Entrepreneur and global trade expert Randall Castillo Ortega provides insight into how import and export companies can face and overcome challenges during the holiday season.

San José, Costa Rica – WEBWIRE – Saturday, December 3, 2022

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and fun. But for businesses, it can be a stressful time of year. With increased demand and customers expecting their orders sooner, businesses have to work extra hard to make sure everyone gets their holiday gifts on time. Randall Castillo Ortega, an expert in import and export operations, discusses some of the shipping obstacles faced during the holidays and how to overcome them.

“The holidays are always a busy time for shipping,” says Ortega. “There’s a lot of pressure to get packages delivered on time, and that can lead to some challenges.”

One of the biggest obstacles Ortega sees is an increase in package returns. “People are buying gifts online more than ever before,” he explains. “And sometimes those gifts don’t work out. We see a lot of returns during the holidays.”

To deal with an influx of returns, Ortega recommends being proactive. If you know you’re going to have a lot of returns, build it into your shipping process. That way, you can handle them without disrupting your regular operations.

To overcome bad weather, which can happen at any time, Ortega recommends building flexibility into your shipping process. Don’t wait until the last minute to ship your packages. And consider using multiple shipping carriers, so you have options if one carrier is delayed.

The holidays are a busy time for everyone, and that includes those in the shipping industry. One of the biggest shipping obstacles during the holidays is increased demand. There is more demand for shipping services during the holidays, which can lead to longer wait times, higher prices, and even service disruptions. The best way to overcome this is to plan ahead and ship early.

Weather delays are another potential problem. Bad weather can cause delays in shipping, so it’s important to check the forecast before sending anything out. If you can’t avoid shipping during a bad weather period, make sure to allow extra time for delays.

Shipping companies often have limited capacity during the holidays, so it’s important to book your shipments in advance. This will help ensure that your shipment gets priority treatment and doesn’t get delayed or lost in the shuffle.

Holiday closures. Many businesses (including shipping companies) close for part or all of the holiday season. This can lead to disruptions in service, so again, it’s important to plan ahead and ship early.

As the holiday season approaches, retailers face a number of challenges when it comes to shipping. From increased demand and higher shipping costs to longer delivery times and weather-related delays, there are a number of obstacles that can stand in the way of a successful holiday season.

Fortunately, there are a few things that retailers can do to overcome these obstacles. By planning ahead and working with reliable partners, retailers can ensure that their shipments make it to their destination on time and without incident.

The first thing is to plan ahead. The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for shippers. To avoid delays, it’s important to plan ahead and book your shipping early. This will give you more flexibility when it comes to choosing shipping dates and routes, and it will also help you avoid rush charges from carriers.

Always work with reliable partners: When it comes to shipping during the holidays, reliability is key. Work with partners that you trust to get your shipments where they need to go on time and without issue.

With increased demand and potential delays, it’s important to be flexible when it comes to shipping during the holidays. If possible, build some extra time into your shipping schedule to account for potential delays. And be sure to keep your customers updated on any changes or delays so that they can adjust their expectations accordingly.

About Randall Castillo Ortega

Randall Castillo Ortega has been involved in the financial space virtually his entire professional career. In addition to having founded the financial lending firm RACO, he is also an avid outdoorsman and, along with his family, is a huge community supporter. He regularly participates in community ceremonies and events organized to drive a better environment for children and families.

Entrepreneur and global trade expert Randall Castillo Ortega offers insight into some of the trends that are going to shape the global commerce industry in 2023.

San José, Costa Rica – WEBWIRE – Saturday, October 22, 2022

The changing environment in which we live requires brands and companies to be willing to adapt their offer and their strategies to the new consumer trends of 2023. Although we cannot know for sure what awaits us, there are ways to analyze what are the consumer trends that have grown in recent years and thus be able to anticipate riding the wave before most brands do. Randall Castillo Ortega, an expert in global trade, explains some of what is expected in 2023.

It’s no secret that a lot has changed in the last two years after the global pandemic inevitably transformed consumers. Understanding the trends of change in consumer behavior and studying the different strategies to implement these trends is essential for companies to succeed in developing the experiences, products and services that their consumers will demand in the coming years.

Technology is facilitating verification, tracking and follow-up methods that generate feelings of control in consumers, such as QR codes on product packaging. This can direct the consumer to a website where they can obtain information about the ingredients of the product. product or any other relevant information, to be sure that the products deliver what they promise.

The search for responsible consumption has become part of the lifestyle of many people. Frequently related news stories about how industries contribute to deforestation, excess waste and pollution have sparked in consumers a need to be increasingly conscious and less driven by consumerism.

Environmental problems and the exploitation of the planet caused by large industries have caused a crisis of consumerism and have worried consumers. Many wonder how they can shop, travel and consume with a clear conscience in the face of the current climate crisis.

Explains Castillo, “Brands are acting to offer users possibilities to integrate sustainability into their daily lives through small gestures. In this way, consumers can easily find out how environmentally friendly a company is compared to others and choose the greenest option.”

Since the pandemic and other local and global crises have caused anxiety and stress in the community,

consumers are looking for sources of entertainment that allow them to have moments of happiness and relaxation in their lives.

Digital technology has become the most accessible and common way to find entertainment, but consumers are looking for fun and joy in all areas of their lives. They have a new sense of appreciation for finding happiness in everyday things and being present in the moment.

One way that brands are bringing fun experiences to consumers is by encouraging them to play and have fun with their daily routines, such as experimenting with fashion, beauty, fitness and cooking. This responds to the need for consumers to find happiness in their daily lives and to be present in every moment.

With people’s concerns on the rise around topics from food safety and ethically sourced food to information security, consumers want to know more about the products they buy and the brands they buy them from.

For this reason, consumers today trust companies, governments and institutions less and less and are, therefore, less likely to believe brands when they say they follow ethical practices. “Brands need to be transparent about their weaknesses and potential unethical practices,” asserts Castillo, “while communicating to their consumers where and why they are failing, and how they plan to address these issues in the future.”

The term “dark store” is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. These dark or ghost stores are nothing more than traditional retail stores that have become logistics centers, where products are stored and then shipped through internet sales.

The origin of this distribution model was born in British and American grocery chains that sought to optimize efficiency in home delivery of food. Its arrival is not a consequence of the pandemic, but its current expansion internationally.

It is paradoxical that consumers, in addition to desiring innovation, also have a feeling of nostalgia for the traditional, their own. Thus, in the advertising industry, both at a national and international level.

Although nothing is exact and we do not know which of all will be more relevant, what is certain is that we are in the midst of a transformation process on a global scale, in which understanding new consumption habits will be crucial to cope with these changes without getting lost on the way.

About Randall Castillo Ortega

Randall Castillo Ortega has been involved in the financial space virtually his entire professional career. In addition to having founded the financial lending firm RACO, he is also an avid outdoorsman and, along with his family, is a huge community supporter. He regularly participates in community ceremonies and events organized to drive a better environment for children and families.

Business and trade expert Randall Castillo Ortega dives into the ways creating a personal brand can help businesses expand their operations and gain a stronger reputation.

San José, Costa Rica – WEBWIRE – Saturday, July 30, 2022

Business owners need to be successful in branding and individual marketing. No matter what business type you have, branding is about people making their professions known and helping businesses to sound good. Entrepreneurs can reach new professions by using individual marketing. Randall Castillo Ortega is a global trade expert who has been able to identify four elements that can help entrepreneurs build a stronger individual brand.

A brand can help you attract customers, potential clients, job opportunities, and other new opportunities. It is not as simple as it appears. It can be difficult to establish a strong connection at the beginning of your web-based journey. It requires a lot of self-advancement and substance to make it work.

Castillo believes that the brand must reflect the personality of the maker. Puig explains that entrepreneurs should follow the least resistance path if they are to build a brand. It is impossible to force someone to take it away, so believe what you believe.

Castillo also suggests you identify your personality traits and use them in creating the brand’s framework. This will help you create a friendly, consistent brand. He stresses the importance of highlighting both positive and negative qualities.

It is important to share your experiences online. Your social media presence is not a luxury. It’s an integral part of your personality and can be used to characterize the discernments of different groups on both a personal and business level.

It is essential that everyone has an online presence to showcase their best qualities, and build a network. Castillo says, “Sharing online experiences often inspires women to find their own qualities and helps them discover coaches by identifying other people’s interests. This allows them to stand out in their network and is essential for finding the right job opportunities.”

Online posts should be mirrored in real-life interactions. This individual is creating a false persona that will eventually be exposed. Puig suggests that you share your work to build a unique brand. Your brand is built and sustained by the proof you can provide to support your claims. You can build a bigger following by showing that a businessperson can back up their image with established truths and models.

Adds Castillo, “Internet-based lives require alertness. Anyone can see any post posted online. He advises you to be particularly aware of images uploaded via social media sites. Keep in mind that anyone can see what your posts are.” Castillo suggests that your open image should be complementary to the brand you are trying to build.

Personal branding isn’t something you can do quickly. It is a long-distance effort that takes time and effort. While it’s possible for personal brands to grow quickly, it’s rare. It can be frustrating for people who have worked hard for their personal brands for years but have not seen any results.

If you want to create a blog that combines your personal brand and your business, you will need to be disciplined. According to statistics, 95% of bloggers abandon their blogs within one year. The main reason bloggers abandon their blogs is a lack of motivation.

There is no quick way to success. It would be difficult for anyone to create a personal brand. It’s one thing to build your personal brand; it’s quite another to do it right.

About Randall Castillo Ortega

Randall Castillo Ortega has been involved in the financial space virtually his entire professional career. In addition to having founded the financial lending firm RACO, he is also an avid outdoorsman and, along with his family, is a huge community supporter. He regularly participates in community ceremonies and events organized to drive a better environment for children and families.

Randall Castillo Ortega, a business expert and the founder of RACO Investment, suggests reasons why creativity in the workplace is important to secure the success of the business.

San José, Costa Rica – WEBWIRE – Saturday, July 30, 2022

To be successful in a company, creativity is essential. It doesn’t matter what business sector you are in, how the day is run or who the members of your team are. All companies require a lot of creativity. It must be part of our daily lives. We have to examine whether it is happening, how it is being fed, and then take actions and dynamics to bring back that creativity. It is essential that a business remains creative in order to be successful long-term. Randall Castillo Ortega, the founder of RACO Investment and a business process expert, discusses why.

Creativity does not mean only developing artistic activities. Castillo asserts that creativity is not just about developing an artistic activity. It is found when our thinking is trained for the ability to think outside of the box. Creativity can also be described as imagination. It is the ability to think outside of the box.

In a company, creativity is vital. We all need to know that our creative abilities are not only able to accomplish what they do, but also more useful, profitable, and effective. Creative thinking is key to achieving something faster, more efficiently, simpler, more profitable, and of course, more productively.

It is possible to do something that has been done well for years, but new eyes may see it differently, make some changes, and suddenly trigger effectiveness. The first principle is to allow others to have ideas and the second is to believe in and connect to our creative selves.

“Entrepreneurs must make sure they spend time and resources encouraging their team’s creativity,” explains Castillo. “This must be in line with company culture. Creative thinking requires a supportive environment. Creativity is not a flourishing environment that restricts freedom of expression or closes off opportunities for innovation.”

Without the right training, it is difficult or impossible to be creative. These trainings will give us the knowledge, strategies, and resources that we need to develop our creative thinking. This is just taking advantage of these elements and creating a new vision.

Like training, experience is the ability to work in something. This means that you can have it in your head day-to-day, keep it in your mind and see its potential. This will open up new possibilities for your brain. It’s similar to someone who does something every day (a marketing strategy, for example).

After a while, it becomes easier to find creative ways to translate the information, to solve problems, and so on. It is important to remember that attitude is key. We can stay in our comfort zone and stick with what we know so creativity has serious problems flowing. Or, we can move into the challenge zone and explore the unknown where creativity finds its development space.

It is obvious that workers who lack confidence in their company, their superiors, and their team to implement their ideas will not be creative. Adds Castillo, “Trust-based relationships and the Organization’s Directors are essential to allow for new ideas and to encourage people to do so. Trust allows you to connect with your natural talents, and it neutralizes the sabotage of creativity.”

All of this is important to encourage creativity in your company. However, it will be even more effective if you regularly hold activities that are focused on the creative aspect. Activities like Team Building are responsible for providing the tools needed to stimulate the creativity in every case.

Our lives are so digitalized that we don’t even use our hands to create. We only give the key to repetitive movements. Without realizing it, we are missing one of the most important physiological triggers for creativity: manual work. Because the brain loves to launch a movement, it must work in sync with the left and right sides of the brain, creating a chemical state that encourages creativity and flow.

As an additional and summation of the above, it is important to allow creativity to flow freely in the workplace. Also, be open to all sides, encourage curiosity, and help people learn and grow. However, creativity cannot emerge if it’s not based on values.

About RACO Investment

RACO Investment is a financial investment firm serving small- and medium-sized companies in Panama and Costa Rica. It was founded by Randall Castillo Ortega, an expert financial adviser who has his roots in the import and export industry in Latin America. The firm has helped numerous startups find the financial support they needed to get off the ground. It has also contributed bridge loans to assist those looking to restructure or improve their operations. 

Business and trade expert Randall Castillo Ortega provides expert insight into how importers can reduce their costs without reducing their product quality or customer service focus.

San José, Costa Rica – WEBWIRE – Friday, May 27, 2022

Foreign trade is an area that presents unique trade opportunities. But, in this, as in any other sector, good management plays a key role in success. That is, it is not enough to rely on good products, good suppliers and good market niches – it is necessary to continuously look for strategies and solutions that increase competitiveness. One way to accomplish this is through cost reduction. Randall Castillo Ortega, an expert in global trade, provides insight into how to accomplish this.

Foreign trade operators should never overlook the possibility of importing products at lower taxes. It’s a great way for your business to lower costs and increase its competitiveness. Certain destinations offer tax reductions to encourage imports, which makes them cheaper.

Companies based in a country or territory may be eligible for the special regime. This can be used for direct importation as well as operations on account, order, or order. Also, even though the company is not located in the local economy, it may be eligible for tax incentives for using the service.

Import costs are mainly determined by the value of goods. It also serves as the basis for taxes paid in the country. The international supplier pays less than the country, which means that the final cost of importation is lower and taxes in the territory are lower.

Imagine that you are trading a product with a price difference of US$10.00 between China and the US. If you negotiate a 5% price reduction with the supplier, the product will be $9.50 at the origin. If you assume that the FOB tax cost is 85 percent, then $1.35 per unit will be saved.

It is a good idea to get to know the company with whom you do business. Castillo says, “This will help you to get a better understanding of the importance of your request for the supplier’s production.” This will also increase your bargaining power and mutual trust as you establish a long-term relationship with the business partner. It is not fair to lose a customer to the competition.

Foreign trade operators are still hesitant to explore secondary zones or dry ports. These warehouses, also known as dry ports, are located further from main borders, ports and airports but serve the same purpose of controlling entry and exit of import and export goods.

To facilitate the clearance of goods, secondary areas were created. Although they are far removed from traditional distribution centers, secondary areas have advantages in that they can store the goods cheaper and launch products faster.

The possibility to withdraw partial goods is another advantage, making these areas a sort of distribution center. This means that an importer could bring a container and store it in the secondary area. Then, you can release the rest of the merchandise. Taxes will be paid proportionally. This allows for better financial management. This is a great tool to reduce costs if used correctly.

Software that is specifically tailored for foreign trade is available. These tools are an essential strategy to lower expenses. Castillo adds, “Tools such as improved import management provide an overview of the process and help to avoid rework. This allows for more strategic activities. This reduces errors, which in turn reduces operations’ final costs.”

Smart management requires that you map out the deadlines for each stage. It is essential to have all original documents on hand before the ship docks. This will ensure that no delays are caused in the dispatch of products.

Software clearly and objectively indicates the current state of each step of the process. You can avoid making mistakes. You can lower costs by being more flexible and assertive in managing your resources.

Working with multiple clients and being familiar with the most complicated procedures in the sector will give you the ability to negotiate with all parties involved in the import process, especially with suppliers. A small or medium-sized business may not be able to place an order with a major supplier because they don’t have the financial support necessary to complete the minimum order. However, a commercial company can gather multiple companies into one order. This increases the supplier’s negotiation power.

About Randall Castillo Ortega

Randall Castillo Ortega has been involved in the financial space virtually his entire professional career. In addition to having founded the financial lending firm RACO, he is also an avid outdoorsman and, along with his family, is a huge community supporter. He regularly participates in community ceremonies and events organized to drive a better environment for children and families.