CINNAMINSON, NJ--- Sea Box, Inc., a Cinnaminson-based a manufacturer of customized International Organization for Standardization (ISO) shipping and cargo containers used in commercial and military applications has been named to the “SBA 100” an honor created by the U.S. Small Business Administration for 100 businesses and their owners who have gone on to create at least 100 jobs since receiving some form of SBA assistance.
Jim Brennan, president of Sea Box, Inc. was joined by SBA’s Alfred J. Titone and Congressman Jon Ryan on a recent tour of his new Cinnaminson facility where he was lauded for his role in creating jobs.
Brennan started his career working for a company leasing trailers and shipping containers. In 1982, when the economy was slumping, he found himself unemployed. So Brennan started Sea Box, Inc. in February of 1983. “My motivation was simple,” said Brennan, “I needed to generate income and I needed to do it fast. I knew the container business; there was a comfort level and I took a chance.”
Initially, he was buying and selling used containers to exporters. In a little over a year he saved up enough money to buy tools and hire staff. As the export market began to dwindle in the late 80’s, Brennan found that customers were asking him to make modifications to the containers. “I just like saying yes to the customer,” said Brennan. “I have an engineering background and I like the challenge of meeting our customers’ needs.”
While Brennan did receive an SBA loan for $475,000 in 1995 to help the company grow, it was assistance from SBA’s procurement division that catapulted the company to the success it enjoys today. It was SBA’s Procurement Center Representative Rick Sacidor, who convinced the Department of Defense to reclassify cargo storage container procurements from a sole source item to a brand name item. This slight change allowed Sea Box to compete for contracts that previously went to large companies. That was the break the company needed. Today, Sea Box has 184 employees and sales in excess of $100 million.
Almost 30 years later, he now finds himself helping those having difficulties finding a job.
While traditional containers carry cargo throughout the world’s sea and land transportation systems, Sea Box modifies containers into housing units, kitchens, offices, machine shops, medical units and an a variety of evolving and novel applications representing solutions meeting virtually any customer requirement. Currently, the company is looking at emergency housing as another market for its containers.
“Today, SBA 100 firms like Sea Box, Inc. continue to expand and contribute greatly to the local economy,” said Titone. “During a time when jobs are scarce, here is a small business that is creating jobs by developing innovative products, paying attention to detail and showing a willingness to adapt to its customers’ needs.”
“Sea Box is living proof that a small business can succeed by carving out a niche market and producing quality products right here in the United States,” said Titone. “The SBA is glad to have played a role in the success that Jim Brennan and Sea Box, Inc. enjoy today.”
For additional information about Sea Box and the SBA 100, please visit the following websites at http://www.seabox.com/, http://www.sba.gov/sba-100/sea-box-inc and http://www.sba.gov/sba-100
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