How The College Hunks Franchise Helps Owners Build A Winning Company Culture

To build a great business, you need great employees. Here’s how the College Hunks franchise turns new hires into leaders

College Hunks Hauling Junk has a fun culture that encourages employees to learn new business practices and customer-service skills, and to grow into new roles and responsibilities. In the same way that we work hard to help our franchisees succeed, we have also developed systems that help make College Hunks Hauling Junk employees more successful. Most of our employees are youthful and energetic, and by teaching them great customer-service and business-management skills, we set them up for a lifetime of success, whether they stay in the College Hunks family or venture into a new field.

One of our core values is to “listen, fulfill and delight.” We ask College Hunks employees to live that core value by being attentive to customers and looking for ways to WOW them with exceptional service. Other core values include creating ”a fun enthusiastic team environment,” and “building leaders.” We ask franchisees to live those core values by being attentive to their managers and crew members — mentoring them, listening to their feedback and helping them grow as professionals.

By respecting the input and potential of our employees, and by setting and sharing goals on a daily basis, College Hunks franchisees build a vibrant team culture and create more leaders in their businesses. How do we help new franchisees and new hires understand the culture?

The College Hunks franchise ‘Culture Book’

Every year, we ask every team member to write a statement about what the College Hunks Hauling Junk and College Hunks Moving culture means to them. We compile the comments into our annual Culture Book. Except for typos, it is unedited. Our belief is that if we get the company culture right, most of the other stuff — like delivering great customer service and building a strong brand — will happen naturally.

Here are some excerpts from the 2014 Culture Book:

What is the College Hunks culture?

“The College Hunks Culture is about putting a new spin on the moving and hauling industry. It’s about having fun and growing a profitable business, while giving hard-working Hunks the opportunity to learn how to become entrepreneurs and self-driven businessmen.” — Scott Harlow, director of operations in Atlanta

“Its a place where college kids can get together and work as a team. It reminds me of sports because there is an overall goal, and without everyone working together it is impossible to accomplish.” — Cody Forest, crew leader in Greensboro, North Carolina

“The College Hunks Culture is a place where you go to have fun while you’re working. You laugh while being successful for the company. You work hard, and you get rewarded. You help out one another when help is needed. It’s an enjoyable culture that is rare to find in other company settings.” — Angie Hawley, franchise owner in Flint, Michigan

What’s different about it from other company cultures?

“Our culture tends to be grafted in. You know right away whether or not a team member fits into your company’s culture or not. Hunks walk with a certain swagger … this is because ownership allows them to ‘own’ their work and represent the company every day to our customers.” — Nolen Hughes, franchise owner in Little Rock, Arkansas

“The difference between College Hunks and many other franchise organizations is the sense of family, embracing and caring. This is an organization where upon hire, individuals are welcomed from all parts/department … and helped! While new hires often walk into an overwhelming situation, the College Hunks family takes them in with open arms and is always willing to assist with the transition. The same type of stress-free assistance that we can take pride in saying is provided to our clients is also given to employees. There always seems to be an instant sense of belonging and comfort level. We (as employees) feel that we’re truly cared for. One thing that stands out each time it comes up is the pride that the owners take in the successes of Hunks/Hunkettes after their College Hunks tenure. It’s very different to work for a company where your interests are supported, regardless of where they lie. It’s a pleasure to work in an environment where passion and the pursuit of desires are encouraged.” — Adam Phillips, sales manager at College Hunks Brand Central

What do you like about our culture?

“I really enjoy how all of our employees love the brand and want to better themselves with College Hunks or whatever they want to do for their future.” — Justin Henry, Kansas City franchise owner

“College Hunks has made me wake up every day striving to better myself. It has opened doors I never thought I would have the chance to even get close to. Every day I create that stress-free experience for someone in need and know that I made a difference in that person’s life. Working here I have seen so many HUNKS come in and grow not only physically, but also mentally. They learn communication skills, sales, hard work, marketing, team play, etc. … All of these skills will take them to that next level of leadership. It seems like everywhere I go someone looks at the logo on my shirt and fires up a conversation. I mean, what’s not to love about the name College Hunks Hauling Junk and College Hunks Moving? That’s why our brand is spreading so fast!!! At the end of the day I don’t feel as if I have been at work at all. They say it’s not work if you love what you do, and trust me, I do!!!” — Jeremy Harper, franchise manager in Raleigh, North Carolina