The business success of athlete entrepreneurs.

Starting out in the business world could be a good option for high-performance athletes, and the truth is that a strategic plan in an entrepreneurial venture wouldn't be a bad idea, thinking about a better future, whether at the time of retirement or simply an excellent idea to boost their sports career.

However, simply making this decision does not mean that success will be achieved quickly, or even at all; it will all depend on the effort, discipline, ambition, and desire you can inject into the idea.

Athletes, in this case in the surfing community, constantly face various obstacles and need a strong character and high maturity to succeed in a rewarding career. But as if that weren't enough, a surfer must also apply technical criteria in the business field, since they need to be very smart when signing major agreements with different brands or sponsoring companies, generating a good commercial relationship.

The young Costa Rican surfer Aron Álvarez has been characterized by showing great talent on the waves and in every competition he can attend, sometimes with little support and covering his own expenses with effort and work, he confirms that famous saying "where there's a will, there's a way".

Aron and his family, like many other households, were hit hard by the pandemic; however, the athlete's maturity has meant that instead of seeing it as a weakness, he views the whole situation as an entrepreneurial opportunity to get ahead, help his family, and boost his sports career.

In this article, the man from Jacob tells us more about how his new entrepreneurial idea called Alvarez Bakery CR was born, and here we share the interview.

Where did the idea for this project come from?

The idea for this project comes from previous ventures where I used my personal Facebook and Instagram to sell empanadas, to help my family during the pandemic and also to help me buy my surfing accessories.

How will you cover the initial production costs?

I am looking for people who are interested in helping me, who believe in my idea, my mission and my vision, which I have already established for my business, and also to give back to those people who helped me, when my business grows.

Have you considered the time you'll need to invest in the business and that there will be times when you won't be able to surf as often?

Yes, I've thought about the significant time commitment this business requires, and I know there will be times when I'll have to sacrifice surfing. But I've also considered giving my sister and, initially, my family jobs to help me so this doesn't negatively impact my athletic career. I always pray to God to bless my family and my project; this would create work for both them and me.

How did you choose the name of the business?

Based on the above, I chose the name of my business, Alvarez Bakery CR, because it is my family I want to involve initially, and it is my greatest pride to be Aron Alvarez.

What types of products will be available for purchase?

Initially we will have four sweet and four savory products, and in the sweet pastry category we will have:

- banana bread

-rice pudding

- banana bread with ice cream and chocolate

- strawberry charlotte

While in savory pastries the products will be:

- shredded meat pastries

- pulled chicken pastries

- empanadas

- shredded beef and cheese cassava cake

We'll start with these 8 dishes, and as time goes on, we'll add more sweet and savory pastries.

In the medium term, what are your goals in relation to business and surfing?

In the medium term, my business goals are to offer products in Jacó, on the Central Pacific coast, and, God willing, to bring a little bit of my second passion, baking, to all of Costa Rica. This will help me compete nationally and internationally, and allow the world to discover my surfing and, God willing, my baking as well. I want the growth of my small business and my surfing career to go hand in hand.

Aron will begin this new project from home and has scheduled the start of this journey for January 25th.

You can support this venture by the Costa Rican athlete on the company's social media:

Facebook: Alvarez Bakery Cr
Instagram: @AlvarezbakeryCR
Phone number and WhatsApp: 61041386
Email: alvarezbakerycr@gmail.com

Written by: Enrique Hernández

General Management: Marco Montero