284: Creating a Blooming Business as a Minority-Owned Company
Seretha Willingham is the founder and CEO of SJW Logistics, a full-service 3PL based in Atlanta, Georgia. She has successfully grown her minority-owned business by focusing on personalized customer service and providing vertically integrated solutions to stand out in a competitive market. Willingham stresses the importance of understanding customer needs before making large investments, such as when she surveyed clients before expanding into warehousing. She is now launching a training program to guide new entrepreneurs, sharing her experiences to help them succeed and avoid common pitfalls in the logistics industry.
Today we’re bringing you a little treat, in the shape of one of our most-viewed videos on YouTube.
No Bullshipping with Hope White is one of our most popular live content series, and this episode has really gone down a storm. So whether you’re in the ocean freight market or global supply chain, the trucking industry or drayage, make sure you pay attention!
In this episode, Hope is joined by special guest Seretha Willingham, CEO at SJW Logistics, to teach you how you can grow your minority-owned business, even if there is a pandemic! Hope and Seretha will talk all about support for vertical integration, warehousing and drayage; direct fulfillment and trucking; and nourishing a unique clientele.
A warm welcome from Hope.
An introduction to Seretha and her business, SJW Logistics.
How SJW Logistics set itself apart in a crowded market.
How SJW Logistics got started in warehousing, and the current challenges in finding warehouse space in Atalanta.
Seretha’s experience with access to capital and opportunity as a minority-owned business, following her expansion.
From parts shortages to the price of fuel, Seretha discusses the changes in supply chain she’s seen over the last year.
A closer look at some of the challenges faced by minority-owned businesses, and how SJW work to overcome them.
A closer look at some of SJW’s services, and the power of combining multiple services to provide one invoice to the customer.
The challenge of hiring and retaining talent, and how SJW retains a strong quality of driver.
The next three years for SJW, and its upcoming training and consultation services that will help other minority-owned businesses.
The biggest downside to the industry. “If you are a control freak, you have to accept you cannot control the unknown – and the unknown is very real in this industry!”
