Provide a consistent and high-quality service. Mrs. Figueroa requested Arecibo SBTDC services to acquire a property and continue growing the business.
"We are aware of the decrease in births in Puerto Rico. It is a true privilege to have the confidence of the community in wanting their children to study at Step by Step. We have a waiting list! The quality of the services has led us to position ourselves as an Institution of excellence."
Aida Martinez, Service Center Director, analyzed the financial statements and gave recommendations. Mrs. Figueroa organized the finances and obtained a loan from BPPR to purchase the property. As a result of the services offered by the Center, Mrs. Figueroa could identify the financial issues that affected to access capital and made the changes.
This allowed her to acquire the property to expand the business. Also, looking further to improve and grow the business, Mrs. Figueroa participated in the Baldrige Course. Through the knowledge acquired, she implemented changes with the vision of taking the business to a next level. In August 2023 the students that graduated from kindergarten will start the first grade. The plans for the next year consider the second grade. Step by Step Early Childhood Program has been a successful business providing high quality educational services. Presently, the program has seventeen employees and take care of more than sixty-five children.
Created another corporation called Dream Team Chiropractic Carolina. Financing to establish the chiropractic office.
"The Caguas SBTDC helped us at an important moment where we aspired to have our private practice, but we did not know where to start. From the training and the consultancy, the whole path became clearer, and we saw the dream crystallize".
The Caguas SBDC office counseled them with the preparation of a commercial proposal (business plan and financial projections). They are assisted by Sarai Diaz, director of Caguas SBTDC and Nestor Fontanez, consultant from the service center.
Oriental Bank approved him a business loan and a line of credit. Currently the chiropractic office generates income over $700,000 annually. It has a staff of twelve employees. He has been a client of PR-SBTDC Caguas since 2019.
Navigating the complexities of exporting. In addition, Rovira Foods had challenges with registration on SAM.gov and subsequent bid victories. Then, they needed to obtain the HUBZone certification and pursuit of WIC certification for their product.
"The PR SBTDC and SBA played a vital role in ensuring our survival during a challenging period, reflecting their commitment to supporting small businesses. With a steadfast commitment to excellence, Rovira Foods specializes in the representation, marketing, and distribution of the renowned Rovira brand crackers, along with a curated selection of other well-known cookies, snacks, and non-food consumer goods typically found in supermarkets, pharmacies, and other retail outlets."
The PR SBTDC "The Riddle of the Exporter" workshop served as a valuable sounding board, offering essential experiences for exporters. They founded the workshop to be enlightening, providing information that proved instrumental in shaping our strategic plan. In addition, the Ponce SBTDC and the PR SBTDC International Trade Center offered technical assistance in procurement, exporting and with the Paycheck Protection Program and loan forgiveness. The PR SBTDC were lifelines that enabled there to not only keep their doors open but also maintain a safe environment during the pandemic. Without this support, their ability to weather the difficulties of the year would have been significantly compromised.
Since Rovira Foods exclusive focus on export sales, they've successfully curated a high-caliber team comprising three seasoned professionals specializing in marketing, sales, and logistics. Leveraging their expertise, coupled with support from the Company, they have achieved a remarkable growth trajectory in export sales. Initially representing a mere 3% of total company sales, our export sales now contribute a substantial 15%, with a strategic target of reaching 20% by 2025.
Beyond our immediate team, the impact on job creation has been notable, primarily at the factory level. Notably, during the challenging times of the pandemic, our successful bid for a USDA project necessitated the expansion of our workforce with the addition of a complete third shift, employing 20 individuals. This initiative catapulted our factory to an unprecedented 80% capacity, a milestone previously elusive.
Our business currently export products to various islands of the Caribbean and Central America. Most notably and worth mentioning are USVI, Tortola, St Maarten, USVI, Aruba, Curacao, Antigua, Montserrat, Turks&Caicos, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. In Central America, Costa Rica as well Belize, Guyana and Honduras. One of recent achievements in export sales has been entering United Arab Emirates, specifically Abu Dhabi & Dubai markets. The company has encouraged other small businesses to export and also to participate in federal procurement bids by allowing me to speak on their behalf at SBA activities and Q&A sessions. We have also spoken at Chamber of Commerce in Puerto Rico and have always been available for university students in need of information for their projects.
