Owner/President: Amanda Mindham Company: J&A Traffic Products Address: 627 NW Valley Ridge Circle Grain Valley, MO 64029 Phone: (816) 220-0450 E-mail: Web Site:www.jatps.com Type of Business: Traffic Safety Products Sales Year Founded: 2002
J&A Traffic Products was created in response to the growing need within the traffic industry to simplify the process of purchasing traffic supplies. We allow customers to place a single phone call and purchase multiple traffic supplies. Our objectives are to provide extensive expertise in the traffic industry along with outstanding customer service. Our goal is to establish long-term relationships with our clients. Our product lines include Telespar square perforated posts, U-channel and round posts, street signs, regulatory/construction signs and barricades/cones.
Personal Wealth Since becoming a business owner, my personal finances have almost tripled. This has impacted my family in many positive ways. We are able to focus on our children's college funds, our retirement plan and current standard of living. One of the most important changes, though, is the flexibility in my schedule that allows me to participate more with my children during school functions, baseball and football practices and games, and just to generally be there when they need me.
Community Wealth J&A is a small but growing company. We are consistently adding new employees each year as we gain more momentum. We also have recently moved into a new 18,000 sq. ft. warehouse. This is up from the previous 5,000 sq. ft. building we were in for the last three years.
Social Wealth The dilemma has been how to give back to the community in large amounts, even though we are still a young company with limited resources.
J&A has made the conscious decision to first focus on activities closest to home. By supporting the community activities of our employees, we are able to give back to the community while adding value to the relationship between the company and its employees. At the request of our employees, J&A supports a number of select organizations and programs while also supporting the employees' lifestyles and recreational needs.
J&A will always support the entrepreneurial community by acting as mentors to other small businesses and giving time and energy whenever possible.
J&A employees guide the company toward the following charitable programs because of individual interest and/or family participation:
Donating time and funds to local youth sports programs in Blue Springs, Mo., in support of employees with children in youth sports and those who take the time to coach these sports.
Donating time and funds to facilitate, organize and judge the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Grade School Poster Contest (Heart of America Chapter) in grades K-6. Students compete in a national contest to create artwork about work zone safety.
Sitting on the board of ATSSA.
Supporting employees involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters with financial support and time off.
Financing I was extremely lucky in that I did not have high start-up costs. Initially the company was run from my home. Most of the items that we sell are drop-shipped from our vendors directly to our customers, so a large warehouse was not needed. My vendors were able to give me extended terms, which allowed me to first collect payment from my customers.
Support Systems My main support system is the Kansas Women's Business Center (KWBC) and the other women business owners that I have met while on KWBC-supported roundtables. KCSourcelink also has been instrumental in helping me link up with other necessary resources to help grow my business.
Challenges & Accomplishments My most significant accomplishment is assembling the right team at J&A. We have an outstanding group of people working for us. Each and every one of them is committed to customer satisfaction and going the extra mile to make that happen. We would definitely not be where we are today without them.
My greatest challenge is trying to become certified as a woman-owned business. This is mainly due to the way the company was set up in the beginning. Looking back with the experience I have now, there are several things I would change. As a first-time business owner, sometimes you just don't know what questions to ask or what the long-term ramifications are going to be.
