Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kimberly Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kimberly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

When you are dealing with the movement and handling of high value art pieces, there are a lot of moving parts involved with each project. Everything has to be perfectly coordinated, supervised and smooth. There is one project that I will never forget! I had arranged for the movement of a high value Tamayo painting from Miami to Northern California via air. There were many people involved at each end, along with a very tight window for delivery to the client. Plus, the crate was large so we were limited on flights to carry it. I had everything arranged and booked on a flight, with a vendor at the receiving end lined up. The flight was scheduled to take off the morning of 9/11/2001. Obviously, the world was changed that morning. At the time, I wasn’t able to find out if the flight had been able to take off or not nor did I know if it would be able to land at its original destination as planned. I spent the whole morning making phone calls to determine the status, which was that the flight did leave as planned and was still landing as planned. However, the airport was going to be closed due to security reasons and my vendor wasn’t going to be able to retrieve the piece. So, I then spent the afternoon making special arrangements with the airline to transfer the piece to a secured location so that it could be released to the vendor in order to make it to the client on time, which it did. In my 40 years dealing with logistics. I’ve had a lot of twists and turns thrown in at the last minute, but that is the one I will always remember.

Kimberly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I actually started in my industry as a young administrative assistant. I was a lightning fast typist (still am) and super organized (still am that too), so I had the typical skills needed at the time. I have always been very versatile and willing to learn, so I literally learned everything I know on the job and became an expert in my field.

Fortress provides storage and services for fine art, designer furniture and other high value items. Our services include storage, packing, transit, installation, receiving services, inspection, etc. Our facility is a purpose-built stand-alone structure with special features to provide the best environment for the types of items we handle. Fortress is a multi-generational, family-owned business that enjoys the benefit of numerous long-term employees. What sets us apart is our incredible attention to personal client service. We strive for excellence in every facet of our business. Our clients have come to appreciate a level of organization, reliability, responsiveness and skill that is unmatched. That’s why about 80% of our business comes from referrals and repeat clients.

I’m most proud of my team and the level of satisfaction our clients enjoy. I must have hundreds of client testimonials that I’ve collected over the years, including 2 new ones just this week alone. It says a lot when your client takes the time to express their appreciation. We have a very personal relationship with our clients and we still answer our phone with a live person!

Not only is Fortress celebrating its 40 year anniversary in 2023, but I will also be celebrating my 40 year anniversary in 2023. So, 2023 will be a big year for us!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Our level of client satisfaction has definitely been the catalyst to our success and our reputation. And, our longevity and consistency in the ownership and management has contributed greatly, as well. A reputation is everything! We have taken great strides to make sure that everything we do from responding to emails to sending out correct invoices to communicating clearly with our clients to providing professional and skilled service on site is nothing short of excellent.

On a personal basis, my experience, skillset and the many relationships I’ve forged in my industry have been the building blocks for my status among my peers.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Our business relationships with related service providers in/around our target audience has always been our best source for new clients. Obviously, social media and web search optimization plays a big part in today’s market. But, our reputation and history will always be our best asset and that allows us to align ourselves with the best companies in their field, just like we feel we are the best company in our field.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thefortress.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thefortressstorage
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-jones-30b11411