The UPS Store

Gloria and Hector Mejia like to hire people who have dreams about their future.  The couple worked to make their own dream come true and still radiate excitement about the pleasures of running their UPS Store in Weslaco.   Their franchise store ranks in the top ten in the U.S.  for growth.

In 1985, Gloria and Hector Mejia immigrated from Columbia to Los Angeles.  They raised a family there and worked, she as a public health physician and he in logistics.  They first came to the Rio Grande Valley when their oldest son joined Teach for America in Weslaco.  The couple loved the area, the people, and the potential. In 1995 they decided to leave California and the security of their jobs and do something new. 

“The idea was to invest and start our own business,” she said.   They knew a successful  project would require financial planning and lots of research.  “We wanted something we felt comfortable doing and that was needed here.”

When the Mejias applied for a UPS franchise, UPS agreed the Valley was a growth area and suggested several towns. “I told them I want a small town right in the middle of the Valley,” Hector Mejia explained.  Prepared with demographic studies from Hernan Gonzalez of the Weslaco Economic Development Corp and support from the SBA and Texas State Bank, the Mejias stood their ground about opening Weslaco’s first UPS store.  “We really believed the mid-Valley was the best place, and Weslaco was the only place we wanted to be.  We knew what we were doing, and we proved it to them.”

The Mejias’ store opened in January 2006.  As newcomers in town, they began to integrate with the community, joining the Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce, attending Chamber mixers and starting the relationships that, with a strong business plan and the money to implement it, are the  primary ingredients of success.

“We decided to work together with no other employees,” Hector Mejia recalled, as way to the best way to guide the business in its first year. That meant 12 hour days of taking packages for shipment and selling packaging supplies; copying, binding, laminating pages; designing and printing business cards and invitations, along with providing notary services and mail boxes.  When the shop was slow, he would go out networking.

“We believe in helping develop the community.  That makes everything better for all businesses, not just our own,” he said.  The Mejias believe their success gives them a moral obligation to be responsible members of the community.  “We don’t make a million dollars, but we like to help local programs.”  Last year, the Lions Club, the Relay for Life and a Weslaco school district health fairs benefitted from their support. This year they have helped underwrite  Valley Nature Center’s Dragonfly Festival in May.

“Doing good makes you feel good,” Gloria Mejia said. “When people see you are a part of the community and helping, they are more willing to give you their business.

Hector Mejia has becoming the number one fan of the Mid-valley Leadership program after participating last year. Now he serves on the Leadership board, enabling others to learn about local economics and services.

“The growing of this store has been awesome, incredible, and beyond my dreams,” he said.  “We love the mid-Valley.  It’s open to new business. You can succeed if you do your marketing. UPS is really good franchise.  They give all support you need on marketing and  training.”

Now that the Mejias dreams are coming true, they actively seek out college students and high school graduates who have decided to go back to school and offer them part-time work.  Even with employees, the Mejias still work long hours, but as the couple agrees, “Now we can have lunch.

Randy Davis, the UPS Store area franchise director in Houston, would love to clone the Mejias.  “We’d love to have them run another. They are exemplary franchisees.   I am just as proud as punch.”