Chapter 6
Leadership Opportunities & Challenges

In January 2007, Justin Erickson was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Harbor Wholesale, succeeding the co-leadership model previously shared with his cousin Scott Erickson, who became Chief Operating Officer. Their father, Mike Erickson, transitioned to Chairman of the Board. This marked the beginning of a new generation of leadership.

Justin and Scott crafted a mission to build the “Premier West Coast Distribution Company.” Despite operating only one warehouse in Tumwater at the time, they believed in the company’s potential and committed to aggressive growth.

In a single weekend in April 2007, Justin and Scott made two major decisions:

• Sold Dominic’s Coffee Company to Dillanos Coffee Roasters for nearly $1 million.

• Acquired Paul Jackson Wholesale, a family-owned distributor in Roseburg, Oregon, expanding Harbor’s geographic reach and adding a satellite warehouse.

The acquisition of Paul Jackson Wholesale led to the purchase and renovation of a 100,000-square-foot former horse trailer factory into a modern distribution center. This facility included:

• 10,000 sq ft of freezer space
• 4,500 sq ft of refrigerated space
• 2,000 sq ft refrigerated dock
• 1,600 sq ft of office space

Sales doubled in the first year and again the next, validating the strategic move.

Harbor continued its expansion with:

• Klamath County Candy and Tobacco in 2009

• A partnership with Northern Sales Company to serve Alaska

These moves pushed Harbor’s revenue to $357 million, solidifying its position as a regional powerhouse.

Justin emphasized a culture of customer service, transparency, and employee empowerment. He and Scott implemented monthly leadership meetings and built a management team to support their vision.

Scott led the implementation of a new warehouse management system (WMS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to modernize operations and improve efficiency.