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Leading Latino Business Association Launching First National Bilingual B2B Platform
The Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce (HISCEC) has announced the launch of its new website with a selected group of beta testers. The bilingual B2B platform combines powerful e-commerce and marketing tools with social networking applications and a website building program. Hiscec.com is now uniquely able to provide companies targeting Hispanic businesses and consumers on-demand solutions previously unavailable in one bilingual platform.
Delivering on users’ desire to drive online sales and improve communication in one website, HISCEC’s proprietary development framework integrates social networking, e-commerce, and online marketing applications. The site also includes a shopping marketplace where all the products and services offered by the members of the HISCEC will be listed.
HISCEC member, MexInsurance.com plans to take advantage of the e-commerce apps. “We are very excited about this new platform,” said Chuck Lundy, CEO of MexInsurance.com. “We manage a large amount of e-commerce data, so the ability to house that information will help us sell and transact online.”
HISCEC members are enthusiastic about the benefits of the new platform, which will officially launch to the public during the 2010 Hispanic Business Showcase September 10 and 11 in San Diego. The new platform moves companies to a behavioral marketing approach, making it easier to develop campaigns that respond to individual interests and needs.
“As a Hispanic multi-platform media outlet we are aware of the growth and importance of E-Commerce among our community and we are very excited to be a part of this event,” said Univision San Diego KBNT Director of Operations & Creative Services, Robert Moutal, a HISCEC strategic partner. “We are very proud to sponsor the 2010 Hispanic Business Showcase this coming September.”
“Our members overwhelmingly agree that solutions supporting marketing and communication should come together into a single, scalable platform,” said Tayde Aburto, President of The Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce. “It’s the most powerful integrated digital business tool, available in English and in Spanish.”
Written by Richie Matthews
San Diego Thrives Through Hispanic Business
The City’s reputation as the detour location for Hispanic commerce continues to grow.
Written by: Ramon Toledo and Richie Matthews
Propelled by a thriving Hispanic business presence, many business sectors in San Diego have remained comparatively stable during recent down economic times.
As the Hispanic market plays an increasingly integral role in the overall U.S. economy, San Diego’s convenient location across from the Mexican border and large Hispanic population, ranked 10th in the nation, has positively contributed to the city’s success. As more and more Hispanic entrepreneurs and Hispanic-focused businesses flock to the city, San Diego’s reputation as the U.S. hub for Hispanic commerce has also grown.
Hispanic-owned businesses are increasing at a rate triple that of the national average. According to the 2002 U.S. Census calculations, Hispanics owned about 35,000 businesses in San Diego County and about 23,000 in Riverside County. Nationally, Hispanics owned about 2.7 million businesses, a figure expected to swell to 4.2 million by 2012.
In San Diego, technology is the driving force behind the Hispanic business boom. Internet-based organizations proliferate in both Hispanic consumer and business-to-business markets as they ease in-market communication, geographic boundary crossing, networking and increase accessibility.
Many San Diego-based Hispanic companies are finding success in online business strategies. MexGrocer.com LLC is the nation’s leading online Hispanic grocer. With more than 70 percent of American households, including both Hispanic and general market, purchasing ethnic food products, MexGrocer.com is well-positioned to benefit from an increase in demand.
BuscaCorp.com is an online Hispanic entertainment network that provides a family of Web sites on the cutting edge of technology. Based in La Jolla, with branches in Tijuana, Mexico City and Santiago, Chile, the company recently signed a deal to become the official video gaming channel for MSN Latino.
Conferences Coming to Area
The Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce, aka HISCEC, is another San Diego organization adding to the quality of the area’s Hispanic business scene. The HISCEC is an online business association focused on promoting Hispanic businesses via the Internet and the use of its own software applications that it offers for free. The chamber accumulated more than 750 businesses and professional members in its first year. To further support Hispanic business and the use of Internet and e-business tools, the HISCEC is hosting the 2010 Business and Technology Expo on Sept. 10 and 11 at the San Diego Convention Center.
Mexico Insurance Services Inc., a San Diego company and leading Internet insurance provider of commuter auto insurance for Mexico, changed the cross border insurance model six years ago by allowing customers to purchase insurance online when planning to drive into Mexico.
The city has been increasingly recognized as the detour location for Hispanic commerce. This acknowledgment is evident by the increased amount of Hispanic-oriented conferences being held in the area such as the recent Hispanic National Bar Association Mid-Year Conference and the upcoming Latin American Energy Conference.
As the role of the Hispanic community grows, so will the economies of metropolises with established Hispanic commerce.
Ramon Toledo served as the director of foreign capital for both the Probursa and Inverlat brokerage houses; and is the CEO of Busca. Richie Matthews leads communications at the DiálogoPR offices in La Jolla and has carved out a niche as a leader within the Hispanic public relations sector.
Impact of Latina Entrepreneurs
Women’s History Month Highlights Latina Entrepreneurs’ Impact on the U.S. Business Scene
The National Women’s History Project (NWHP) brings the contributions of Latinas to the forefront of public discourse.
(March 2010) Over the years Latina entrepreneurs have made a strong impact on the U.S. business scene. The Hispanic population is the largest and fastest growing minority group. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Hispanic population was 46.9 million in 2008, a 3.2 percent increase from 2007, meaning almost one in six American is of Hispanic descent. The large Hispanic influence has resulted in an economy robust with innovative Latina entrepreneurs. This month is Women’s History Month and various individuals, organizations and institutions are putting forth efforts towards recognizing the importance of female societal contributions.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Women’s History Project (NWHP), which serves as a catalyst for promoting women as leaders and influential societal forces. The focus for this year’s theme is ‘Writing Women Back into History’. Mainstream historical accounts have largely undermined female contributions in society. The accomplishments of minorities tend to also receive a diminished role in typical historical reports. Therefore, Latinas face a double discrimination.
To honor the theme the NWHP has developed a nation-wide program highlighting outstanding women and their achievements. The organization places an emphasis on featuring positive role models and the importance of women from all backgrounds.
According to the NWHP, when the effort began in the eighties less than 3% of the content of teacher training textbooks mentioned the contributions of women and when included, women were usually written in as mere footnotes. Women were deprived of female role models. Today the web contains millions of citations professing the accomplishments of women and Latinas specifically.
Accrediting women for the work they have done opens doors for other women to follow their lead. Lisa Garcia-Ruiz, founder of The Grant Hunter, a consulting service that helps its clients seek funding sources, was motivated by the accomplishments of others.
“I have been inspired by other strong women entrepreneurs who have been able to create a business that allows them to make a difference, make money and have time for their families as well,” Ruiz said.
For Latinas culture is an important influence in business endeavors and thus should be celebrated as playing a part in their success. Lilian de la Torre-Jiménez, Publisher of Bodas USA La Revista, the first Spanish-language bridal magazine in the U.S., notes the significance her Hispanic heritage has on her business.
“Being Hispanic is the foundation and the heart of my business” Torre-Jiménez said. “Our motto says it all: Tu Boda, Tu Cultura, Tu Idioma (Your Wedding, Your Culture, Your Language).” With that same approach of catering to Latinas with a culturally appropriate multimedia platform, the publisher is launching her third magazine, Mujer Empresaria, the first Spanish-language digital magazine for the U.S. Latina Entrepreneur in mid-2010.
Culture-infused Latina companies are able to speak to the ever-growing Hispanic population. Mainstream companies devise heavily budgeted plans to reach this lucrative demographic but oftentimes fall short of communicating with cultural relevancy. Latina entrepreneurs such as Molly Robbins, founder of fashion brands Palomita and Chucho, understands the nuances of her Latino culture.
“The Latino culture embraces a ‘love for life’ in a compassionate and passionate way. We love our music, colors, food, family and friends,” Robbins said. Her clothing line embraces this culture. “I wanted to create brands that truly resonated with the Latino community.”
Latina entrepreneurs have found alternative solutions to breaking down the barriers to success for minority business owners. Networking online through organizations such as the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce provides access to knowledge and resources that help promote Latina business.
“The Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce has given online Hispanic-focused businesses a forum to come together and promote their product or services in a professional manner,” Martha Alburquerque, developer of Lela Luxe, an online magazine dedicated to the latest fashion, art, design and entertainment. “Stumbling upon the organization has inspired me to continue my efforts, despite being a minority in the world of blogging.”
Another important aspect attributing to the success of Latina business is their competencies in communicating in multicultural environments. The U.S. is an increasingly diverse playground for business transactions. Creator of networking focused company Opening Latino Doors LLC, Lourdes Sampera Tsukada, articulates the importance of multicultural understandings.
“When one is doing business or interacting with small business owners from another culture, communication styles vary,” Sampera Tsukada said. “We are no longer doing business with the same culture and the same generations – we are doing business with many different cultures, generations, and forms of communications. The awareness of these key components is the key to future continued success!”
Women will have an increasingly prominent role in U.S. business. As the U.S. Hispanic population continues to grow much of this transformation will be made by Latinas. The contributions of Latina entrepreneurs should be recognized to encourage the entrepreneurial pursuits of younger generations. The result of such efforts will have a positive impact on the future of the U.S. business world.
Lucía Matthews is a freelance writer and director of DiálogoPR, a leader within the Hispanic public relations sector.
Alice Gomez is a public relations counselor at DiálogoPR and a published writer who has contributed numerous feature, news and technical articles.