(Ambrosio’s note: Welcome to this week’s edition of Fro-Yo Files, an exclusive bonus series for Platinum subscribers of Franchise Chatter. Today’s post is the final installment of our 3-part series on Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt franchisee Jeremiah Sizemore.)
Hiring the Right Team
Speaking of employees, Sizemore says employing people and having a positive impact on the people who work with him is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a franchisee. Unlike many other franchisees who take a hands-off approach to hiring, Sizemore’s group recognizes that the value of their company rests squarely on the shoulders of the people they put in front of their customers.
It takes anywhere from 10-20 employees on a rotating schedule to operate one of the shops, and he wants to make sure every one of them loves what they do and offers exceptional customer service to their paying customers.
“Bryce (who runs the People side of the business) and his team review hundreds of applications looking for the right people, conduct multiple interviews, and have a fairly intense screening process. We have high standards for our franchises and we want people who are enthusiastic about their job, people who will look for ways to make our stores even better,” Sizemore said.
“We have great incentive programs for our employees. They become eligible for raises quickly and have the potential for promotion if they choose to stay with the company.”
Sizemore says another satisfying component of being an Orange Leaf franchisee is the marketing aspect, which includes community involvement. He also says these efforts, led by Evan Morris and the Local Marketing team, keep the company’s competitive edge razor sharp so Orange Leaf can stay a viable commodity.
“Orange Leaf puts forth a stronger marketing effort than many franchises of its kind. We don’t have television commercials yet, but we’re very active with social media, which has proven to be very beneficial for us. We are always on the lookout for unique ways to connect locally because we want to support the community that supports us.”
