Meet Bertha
Bertha owns a new and used car parts shop in Houston, TX, which has grown through word of mouth in the community and prides itself on fair and affordable pricing. In 2023, Bertha joined Grameen America to support her business.
Bertha and her husband of 42 years have grown as entrepreneurs together, with their first business selling shoes from Mexico. After deciding to move on from selling shoes, Bertha supported her husband’s new cleaning business by working part-time. A friend of theirs reached out with a new business idea and put Bertha in touch with automotive vendors to help start a car parts shop.
“I didn’t know anything about cars when I first started the business, but I’ve learned on my own. Men are sometimes surprised to see me running a car parts business, but once we start talking about what they need, they are impressed with my expertise.”
Over time, people in the community began visiting the business through word of mouth and Bertha grew her confidence and expertise in car parts. Together, Bertha and her husband source new car parts from vendors or visit flea markets on the weekends to look for used parts.
“Owning a business has helped me feel more independent, patient, and financially secure. I’ve grown personally and professionally. I feel like I’m contributing to my family, but know I can lean on them when there are difficulties.”
Many of Bertha’s customers are truck drivers who own Ford or Chevys from the late 90s to early 2000s. Known for their fair prices, Bertha even gets visitors from outside of Houston.
“I’m thankful to Grameen America for giving me a loan when I needed it the most. When I joined the program, my credit score was low. Through weekly repayments, I’ve been able to increase my credit score from 530 to 700.”
Bertha learned about Grameen America through a neighbor. After she was denied a line of credit to help grow her business, Bertha decided to join the program in 2023. Since then, Bertha has used the microloans to buy more merchandise for her shop to support her business.
“The other women entrepreneurs in my group have become my friends. I get to see many who work nearby and we always share ideas for each other’s businesses.”
In the short-term, Bertha’s goal is to invest in technology, like a computer, to help manage inventory and pricing. Currently, she and her husband do everything manually by hand.
