Story Published:
Nov 10, 2009 at 12:51 AM EDT
Story Updated:
Nov 10, 2009 at 12:51 AM EDT
It's a non descript store on Main Street. Right across from Red Rose, Appliance Plus is a bare bones appliance store to any customer, but to the owner, it's a labor of love and and it's her life.
"It's not easy being a housewife, a business owner, a mom, a wife," Yasmin Cortes says.
Cortes is living her dream. She's a Latino businesswoman with a successful shop.
"To have ownership of a business that is somewhat categorized as a man's position," Cortes says.
Appliance Plus has been hers for the last decade. She takes broken stoves, fridges and washers and fixes them, then sells them on the cheap.
"I always try to put something out here that I would take to my house," Cortes says.
The idea spawned from her childhood. Yasmin came to Springfield at 10 years old, with nothing but her family and some suitcases.
"We came here from Puerto Rico with nothing but our luggage," she says.
It was hard work. Yasmin broke into the business world with no connections, just a dream.
"We've always been fighters from the beginning. My mom pushed us to do better for ourselves," Cortes says.
And mom would be proud. Yasmin achieved a major goal after she graduated from Springfield College in 2007, all while running the business, staying true to herself and her Springfield roots.
It's those humble beginnings from her childhood that links her with her customers. She knows them, because she once was them.
"The economy the way it is these days and how things are impacting families, these types of appliances are economical to them," Cortes says.
Scanning the store, customers wouldn't see anything above a few hundred dollars. Her employees are just like her --- Latinos with a hard work ethic. Cortes is a role model to them, but more importantly to her son.
"I want to show my son, you can grow, you can prosper, and that you can have possibilities in life and what you do with it is up to you," she says.
Cortes' store is open six days a week and is located on Main Street.
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