Florida’s coastal areas are prime territory for a College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving franchise, and this former lawyer looks to court success
Good lawyers always have a strategy when heading into the courtroom. Strategy is also very important to College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving moving and junk removal franchise owners. Every case is different, and every outcome depends on solid planning. That’s why attorney Jeff Sexton looks to find success in ownership of a College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving franchise as he expands College Hunks along Florida’s east coast.
What were you doing before College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving?
I have been a personal-injury trial lawyer since 1993 in Orlando, and a few years ago I began looking for an exit strategy. The attorney competition in Florida is intense, and there are large firms with much more money to spend on advertising than I had.
I began to look at franchise opportunities, because I still wanted to operate my own business but to be able to compete more effectively. I also was looking for something with a very solid network in place, because even though I am used to operating on my own, I wanted to make sure that I had backup.
How did you find out about College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, and what did your research tell you?
Some franchise opportunities were provided to me for review. College Hunks really jumped out with their vibrant colors and appearance on all the materials. I wanted to know more, because I was attracted immediately.
Further research only increased my interest. I really liked the atmosphere that the headquarters seemed to have, and all the systems that were in place for operations appeared to be very well thought out.
What sets your College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving franchise apart from other independent moving and removal companies?
Our trucks get noticed. The colors and the logo are great on all our trucks and branding, and our appearance is very professional. We also are very professional in the performance of our duties. I think of our core values — listen, fulfill, and delight — set us apart on every job.
We’re clean-cut, our shirts are tucked in, and we’re employing college students — which is a great way to help young people learn how a business operates. Also, we recycle about 60 percent of our materials through donation or reuse, and so we’re much more eco-friendly than our competition.
What do you need to do to be successful in this franchise?
You’ve got to be responsive to people, to be a listener. When you’re on a job, you’ve got to look for opportunities to do even more for the client so you can create that “wow” experience.
Be proactive. If a job was canceled or not booked, try to find out the reason why and address the issue with that client. If you can’t fix it there, be ready in case it happens again so it can be dealt with more effectively. Always be prepared for the next time. And the little things, like handwritten thank-you notes, go a long way. Customer service is about the little things, especially in a business like this where people aren’t expecting that level of service.
Who are your main customers?
At first we’re going to take a pretty broad approach. I’m talking with a lot of property managers, apartment and condominium managers, to see what their needs are. I also want to reach out to hotel owners and managers to see what issues they are having and how we can support them.
Another group I want to target are the senior living facilities, where a lot of people may be moving in and closing up their homes, or moving from independent living to a more assisted area. But I’m also thinking ahead to some other areas, such as all the professionals around Cape Canaveral and Patrick Air Force Base, and the owners of storage unit facilities, as well.
How do you plan to grow the brand as you ramp up?
As we gear up, I’m looking to have two moves a day and four junk-removal jobs. We’ll be working up to that with the team, but I’m also going to be out pounding the pavement, introducing myself to potential clients and networking.
I’m hoping to do some target marketing within the community, and since I coached my son in baseball for many years I’m also looking at sponsoring a youth baseball team. I also want us to be active in things like cancer walks, so we can really drive home how community-focused College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving is.
What do you like about the business?
I’m one of five boys in my family. I’ve always been involved with fraternal-type organizations like the Boy Scouts and baseball teams, and this is a business that has the same kind of collegial, “everybody lends a hand” atmosphere.
If I have a problem, people are willing to jump in and help. The sports-team vibe is very apparent at corporate, and that’s really attractive to me also. I like a business that has a foundation built for teamwork and a group, team-success mentality.
What does franchise ownership allow you to do that you couldn’t do before?
I’ll be supervising employees, which I really didn’t do before. I’ll be coordinating schedules and doing lot of things that are new to me, and I’m excited by the challenge.
I look forward to mentoring young people so they can become better business people. I want to help them gain the soft skills, like problem solving and logical thinking. I think I can help people learn all that and more, including things like public speaking, as a College Hunks franchise owner. I look forward to building them, and selling this brand.
How have other franchise owners and the corporate team been in terms of support?
Everyone has been very willing to talk to me. People volunteered to assist me in anything I needed, from purchasing trucks to just letting me visit their offices. Everyone at corporate has answered every email and call, and when I was at headquarters for training I thought I was in Silicon Valley. It’s just an electric atmosphere, and I knew right away this was the place for me. Everyone with College Hunks just exudes energy.
Would you recommend this franchise? Why?
I most certainly would. It’s an exciting, growing company and I think soon it will be the name that comes into people’s minds when they want to move or get some things removed from their homes or businesses. It’s a noticeable brand, and the dedication to quality and service is beyond anything I’ve ever seen.
Learn more about College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving
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