Duo take the plunge with new ventures

TWO Yorkshire mums who met after having their first children have given each other the confidence to launch their own businesses.

Both working from Skipton, Uruguayan Gabriela Castro-Fontoura has set up Sunny Sky Solutions, which helps businesses that want to or are already working in the South American markets, while Fiona Kyle has launched copywriting, editing and proofreading business Words By Fiona Kyle.

Gabriela’s company was born of the desire to combine a decade of economic qualifications and intelligence research with native experience in South America and a fluency in five languages.

She said: “The majority of companies do not possess the resources, time, or expertise to research a particular sector exhaustively and analytically themselves.  Aside from that, often fear of the unknown or sheer lack of accessible information is a big stumbling block which needs to be overcome.

“Importing from or exporting to new markets, the international business contacts Sunny Sky Solutions provide form a bedrock of links to help firms hit the ground running in the marketplace and our tailored global intelligence work reduces the risk in expanding overseas by avoiding costly mistakes.”

Knowing the policies and understanding the psyche can be the difference between success and failure, said Gabriela.

“We all know the cultural differences between Scotland and England and the same principles apply in South America.  Get it wrong when you are starting out in business in a South American country and your suppliers and customers will have you labelled immediately (albeit affectionately) a gringo.

“Every business is different, just as every country we work in is different – it’s our job to marry the two and to be the cultural, linguistic and economic interface for the whole journey.”

With her new copywriting venture, Fiona, who worked at Otley-based educational communications specialist Words&Pictures for eight years, said: “I hope to bring my experience from working with companies such as Procter & Gamble and Honda to SMEs in Yorkshire and beyond at an affordable price.

“I’m able to ensure all forms of communicating present a company in the best possible light. I can take care of it all, therefore saving people time and money, so they can focus on the company.”

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