Inspiring Black Woman-Owned Business Thrives with Amazon Partnership
Meet Sophia Strother, a 43-year-old African American entrepreneur hailing from Austin, Texas, who transformed a $10,000 investment into a thriving multi-million dollar delivery business known as L2E Industries. Collaborating with Amazon, Sophia now boasts ownership of 32 delivery vans, generating an impressive annual revenue of over $3 million.
Sophia’s journey to success is a testament to her resilience and determination. As a single mother and survivor of sex trafficking, she has always been driven to achieve greatness. Becoming a mother at the age of 15 didn’t deter her; instead, it fueled her ambition. She pursued higher education, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. By the age of 20, she embarked on her entrepreneurial path with Trustworthy Consulting, eventually becoming a homeowner of two properties.
In 2018, Sophia stumbled upon an article critiquing Amazon for its lack of collaboration with small businesses in the delivery sector. This piqued her interest, and she soon discovered that, for a modest investment of $10,000, anyone could partner with Amazon and potentially earn between $74,000 to $3 million annually.
Sophia recalls the pivotal moment, saying, “As I read the Amazon article, I was sitting down thinking, wait a minute. Why not me?” She wasted no time and applied for the partnership. Within a year, she was at the helm of a million-dollar business. In just 18 months, her delivery company had grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.
Despite initial skepticism, Sophia decided to pursue her dream of becoming an Amazon Delivery Service Partner. Her application process spanned a year, involving an online form, resume, and financial documents. Although she lacked a background in transportation, she underscored her commitment to community initiatives and her passion for serving people.
Fast forward to September 2020, and Sophia launched L2E Industries, an abbreviation for Learning 2 Exhale Industries. Today, with a fleet of 38 distinctive blue vans sporting the “Prime” logo, her team has successfully delivered over 4 million packages. They cover 20,000 routes across Central Texas, employing nearly 80 associates. The company’s remarkable success has propelled it to achieve revenues surpassing $3 million in less than three years.
Sophia’s business model places a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction, safety, and quality, resulting in financial incentives for positive feedback. Despite facing challenges, such as a difficult quarter in 2021 due to a severe Texas winter storm, Sophia’s unwavering positivity and strategic adaptations led to a remarkable turnaround.
Today, Sophia envisions a future where she can make a positive impact on people’s lives and cultivate a supportive company culture. She shared her aspirations, saying, “I now strive to create the kind of work environment I wish I had during my corporate years. I’m passionate and determined to succeed because of the families connected with my company.”
To learn more about L2E Industries, visit their official website at L2EIndustriesLLC.com. Sophia Strother’s journey is an inspiring tale of resilience, ambition, and the power of believing in oneself.