

Have you started saving for retirement or even calculated an estimate of how much money is needed to retire and at what age? Having a monthly budget and saving can help you achieve these goals. Talking to a financial representative about investing towards your retirement also helps. If you do have something set in place with your employer, take the time to look over your benefits and their details.

Insurance is a form of risk management and helps reduce your risk by hedging against an uncertain loss. With your current savings and financial securities are you fully prepared to cover the loss of the uncertainty? There are several things that a person will not take into consideration when it comes to reducing risk. When we talk about an unsure loss we are talking about a loss of an income to the loss of a person. These incidents come unexpectedly and a person should be prepared by reducing their risk. There are different types of insurances to help protect a family or an individual. Disability insurance helps protect an income in the event of a person becoming sick or injured and cannot perform their job. Life insurance can be used for several methods such as providing for expenses, covering debt, higher education, or other financial goals in the event of death striking. With these fundamentals you can feel confident that your family or you are financially protected even in the worst-case scenario.

Managing your risk and taking actions towards your personal goals and financial security plans is very important especially in the economy we live in. Take the time to look over your portfolio or start one by consulting with an expert that can help you meet your detailed plans and reduce your risk of the uncertain.

The establishment, located at 318 N. Mesa, is the realization of an idea that began in the mind of Raul Gonzalez, nick named “Rulis.” The concept behind Rulis’ International Kitchen is a twist on fine dining: express gourmet. Rulis wishes that his customers experience an elegant atmosphere combined with a “laid back attitude.” Rulis’ is a great place to enjoy a glass of wine or a delicious frothy beer. The prices are structured so that they are accessible to more than 90% of the local population. UTEP students on a budget can enjoy a gourmet meal just a few blocks away from campus.

Lately, there has been a growing trend toward higher quality food and beverage. Shows such as Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, and the popular Food Network have allowed anyone with a television to become a “food connoisseur”. Rulis’ has catered towards this trend by providing high quality meals at an affordable price.

The food is delicious, varied, and innovative. True to the owner’s word, despite the variety and elegance of the meals, the restaurant still manages to remain down to earth. The menu varies from breakfast to dinner.

For breakfast, one can have waffles topped with fruit that varies with the seasons. Another good option are the breakfast sandwiches, like the St. Dennis Ciabatta which consists of scrambled eggs, mushrooms, and ham in wine sauce served on a ciabatta roll.

For lunch and dinner, a great dish is the Gambas al Ajillo; an entrée made up of six tiger prawns marinated, sautéed, and served in spicy garlic-chili oil. Another option is the Patatas Bravas; a dish that consists of thick cut potatoes spiced up and served with a cilantro aioli and a chipotle aioli. Another personal favorite is the Cuban Panino; a dish that consists of grilled pork tenderloin, black forest ham, pickles, mustard, homemade aioli, and Swiss cheese on a ciabatta roll. The sides range from kettle chips to fried green beans.

Superb food is not the only thing Rulis’ has to offer. Hand in hand with the concept of elegance and a laid back attitude is the restaurant’s recent addition of wine and beer. Rulis said he wants everyone to know that “anyone can drink wine” and “you don’t have to be rich” to enjoy a glass. On that basis, Rulis’ regularly holds wine and beer tastings. Alternating every week is Wine 101 and Beer 101; two events where anyone can learn the basics of wine and beer.

Rulis’ International Kitchen invites anyone who wishes to enjoy a superb meal at an affordable price in a casual yet class atmosphere. For more information, visit their website at www.rulisik.com.