Hilliard Crews's guest appearances

Hilliard Crews

Entrepreneurial Insights

Driven By with Sam Coates

Duncan Williams

Scott Morris

Mike Bruns

Pat Lawler

Harry Smith

Fred Jones

Carolyn Hardy

Jay Martin

Scott Felsenthal

Jerry Thompson

David Andrews

David Jordan

Isaac Bruce

Jeff Webb

Craig Brewer

OwlTail

My Guest today is Hilliard Crews. Hilliard is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. Hilliard left his family's business and started MCR safety in 1974. As of 2019, MCR had sales of 255 Million dollars worth of Personal Protective Equipment. You may not know that Hilliard's first year in business, he made just $3,000 and got a job working at night at a truck line to supplement his families income. Hilliard and MCR Safety averaged more 80% growth compounded annually for his first ten years in business.  In addition to founding and selling MCR Safety to Bunzl Corporation, Hilliard also is the largest shareholder of Triumph Bank, a real-estate developer, venture capital investor, and philanthropist.  I had a great time interviewing Hilliard, where we discuss:   The fun you have when you find what you're good at and the market rewards you     Why leaving a family business can be a good thing and what it took to get MCR off the ground     How he won with service and why he's adamant about continuous improvement      The impact of selling through distributors and why he couldn't have grown this quickly any other way     How he is using his family office to accelerate the pace of change for causes he cares the most about     And more!   Please enjoy this week's episode with Hilliard Crews!   RESOURCES:  https://www.mcrsafety.com/ https://www.bunzl.com/ https://triumphbank.com

My Guest today is Hilliard Crews. Hilliard is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. Hilliard left his family's business and started MCR safety in 1974. As of 2019, MCR had sales of 255 Million dollars worth of Personal Protective Equipment. You may not know that Hilliard's first year in business, he made just $3,000 and got a job working at night at a truck line to supplement his families income. Hilliard and MCR Safety averaged more 80% growth compounded annually for his first ten years in business. In addition to founding and selling MCR Safety to Bunzl Corporation, Hilliard also is the largest shareholder of Triumph Bank, a real-estate developer, venture capital investor, and philanthropist. I had a great time interviewing Hilliard, where we discuss: <ul> <li>The fun you have when you find what you're good at and the market rewards you</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Why leaving a family business can be a good thing and what it took to get MCR off the ground</li> </ul> <ul> <li>How he won with service and why he's adamant about continuous improvement </li> </ul> <ul> <li>The impact of selling through distributors and why he couldn't have grown this quickly any other way</li> </ul> <ul> <li>How he is using his family office to accelerate the pace of change for causes he cares the most about</li> </ul> <ul> <li>And more!</li> </ul> Please enjoy this week's episode with Hilliard Crews! RESOURCES: <a href="https://www.mcrsafety.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.mcrsafety.com/</a> <a href="https://www.bunzl.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.bunzl.com/</a> <a href="https://triumphbank.com/team/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://triumphbank.com</a>

Why Stop When You're Having Fun? with Hilliard Crews

Hilliard Crews founded Memphis Glove Company in 1974 as an importer of industrial gloves. After several years of success, he co-founded with his brothers Crews Safety Glasses and River City Rainwear. In 1984, he formed Shelby Specialty Gloves for the fire-fighting industry. Presently, all four companies – leaders in PPE, operate under the holding company Shelby Group Intl. Inc., which now operates factories in Arkansas, Mexico and China and has distribution centers in Piperton, Tennessee and California.    Hilliard and his wife Harriett were instrumental in the founding of the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Memphis in 2012. Hilliard serves on the Board of Teach for America-Memphis, is a Charter member of the University of Memphis Tiger’s Ambassador Club and still serves on various University of Memphis boards. In 2018, Hilliard and Harriett received the Crystal Award for Outstanding Philanthropy. They remain active in supporting many charities through the Crews Family Foundation.    Links to items mentioned in the interview:    Crews Center for Entrepreneurship  Society of Entrepreneurs Profile  MCR Safety  Teach for America  The University of Memphis  Crews Family Foundation

Hilliard Crews founded Memphis Glove Company in 1974 as an importer of industrial gloves. After several years of success, he co-founded with his brothers Crews Safety Glasses and River City Rainwear. In 1984, he formed Shelby Specialty Gloves for the fire-fighting industry. Presently, all four companies – leaders in PPE, operate under the holding company Shelby Group Intl. Inc., which now operates factories in Arkansas, Mexico and China and has distribution centers in Piperton, Tennessee and California.    Hilliard and his wife Harriett were instrumental in the founding of the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Memphis in 2012. Hilliard serves on the Board of Teach for America-Memphis, is a Charter member of the University of Memphis Tiger’s Ambassador Club and still serves on various University of Memphis boards. In 2018, Hilliard and Harriett received the Crystal Award for Outstanding Philanthropy. They remain active in supporting many charities through the Crews Family Foundation.   Links to items mentioned in the interview:   <a href="https://www.memphis.edu/crews/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Crews Center for Entrepreneurship</a> <a href="https://soememphis.com/members/hilliard/?id=entrepreneur" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Society of Entrepreneurs Profile</a> <a href="https://www.mcrsafety.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> MCR Safety</a> <a href="https://www.teachforamerica.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Teach for America</a> <a href="https://www.memphis.edu/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The University of Memphis</a> <a href="http://www.crewsinc.com/foundation.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Crews Family Foundation</a>

Hilliard Crews (S2EP07)