Early Life:
Rachel Mercer Coleman has always been a creative and ambitious person. She was born in Chicago, graduated from college with a degree in sports management, and began working in the front office of the WNBA right after graduation.
Rachel’s work in the front office caused her stress levels to increase, so she quit. She pursued a career as a radiation therapist, which she liked, but then she moved back to Chicago.
When Rachel returned to Chicago and started working as a vehicle coordinator, she could absorb much of the knowledge necessary to start upfitting businesses. She worked very hard, becoming a sponge for knowledge, and did everything possible to become ready to start her own business.
Just when she thought she could start her own business, she resigned from her job and founded her company, Mercer Upfitters, the only African American-owned upfitter in America.
Interaction with TN’H:
Rachel has proven that success comes to those who know how to make the most of their opportunities. In an interview with Truck N’ Hustle, she shares her story of how she started her business.
When she started her company, she realized that there were no other businesses making similar products in the market, and she took this opportunity to create a niche for herself. In an interview, she explained how important it is to develop a niche in any business.
Rachel spoke with great insight and detail about the upfitter industry. Her insights are useful to people interested in this line of work, as she gave readers many nuggets of wisdom. Rachel discussed how one can find products that sell, how much one should buy initially to succeed, and why consumers should be cautious about purchasing from a new vendor.
Finding customers for a business can be difficult. Rachel shared her story of finding and handling heavy customer flow when it was time to expand.
Rachel Mercer Coleman has started a business that helps improve the lives of her community. She works with local governing bodies, community organizations, and community colleges to provide veterans, recent college graduates, and non-violent criminal offenders training and jobs.
Final Thought:
In her final thoughts on entrepreneurship, Rachel said the wise thing about being an entrepreneur: “Nothing will ever be handed to you as an entrepreneur. You always have to have the drive to continue bettering yourself at your craft as an entrepreneur.”
To know more about Mercer Upfitters, watch the full interview given below:
[skipto time=2:59]2:59 – Early life. [/skipto]
[skipto time=31:51] 31:51 – The successor of the business.[/skipto]
[skipto time=34:01]34:01 – Finding customers. [/skipto]
[skipto time=1:14:17]1:14:17- International customer. [/skipto]
[skipto time=2:21:35]2:21:35- How does the company grow. [/skipto]
The creator & host of Truck N’ Hustle, is a renowned personality in the trucking & logistics industry who hosts podcasts with the reputed & successful trucking entrepreneurs to share the knowledge required to start & sustain the logistics business!
Rachel Mercer Coleman, Founder, Mercer Upfitters Currently, Mercer Upfitters is the only African American, Woman Owned Upfitter in the United States of America. Since inception Rachel has focused countless resources on breaking the barriers in the niche industry of vehicle upfitting. She continues to fight to break the cycle of poverty in her Southside of Chicago community.
