Archive
Contributor

According to the 4th edition of the UPS Business Monitor Latin America, a common challenge identified by small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is a lack of access to capital financing for investments in their businesses. These investments can range from the hiring of more employees to purchasing specialized equipment, all under the objective of growing the business.

So what’s an SME with an eye on growth to do? UPS Capital®, the financial services arm of UPS, is expanding its Latin American network with the opening of new offices in Bogota, Colombia, and Lima, Peru. SMEs in both markets now have access to credit with very competitive terms and conditions for financing for the purchase of capital equipment through the use of Export Credit Agency guarantees.

Read More »

So what’s so special about Valentine’s Day? Well, for one thing, it’s really the only holiday when it’s okay to give and receive the same gift as everyone else – flowers. With the big day just around the corner, a recent survey from the National Retail Federations reported that 34% of consumers in the United States plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving someone flowers.

It’s no wonder why this holiday ranks as #1 for consumer purchases of fresh-cut flowers, considering that UPS alone typically transports more than 28 million freshly cut flower stems between late January and Feb. 14 each year. That’s a lot of flowers. With such a heavy demand, it makes you think about just who it is that supplies this astronomical amount of flowers, and even more so about what happens after these flowers are cut, groomed and packaged.

Read More »

As with any year, the latter months are often filled with holiday spirit, festivities and good wishes for the year to come. While the state of the economy one year ago may have preoccupied small businesses throughout Latin America as they entered the holiday season and the New Year, this time around they are enjoying the holidays with a sense of motivation for the year to come.

UPS recently launched the fourth edition of the UPS Business Monitor Latin America (BMLA), a study based on the surveys conducted among SME business leaders to gather insight into the latest opinions, attitudes and practices of SME decision makers throughout the region. The 2010 edition of the BMLA, as in other regions of the world, reveals that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout Latin America are finally seeing signs of recovery for the first time since 2008.

Read More »

As Latin America’s potential for business growth continues to increase, the opportunities for women executives are growing just as quickly. América Economía, the leading Pan Regional magazine reporting on financial and economic trends in Latin America, featured a spotlight on leading women executives in the region – among them was Carmen Alvarez, general manager for UPS Ecuador. Carmen’s featured interview gives a great insight into the experiences, trials and tribulations that have helped her become a distinguished executive within UPS and Latin America.

Read More »

One hundred and three years ago, a small business opened up in Seattle, Wash., and started providing message delivery services. Through effective leadership, teamwork and support from within and outside the business, it eventually grew into the global company we all know today: UPS. While the tale of UPS is impressive, it is not common – especially outside of the United States.

So in an effort to recognize SMEs for their entrepreneurial spirit in demonstrating innovative ideas and practices that have resulted in a successful business, UPS has launched the “UPS Entrepreneurial Spirit Award” in Latin America. The three most innovative and successful SMEs across 14 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean will have the opportunity to compete for more than US$50,000 in cash and Hewlett-Packard equipment by entering the contest which runs from August 16th through September 30th. To register, companies can complete the entry form by visiting the official contest Web site at www.ups.com/premiopyme. 

Read More »

Anniversary celebrations can include a vast array of activities: dinner, dancing, gifts and high-fives. For most people, they also include reflection on the most significant happenings and achievements of the past year as well as thoughts on what the future holds. But it’s when you hit those milestone years that the ups and downs, sacrifices and benchmarks of all the years prior start to come together to show just what it is you have been working towards.

This month, UPS celebrates 25 years of operations in Puerto Rico. It’s where our company took its first steps towards expanding our network to Latin America. What started in 1985 with a handful of employees dropping off small packages to a few locations in San Juan has grown into a first-class market of more than 45 operating centers and 530 dedicated employees throughout the island.

Read More »

With the holidays all around, thoughts of both shopping and charity are usually what come to my mind this time of year. While it’s nice to be able to give gifts to my nearest and dearest, I also make it a point to do something for the less fortunate. I’m not alone  - in Latin America and the Caribbean, there are many communities throughout the region that are in dire need of assistance, and fortunately there are companies and organizations that are trying to make a difference. Read More »

There are many things we associate with the holidays: family, parties, colorful lights, trees, long checkout lines at the mall, no parking and, of course, presents. But besides the obvious things we tend to think of this time of year, there are many other holiday items that actually symbolize the season. One example is euphorbia pulcherrima, more commonly known as the poinsettia. Read More »