People are Flocking to Franchising to Find Work with a Purpose
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that life is short and we should make it count. For that very reason, folks are flocking to franchising to find meaningful work through ownership of purpose-driven franchises like College HUNKS Moving and Hauling. Co-founders Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman set out to make their mark on the world when they launched College Hunks back in 2007—and they have more than succeeded.
Co-founders Omar Soliman (left) and Nick Friedman
Since then, the company has changed thousands of lives for the better with the help of their growing network of like-minded franchisees. The brand has attracted folks who want more than just the bottom line. College HUNKS franchise owners are people who make a difference.
A mission of doing good is spelled out in the HUNKS name. HUNKS is an acronym for Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable, Service. The company’s purpose is to make a positive impact on the lives of the people they help.
Making a Difference
College HUNKS’ most recent initiative has been incredibly impactful. At the onset of COVID, the company launched a program that offers free moves to victims of domestic violence.
With families sheltering in place, it became increasingly difficult for domestic violence victims to escape from their situations and seek help. Friedman and Soliman saw several news reports on the subject and wanted to help. “We had to do something. Offering free moving services made sense,” says Friedman.
According to a New York Times report, the pandemic caused an increase in physical violence as well as other kinds of abusive behavior such as isolating victims from friends, and family, and restricting access to basic necessities such as food, clothing and sanitary facilities.
To safely accomplish their goal, the company partnered with caseworkers, shelters and law enforcement to ensure the safety of franchise owners and their employees.
Social Conscious
Friedman and Soliman consider HUNKS a socially-conscious organization. The core of their business is purpose driven—through decluttering and providing opportunities. HUNKS mission is to “Move the World emotionally by eliminating stress for people who are moving or dealing with clutter, and by creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and hard workers who are eager to learn how to build a business.”
Ongoing Initiatives
The company has created a culture of giving and purpose with other important initiatives, such as their national partnership with Feeding Children Everywhere, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a hunger-free world.
HUNKS uses its trucks to help load, transport, and deliver food supplies, tables, and equipment to the many Hunger Projects taking place around the country. In addition, for every junk removal or moving service College HUNKS completes, the company provides a hungry child with two nutritious meals. In less than three years into the program, the franchisor has donated more than a million meals and plans to bring that total to 10 million within the next five years.
HUNKS also has a national partnership with Habitat for Humanity ReStore® which has helped them recycle and donate more than 70 percent of the hauled items.
The Bottom Line
HUNKS has earned many prestigious accolades for franchise excellence, and has grown to more than 130 locations. They have proven that it is indeed possible to do well by doing good.
Core Values
The College HUNKS® philosophy is to always try to live and work by these four core values.
Building Leaders—College HUNKS puts an importance on inspiring every team member to reach their maximum potential.
Always Branding—The company strives for positivity, community-oriented service, and delivering 100 percent client satisfaction.
Create a Fun & Enthusiastic Team Environment—The HUNKS philosophy is that having fun at work builds stronger teams.
Listen, Fulfill & Delight— HUNKS values demand that they do whatever it takes to fulfill the needs of those around them in order to satisfy clients and team members alike.