Sam's Club(R) and The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Como Si: Doing Business Today for Tomorrow! contest teaches small business owners cutting edge technology tips


BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 15  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In continued support of Hispanic small business owners, Sam's Club and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) vow to take businesses to a new level by launching a nationwide contest, Como Si: Doing Business Today for Tomorrow! Ten winners will be swept away to the corporate headquarters of Sam's Club in Bentonville, Ark. to learn new ways to incorporate the latest technology into their businesses and create a better bottom line, a prize valued at $4000 per winner. The contest runs from September 15 to October 15, and winners will be announced on or about November 15.

"Sam's Club has served the growing number of minority-owned and operated businesses for more than 25 years, ensuring the right products and services are available at great values," said Carlos Doubleday, Sam's Club Vice President. "Contest name "Como Si," meaning "you can," says it all. The contest is an opportunity for small business owners to gain valuable information beyond the services they provide. We will help them achieve success in today's business world and better equip them to excel tomorrow."

In addition to the national contest, where entrants upload a one to two minute video to http://www.comosidoingbusinesstoday.com/ detailing what has brought their business this far in today's tough economic environment and what their plan is to "keep up and keep going", representatives from USHCC will provide training to small businesses throughout the country, to help create submission videos for the national contest.

"This one-of-a-kind double initiative was created to help our "comunidad" by providing access to two separate levels of indispensable, yet free, quick & easy "how to" for Hispanic business owners interested in strengthening their businesses," said Augustine Martinez, USHCC President & CEO. "We feel this training will be valuable to everyone who attends, as they prepare themselves for the future."

  Two-fold initiative:

  --  Free hands-on training on new self-promotion and marketing methods in
      Denver, Colorado at the 30th National USHCC Convention located at the
      Colorado Convention Center Room 601 on September 17, 2009 at 4:30
      p.m., as well as in Room 701 on September 17 and 18 from 10:00 a.m. -
      5:00 p.m. Several other cities are also planned; please visit
      http://www.comosidoingbusinesstoday.com/ to find an updated schedule and
      location near you.  You will learn how to:
      --  "Pitch: How to sell yourself" in 1 to 2 minutes
      --  Create a video commercial using a cell phone, webcam or home
          digital camera
      --  Leverage "free" advertising on social networking websites, such as
          YouTube, Linkedin and Facebook
      --  Upload self-made commercials to the Internet

  --  Enter national contest, Como Si: Doing Business Today for Tomorrow!
      for a chance to win one of 10 all-expense paid trips to Sam's Club
      corporate headquarters and hear from talented suppliers and
      professionals as they speak on topics to help small businesses excel.




Small businesses can take advantage of this program by visiting http://www.comosidoingbusinesstoday.com/ beginning August 26, 2009, to access excellent business-building resources and tools, and full official contest rules for the contest which runs on the website from September 15, 2009 through October 15, 2009.

No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited. Open to residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18 and older who are owners or principals of a small business. Contest ends 11:59PM ET on 10/15/09. All eligible entries received will be judged by representatives of USHCC, Sam's Club and DL Blair to determine 10 winners. All judging will be based on the following 3 criteria: originality and creativity (40%); relevance to theme of the contest (40%); and clarity (20%). Potential winners will be notified by mail on or about November 15, 2009.

About Sam's Club

Sam's Club is a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., (NYSE:WMT). The first Sam's Club opened its doors in Midwest City, Okla., in 1983. Today, Sam's Club serves more than 47 million U.S. Members with locations nationwide and in Brazil, China, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Sam's Club offers exceptional values on merchandise and services for business owners and consumers. Online merchandise and Club information is available at http://www.samsclub.com/.

About the United State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of almost 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate nearly $400 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia and Uruguay. 

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DATASOURCE: Sam's Club



CONTACT:  Kristy L. Reed, Public Relations of Sam's Club,

[phone]; or Erica Ortiz of USHCC, [phone]



Web Site:  http://www.samsclub.com/

http://www.comosidoingbusinesstoday.com/ 

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