Business View Magazine | September 2019

68 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2019 Tanks & Equipment LLC A s steeped in the history of the Memphis blues scene as they are in the petroleum storage industry, Newberry Tanks, today, is employing “New Thinking,” revolutionizing the outmoded customs of the industry they helped build. “Our industry has always functioned on the philosophy that tanks are built once they are ordered by a customer,” VP of Sales, James Fischer, explains. “Historically, that has meant the average customer has had to wait somewhere between six and twelve weeks from the time they call, regardless of the manufacturer. That costs customers’ time, resources, and impedes their output. We’re stepping out to the forefront of the industry, by offering tanks on demand, expedited shipping, and turnkey solutions. That’s our ‘New Thinking’ and it’s resonating with customers.” Revolutionary thinking has always been part of Newberry’s philosophy. Founded by Mr. James “Jimmy” Newberry in 1927 as an equipment company, the company was a thriving Memphis business by the post-war era, employing two surprising names as welders on their staff in 1946: legendary blues guitarist Booker (Bukka) White, and his young second cousin - none other than the “King of the Blues” himself, B.B. King. “Bukka worked at Newberry before he became a celebrity. After he got out of prison, he went back to see Jimmy and asked for a job. He expected a ‘No,’ but Jimmy hired him back – that was pretty revolutionary back in 1946. Then B.B. showed up – he’d walked and hitched all the way from Mississippi to Memphis so his famous cousin could introduce him to the Memphis music scene. Bukka not only did that, but Bukka vouched for him at Newberry. Jimmy gave him New thinking