Curacao, a 12-store electronics and home goods chain based near downtown, is planning to open two new stores later this year, one in Chula Vista and the other in Tucson, Arizona.

Curacao partners with third-party vendors that have access to mapping and demographic data that includes data from 100 different sources of information, she explained.

By using the data, the retailer can determine if the population residing in a certain area have the income and credit history needed to support one of their stores, she added.

Curacao caters to the local communities where its stores are located stocking them based on what these communities would generally consume, Ariela Nerubay, chief marketing officer for the chain, said. "We do have some staple items that you would always have, however we do localize our efforts," Nerubay added.

Curacao was founded in 1978 by Ron and Jerry Azarkman to serve the Hispanic market. Its stores are in California, Nevada and Arizona. In the Los Angeles area, it has locations in Westlake South, Huntington Park, Panorama City, Northridge, South Gate and Lynwood. Curacao also offers money transfers, delivery to Latin America and a travel agency.

Staff Reporter:

Mark R. Madler

Los Angeles Business Journal