Up to the 1980s most family enterprises were controlled by members of the family. As enterprises grew and competition became stronger, companies found it necessary to hire good managers but found there was a shortage of professional ones. Although today it's still difficult to find a good business manager, the situation is now much better than it was some years ago. Many universities are turning out well-trained graduates in business management.
Good marketing methods are still not too well disseminated
Though most small business owners still don't give promotion and marketing the importance required, many of them are now spending more money to get their products and services known. Generally production
was given all the attention while marketing took a mere secondary position. With many foreign entrepreneurs and wide awake local companies leading the way, advertising and marketing are now gradually being given greater importance as a way of stimulating
sales. And the principal communications media are increasing their advertising revenue income. Many good advertising agencies exist and there's a strong Association of Advertising Agencies with an office in San José.
Uniform quality of raw materials are not always at hand
Another factor peculiar to the business environment is the uncertainty of an adequate supply of raw materials of uniform quality. Many times a manufacturer finds that his supply of raw materials is irregular and that he gets good quality sometimes, not always. At other times shipments are not available when he needs them. This occurs more often in agro-industries. When a food canner must obtain his vegetables or fruit from different farmers, at times he might find differences in ripeness, size and price. During the 25 years that I owned an offset printing plant, some paper suppliers would send us reams where all the sheets were not of the same texture or weight. This caused problems in our presses and affected our finished product.
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