Scott Sloan worked primarily in the IT department of his organization when the 2008 real estate crash upended the trajectory of his career path. He didn’t know it at the time, but his career in IT was going to make a dramatic change a few years later.
Like with many small business owners, there was a common occurrence during the 2008 crash. “The phones simply stopped ringing,” Scott said. Having an entrepreneurial spirit, Scott began looking for new opportunities. In 2012, a chance meeting with an old friend would inspire him to make a move.
While working in IT, a few of Scott’s customers were in the transportation industry. During the downturn that hit his business, the crash was not felt by these customers. In fact, they thrived. So, Scott started learning more about the transportation industry. He would coordinate jobs here and there just to get his feet wet. Then, in 2014, he acquired a major medical transport account and worked it through his broker friend for a little over a year until he felt he could branch out on his own. His broker friend even helped him get things going with a small business loan.
In 2015, South West Logistics opened its doors. With a limited staff, and even less experience in the industry, Scott knew the learning curve would be steep and arduous. In an effort to bridge the gap between him and his competitors with years of experience, Scott utilized his customer service skills and won deals with a WOW factor. He would WOW every client as if they were his first and only. A very personal touch that set him apart from those who had a larger book.
Today, South West Logistics has a major footprint throughout most of the western United States, specializing in medical equipment deliveries. On a recent delivery to Phoenix, AZ they delivered enough medical equipment and furniture to fully furnish, and make ready for patients, a 60-room hospital. Being that the personal WOW experience is so important to the culture of South West Logistics, they offered more than just the delivery. They took time to demonstrate products, offered technology trouble shooting, made repairs on the spot, and even offered to hang pictures on the walls of the hospital rooms.
“It may sound a little cliché, but service with a smile and a helping hand is where we started and where we continue to go,” Scott underscored. “Everyone has asked a best friend to help them move once or twice. We are that dependable, smiling best friend, you can trust and know they’ll be there when they make that promise.”
Scott took a moment to share about his relationship with Primary Funding. “I think we started working with Primary Funding in late 2016 or early 2017, and that really helped us grow to where we are now,” he said. “The early days were okay. We were able to pay all our expenses, week over week. Payroll was there on time, and no one ever went without. But, having Primary Funding there to solidify cash flow took so much weight off my shoulders. I slept better at night knowing that PFC was backing me with weekly payables and our payroll. Sometimes, we didn’t need to utilize them, but they were always there if we did, working with us and helping us grow.
Regarding one such occasion, Scott went on to say, “Primary Funding was able to help us during a very critical time, when one of our clients moved over to a 3rd party payment processor. It stalled a few rounds of payments, putting a hurt on our cash flow. But, due to our partnership with PFC, we had no issues, and it was as if we didn’t even skip a payment cycle. They’ve been a critical part of the success we have achieved thus far.”
For more information on South West Logistics’ services, please call 877-291-3499, or visit their website at: www.southwestlogisticsinc.com
