A Marine Veteran Grows Two Nebraska Offices With Strong Systems, Support and Culture
When Tom Hughes (above with family) reflects on his other franchising experiences, they can’t compare to College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving. “It’s the gold standard of what someone buying into a franchise system should expect,” says Hughes, a Marine Corps veteran who previously owned a fitness franchise. “The strength of any franchise system comes down to support from the brand and the franchisor-franchisee relationship. It should be a true partnership built on trust, a shared vision and alignment of goals. Far too many franchisors over-promise and under-deliver on commitments to their franchisees.”
College H.U.N.K.S. impressed from the get-go. “During my first visit to College H.U.N.K.S. Brand Central on Discovery Day, I could feel the energy and passion throughout the building. Every person I spoke with, from the founders to the call center agents, had authentic enthusiasm. I’ve always believed that happy employees create happy customers, so this made me confident of a competitive advantage regarding the level of service we would provide.
“Brand Central works tirelessly to give franchisees the support necessary for their success. The level of collaboration and mutual dependency between the franchise and its partners is unlike anything I have experienced with any other brand. It’s easy to create a list of core values and write it on your walls, but it is another thing to live them like this franchise does.” College H.U.N.K.S. values are to: build leaders; always be branding; create a fun, safe, winning team; and listen, fulfill and delight.
Power of Perseverance
Hughes’ opinion has been time-tested since May 2017, when he opened his franchise serving Omaha and Lincoln, Neb. Since then, he’s faced problems such as dramatically rising operating costs and a housing market downturn. “Any time I encounter a challenging stretch or need advice, I have plenty of people to turn to — other franchisees and Brand Central.”
He persevered, and by year five, his franchise had two offices and posted nearly $2.5 million in sales. As his franchise grew, Hughes’ responsibilities evolved. “For several years, I was heavily involved in day-to-day operations,” says the married father of two. “Creating schedules, running morning huddles, conducting interviews, training staff and putting together estimates consumed most of my day. I also spent a lot of time out on the trucks, providing services for customers and ensuring our quality standards were met.
“Today, we have our processes down to a science, the right people in the right seats, and momentum to carry us forward. My support staff and managerial team allow me to spend more time working on the business than in it. I now spend much of my time developing and supporting our managers and moving consultants in their roles while identifying and cultivating new growth opportunities within our market.”
Strong Culture
His franchise’s culture embraces “traditional Midwestern values, working hard but with enthusiasm and a smile on every face. My team is committed to our customers and to each other. It is ‘we over me.’ The Marine Corps has a tradition of ‘leaders eat last.’ The most junior enlisted Marines get their chow first. This is sound advice for any leader. Put the needs of those in your charge in front of your own. I am proud to say this mindset has deep roots throughout our entire organization.”
The Marines also taught him the importance of dependability, selflessness, integrity and service to a cause greater than oneself. “These qualities translate very well into business ownership and being a leader that others want to follow,” Hughes says. His leadership has included four years as chair of the College H.U.N.K.S. Franchise Advisory Council, refining its role in collaboration with Brand Central.
Learn more about the College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving franchise opportunity.
