InvestBA Private Wealth Missions

InvestBA Private Wealth Missions unite individual investors in Buenos Aires and Mendoza.

“My wife and I are very grateful to you for exposing us to Argentina”

“We were both amazed at the quality of life in general, in both Buenos Aires and Mendoza.”

“My wife, 6-year-old daughter and I had an incredible time from the moment we arrived!”

“We recently took our first trip to Argentina and had one of the best trips we’ve ever had, and we’ve travelled to five other continents!”

Those are just a few of the testimonials from foreign investors who have joined us for the InvestBA Private Wealth Missions, our annual series of discovery trips in Argentina. The testimonials above were all from U.S. citizens, many of them making their first trip to the Southern Cone of South America.

We launched our Private Wealth Missions in 2008 as a way to introduce small groups of private investors from different countries to the natural beauty, phenomenal growth story and untapped opportunities that await in one of the safest and most livable countries in the Western Hemisphere. In 2012, inbound PWM trips include weeks dedicated to investors from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and Western Europe.

The 2012 Private Wealth Mission brochure sets the table for Argentina investment opportunities, explains the Private Wealth Mission concept in greater detail and hopefully encourages you and your family to join us for one of our upcoming Private Wealth Missions in 2012. For more information about PWM pricing and availability, simply fill-out the request form.

Barbie Store Buenos Aires

Having conquered Buenos Aires, Barbie is looking to go out with new suitors and franchisees.

The first official Barbie Store in the world opened in Buenos Aires in 2007 aimed at winning the hearts of girls aged 3-12 and simultaneously the credit cards of doting parents. The first location in Palermo was such a hit, a second location opened in BA’s Unicenter Galleria. Barbie then grabbed her passport and flew her pink G5 to Mexico City, Lima and Montevideo to open her first stores outside of Argentina.

Now the BA-based team behind the Barbie Store is ready to replicate their unique concept of “fashiontainment” around the globe using a franchise model. According to Rosario’s ON24, the store’s target market is young girls but many times the mothers are the ones who are the most excited about at trip to the Barbie Store which features dolls, clothing, merchandise aimed at adults, the House of Barbie, and a Beauty Salon for manicures and pedicures.

The Montevideo store which opened in 2011 was the first Barbie Store franchise, and now the founders are eyeing expansion to the interior of Argentina. “The brand has established itself as leader in fashion for girls, and the business model is mature enough that we can grow it in smaller formats across the country, without neglecting the concept of retail experience that makes our stores unique,” explains Pebly Garica, CEO of Barbie Stores.

Opening a 1,000 to 2,000 square foot Barbie Store franchise requires an initial investment of approximately US$150,000 to $200,000 including store furnishings, initial inventory and working capital for the first 6 months. (Full Story in Spanish)

For more information about franchise opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

Playing Polo in Argentina

Tourists watch a polo exhibition in Mendoza before taking the field for their first lesson.

Even though the Triple Corona ended last month and the world’s greatest polo players have already flown north to Wellington, the game’s allure and polo lifestyle continue to attract more tourists and aspiring players to Argentina, according to La Nación’s Silvina Beccar Varela.

As the sport attempts to broaden its appeal globally and attract more non-traditional followers, Varela says affordable Argentina is the perfect test market for such outreach. Polo Para Todos could be the term to describe the new wave of polo schools springing up in Buenos Aires less focused on selling polo ponies and more concerned with helping wannabe Cambiasos and foreign travelers simply learn to play the game.

“All playing instructions are explained on the field in English and Spanish while the match takes place,” writes Varela adding, “You feel the ground vibrating from galloping horses, the adrenaline of the game, the tourists are so close to the action they could get popped by an errant shot off a player’s mallet.” After watching a four-chukker exhibition match, the foreign spectators then saddle up, take the field and have their first official polo lesson.

Aspiring polo players can come to Argentina and spend a few days at a polo ranch like La Martina and fully immerse in the Argentina polo experience. And for those who want to stay close to la cancha year-round, more luxury developments are offering polo amenities and homesites bordering the polo fields. (Full Story in Spanish)

For more information about the Argentina polo lifestyle, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

Mark Zuckerberg David Guetta Punta del Este Uruguay

The Prince & The DJ: Global mixmasters Zuckerberg and Guetta both arrive in Punta del Este

Susana Gimenez, Jean Claude Van Damme, Pamela Anderson, the Wayans Brothers…there was a time when summer vacations in Punta del Este only attracted celebrities who were a.) completely irrelevant to anyone outside of Argentina, b.) a few decades past their prime or c.) celebrities entre comillas.

All that changed yesterday with the arrival of two bona fide celebrities who have touched the lives of millions worldwide: Mark Zuckerberg and David Guetta. The Facebook Co-Founder and the world’s number one House DJ both arrived in Uruguay yesterday for Punta del Este vacations and gigs, respectively.

After ringing in the New Year in Florianópolis, Zuckerberg arrived Monday with his girlfriend, Priscilla Chan, seven friends and an entourage including chefs, assistants and bodyguards. According to El Pais’ Viviana Ruggiero, the group is renting the local home of a US executive. Prior to arrival, the home was furnished and cleaned according to their specifications. (Full Story in Spanish)

Global DJ and top producer David Guetta also touched down yesterday in advance of tonight’s sold out show at El Jaguel. The 44-year old Frenchman and two-time Grammy winner is touring to promote his current release, Nothing But The Beat. A crowd of 20,000 are expected to watch him close out the Movistar Free Music series which began with BA performances by Jane’s Addiction, Interpol and Inspiral Carpets. Most importantly, Movistar is donating half of tonight’s proceeds to an orphanage in nearby Maldonado. (Full Story in Spanish)

For more information about summer vacations and preferred destinations in Punta del Este, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada or contact us directly.



‘Tis the season for self-aggrandizing Top 10 lists, so we offer InvestBA’s purely selfish, entirely unscientific spin on the Top 10 Trends, Market Movers & Storylines of 2011 in Argentina and Uruguay, our two favorite places in the world.

Thanks for another great year, and we offer best wishes and much success to all of our readers and subscribers in 2012.

 

Bariloche

Mendoza

Uruguay

© 2011 InvestBA.com