A single mother in Mexico City sells bottled water on the street accompanied by her pet duck, Merlín [1, 2].
The vendor's unique approach highlights the creative survival strategies used by informal workers in Mexico's capital to provide for their families. By utilizing the animal to draw attention, she transforms a common street trade into a point of interest for pedestrians.
The woman operates within the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City [2]. She sells each bottle of water for 10 pesos [2]. Reports said she uses the duck as a strategy to attract more clients to her business [1, 2].
This method of street vending serves as a means to generate the income necessary to maintain her children [1, 2]. While selling water is a common sight in the city, the presence of Merlín differentiates her stall from others in the area. The vendor shares stories of family sacrifice and effort with those who stop to see the bird [1, 2].
Records of her activity were highlighted in reports from October 2023 [2]. The duck, whose name is spelled as either Merlín or Merlyn depending on the source [1, 2], has become a fixture of her daily routine in the public thoroughfares of the borough. Her story underscores the intersection of animal companionship and economic necessity in urban environments.
“A single mother in Mexico City sells bottled water on the street accompanied by her pet duck, Merlín.”
This story illustrates the prevalence of the informal economy in Mexico City, where vendors often rely on 'attraction marketing' to compete in saturated markets. The use of a pet to increase visibility reflects a grassroots effort to secure financial stability in an environment where formal employment may be inaccessible for single parents.
