It can be difficult for small businesses to secure the financing they need to fuel growth. But funding from UPS Capital Cargo Finance^® has helped one company overcome this challenge and its customers are reaping the rewards – in the form of homegrown fruits and vegetables.

Amerinada Distributors imports and distributes indoor horticultural supplies and accessories that make it possible to grow blueberries in your living room, strawberries in your den and green beans in your kitchen throughout the year.

Although Amerinada is a growing part of a $20 billion industry, high product turnover and long transit times for imported inventory led to cash flow problems.

Unlike traditional lenders, UPS Capital^® uses in-transit inventory as collateral, enabling companies like Amerinada to borrow against imports that are still several weeks away from arriving in the United States. UPS Capital advances Amerinada 50 percent of the value of its in-transit inventory to help pay suppliers who want payment before goods are shipped.

“Cash flow was a real problem for us, but the line of credit has helped us free up more cash,” said CEO Sheldon Aberman.  “We’ve seen an instant 40 percent increase in sales volume.”

This type of financing is only possible because Amerinada relies on UPS Supply Chain Solutions to manage the transportation of their inventory, and UPS tracking technologies facilitate visibility and control of the inventory along the supply chain.