In its best year in business, J&K World Trade Inc. of Boothville sold close to 800,000 pounds of Louisiana blue crab, one of Louisiana’s best-loved seafood according to company owner James Kim. Photo: Phillip Colwart Photography
by Louisiana Small Business Development Center staff
Earning their living on and from the waters of the Gulf Coast, the Louisiana Asian-American seafood community tend to keep track of seasons not by the calendar, but by the last big storm that wreaked havoc on their business.
In its best year in business, J&K World Trade Inc. of Boothville sold close to 800,000 pounds of Louisiana blue crab, one of Louisiana’s best-loved seafood. Company owner James Kim remembers the year not just for the record-setting harvest, but because the crabbing season went uninterrupted by a major storm. “We generally get hit every few years,” he said.
Weathering the Big Storms
“Every time a big storm strikes, we know the next year is going to be slow,” said Kim. Photo: Phillip Colwart Photography
In 2005 it was a different story, Hurricane Katrina destroyed his dock where each morning he bought fresh caught crabs from local fishermen.
Though he managed to rebuild the dock, his business took hit after hit during the next several years as Hurricanes Gustav and Ike pummeled the Louisiana coast.
In addition to the structural damage such storms produce, seafood companies suffer because their suppliers are shut down too. Worse still, extreme weather that stirs up the Gulf of Mexico can affect future seafood harvests.
“Every time a big storm strikes, we know the next year is going to be slow,” said the Asian-American businessman.
Nobody can control weather, but Kim has learned how to better shield his business against its impact, thanks in part to assistance from the Louisiana Small Business Development Center – Greater New Orleans Region (LSBDC GNOR).
Help Has a Familiar Face
One of the center’s biggest assets in delivering help to the Asian seafood community is consultant Sandy Nguyen.
A Tulane University graduate specializing in Vietnamese and Asian American business development, Nguyen focuses on the fishing and seafood industries. She has helped numerous businesses in Kim’s hometown.
One of the center’s biggest assets in delivering help to the Asian seafood community is consultant Sandy Nguyen. Photo: Stock
Kim first met Nguyen when she helped him apply for funding to rebuild his dock after Katrina.
After Gustav swept away his dockside equipment, as well as an extended power outage keeping his business shuttered, “I got back in touch with Sandy, and she helped me with the paperwork to get enough money to keep going”, he said.
Disaster recover grants and loans such as Kim’s come from federal agencies, such as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the Small Business Administration. Funds are administered by either a state agency or local bank.
“Periodic disasters are part of the way of life for fishermen,” Nguyen says. “But the industry is vital to the state, so Louisiana steps in after every storm.”
Nguyen says applying for grants and loans can be “a grueling process” because of the paperwork and documentation required, and such work does not come naturally to people in the fishing and seafood industries.
A native of Vietnam, Nguyen was born into a fishing family and married a fisherman. “For the many Croatian and Vietnamese people who do this type of work,” she explained, “language can also be a barrier.”
Assistance on Many Fronts
Helping on many front, she likes the fact her job does not require her to be desk-bound. She enjoys spending a majority of her time working directly with people in local communities and on the docks.
The disaster prevention specialist takes time to explain storm-evacuation procedures and discuss how to protect vital equipment. She also focuses on the importance of proper documentation and record keeping.
“I try to educate people as they get grants and loans, and show them how important it is to have proper documentation in order to apply for assistance,” Nguyen explained. Photo: Stock
“I try to educate people as they get grants and loans, and show them how important it is to have proper documentation in order to apply for assistance,” Nguyen explained.
Working with fishermen and seafood processors on tracking of their daily trip tickets, as well as monthly taxes and profit-and-loss records, she explains the importance to be better prepared to manage recovery after the next storm.
“Typically, right after a disaster, I gather up my business clients and do an immediate needs assessment,” Nguyen said. “Most commercial fishing businesses are surrounded by family members, and if they aren’t operating their families are affected. The goal is to try and get their businesses back as soon as possible.”
BUSINESS IMPACT:
A south Louisiana seafood business whose exposure to hurricanes makes it vulnerable to shutdowns every few years finds better ways to prepare for the inevitable and ensure a faster return to business.
J&K World Trade challenge:
- Need to understand the process for applying for disaster recovery assistance and the importance of maintaining accurate business records.
- Need to better secure the physical assets to either improve storm resistance or enable easy evacuation.
LSBDC Solution:
- Provide hands-on assistance to complete grant and loan applications.
- Teach business owners about record-keeping methods.
- Ensure that owners understand the steps necessary to return to business quickly after a storm or disaster.
- Educate owners on the best ways to secure equipment and other business assets before a storm strikes.
Results:
- The business has a redesigned operating area, with fixed equipment raised to higher levels and other equipment mounted in wheeled vehicles to enable evacuation.
- The business knows what steps it will take before and after a disaster to minimize downtime.
- The owner now is familiar with the process of obtaining disaster assistance.
For more information on emergency preparedness, visit www.lsbdc.org or contact LSBDC GNOR at (504) 831-3730 or lsbdc.gnor@lsbdc.org. The LSBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and participating universities.
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