Company Overview:
La Curacao is best known as a growing chain
of large format department stores of 100,000 square feet
each. With a Hispanic focus, La Curacao ranks
among the top 100 electronics and appliance retailers in
the U.S. , larger than many nationwide companies whose stores
number in the thousands. This feat is made possible by La Curacao's unique relationship to its customers.
The local Latino population is more than a market to us;
it is a vibrant community, and La Curacao is an active member.
Latinos are the
fastest growing demographic group in the United States ,
and the highest concentration is in Southern California. For the last decade, Los Angeles has been home to
the third-largest Hispanic population in the world –
seven million people, with an annual buying power of $66
billion. It is no coincidence that La Curacao has grown as well. In the years
since our recovery from the 1992 riots, the company has
expanded many times over, adding new stores and warehouses,
offering new services beyond retail sales, and becoming the most trusted name
within our market.
La Curacao gains momentum with each passing year,
with plans to enter Hispanic markets in new cities.
The key to our continuing success, however, is the caliber
of our associates. Our philosophy regarding employment
is “hire for attitude, train for skill.”
When hiring, we look for enthusiasm, ambition, and friendliness.
In our Associate Training Center , we teach employees to
utilize those qualities in the business world.
In addition to traditional retail products, La Curacao
provides a number of services that are of special interest
to the Latino community, including CuraTel local and long
distance telephone service, Pasito.Com internet access,
travel services, export services, and, through a sister
company, Pollo Campero restaurants.
The stores are
rich with Latin American culture. Each store features detailed
Mayan and Aztec architecture that stands out among the urban
surroundings. An even more gratifying sight to some Latinos
may be that of Pollo
Campero, a much-loved Central American fast-food franchise
that has made its start in the U.S. with a branch at each La Curacao store.
And while customers shop, they are entertained by live performances
of authentic Latino music.
One of the cornerstones of La Curacao’s success
is the credit department. Through a very sophisticated credit
evaluation system, La Curacao is a leader in providing credit
to customers who would not under conventional criteria.
La Curacao's corporate offices are in the Pico-Union
district of Los Angeles, occupying the same building as
our oldest store. This building is the La Curacao
Business
Center, a pair of towers with ten floors each and half
a million square feet of executive office space. The
center is an ideal workspace for any company interested
in working with the Latino community.
Campeche, of a ball game player wearing a hip guard and other equipment. Classic period.
