For 10 years, Sandy Mazur has led industry pioneer Spherion
Staffing Services. Building its reputation as a national leader
with a local focus, Mazur has championed service excellence and
workforce innovation. Through a creative combination of thought
leadership—including the ground-breaking Emerging Workforce® Study,
workplace surveys and job market reports—and innovative digital
resources—including a new delivery mechanism for the ubiquitous
salary survey—Mazur has ensured local translates into leading for
Spherion’s network of business owners. As a result, for 10
consecutive years, Spherion earned the distinction of being named a
“World-Class Franchise” by the Franchise Research Institute.
Franchise Expo: Tell us about the Spherion
concept.
Sandy Mazur: Spherion is a staffing and
workforce solutions provider in business for more than 70 years and
franchising for 60+ years. Spherion offers a business-to-business
model, providing flexible labor solutions and direct hire
recruiting to organizations of all types. We serve as a career
agent to job candidates and a workforce partner to clients. Our
franchise owners have the opportunity to make a significant impact
on the lives of their employees, the productivity of their
customers and the communities in which they live and work.
How and when did you become involved with Spherion? I joined
Spherion in 1998 as a regional executive, overseeing company-owned
branch staffing operations in Texas and Louisiana. In that role, I
focused on sales strategy, operational excellence and business
development.
What was your background prior to joining? I have spent most
of my career in the staffing industry. Prior to assuming leadership
of our franchise community, I held a number of different business
and functional leadership roles that both leveraged and expanded my
experience in business strategy, P&L management, sales,
workforce management solutions, operations, customer service,
teambuilding, workplace culture, product management and
innovation—all of which have helped me guide and support our
community of entrepreneurs.
What are some of the advantages in being a Spherion
franchisee? The key benefits of Spherion ownership are experience,
knowledge, thought leadership, community and support. Spherion
offers a 70-year history of success in the staffing industry and
60+ years of franchising experience. Every Spherion owner belongs
to a close-knit community of franchisees, who are quick to share
advice and best practices. Our comprehensive training program
offers franchisees a combination of on-site, online and
classroom-based instruction, covering operations, risk management,
sales and marketing. Our finely honed processes and procedures
provide a service and efficiency advantage. In addition to
industry-leading technology and innovative sales and recruiting
tools, Spherion owners benefit from thought leadership—including
the ground-breaking Emerging Workforce® Study, workplace surveys
and job market reports—which clearly set them apart from
competitors in the market. And Spherion’s size and financial
stability offer access to national clients and the ability to
support most any customer’s staffing requirements, no matter how
large or complex.
Who is your ideal franchisee? A successful Spherion franchisee
needs a blend of business experience, community involvement and a
healthy desire to build long-term relationships with customers and
employees alike. Spherion owners are outgoing, tenacious, goal
oriented and community minded, with a servant mentality and a focus
on excellence. We have successful owners from all walks of life,
from recent college grads to those embarking on a 2nd or even 3rd
career. And some of our owners are 2nd and 3rd generation legacy
owners of the original franchisee! A Spherion franchise is an
opportunity for all family members to participate in growing a
family business.
Tell us a little about the staffing industry market? The US
staffing market is a mature segment of the economy that continues
to grow and expand due to shifts in the employment market and the
demand for agility and scalability by clients and flexibility by
employees. Recording growth of 4-5% annually for the last five
years, the US staffing market is projected to grow 6% in both 2016
and 2017 to nearly $150 billion. Employers know that having the
ability to flex their workforce’s size and skills in concert with
the demands of their customers and the economy will be the key to
long-term success in the global economy. Spherion offers that
flexibility and couples it with 70 years of experience in exceeding
client expectations.
What are some of the greatest lessons you’ve learned in
growing this franchise? I’d sum it up in three ways:
- Success is based on people.
- Trust is the foundation of every relationship.
- Service excellence is the true differentiator.
Economics and market dynamics are important in growing a
business, but success comes down to people and the trusted
relationships our owners build with their clients and candidates,
with their teams and with their communities. Our owners genuinely
care about those they serve. I’d never suggest that profitability
is not important to us, but I believe if you do right by people,
the profits will follow. Never compete on price either. It is too
easy to win—or lose—clients due to price. Focus on quality. Deliver
what you promise and when you make a mistake, own up to it
immediately and do whatever it takes to resolve it. That’s how we
define service excellence, and it is what truly differentiates one
provider from another.
And there’s one more: never stop learning!
Do you have a mentor and is there someone you use for
inspiration? I have had the benefit of a number of mentors
throughout my career as well as serving as a mentor to others. Each
relationship has enriched me both personally and professionally. In
terms of who inspires me, I would have to say it is the Spherion
franchise owners with whom I work every day. These are incredibly
hard-working business owners who consistently amaze me with their
unflagging enthusiasm for growing their businesses, generosity in
sharing their experiences and knowledge with one another and
commitment to their clients and candidates.
What advice do you have for someone looking to acquire a
franchise? First, decide what type of business aligns with your
goals and lifestyle. The restaurant or retail service industry
offers a vastly different type of opportunity than a
business-to-business model does. If you’re considering a relocation
for the opportunity, make sure you honestly assess the new market,
not only as a base for your business but as a new home and
community, because if you and your family are not happy there, the
business will likely suffer as well. Determine your budget and
always expect to need a bit more than you think. Make sure you can
live comfortably during the start-up period. Then, do your
homework! Look into the history of the franchise and talk to other
franchisees. Ask about start-up support, marketing, training and
sales assistance. Read the contract thoroughly and understand the
terms. Know your weaknesses and seek support in those areas to
avoid misunderstandings later. Then, be ready to work hard and have
more fun than any “job” could ever provide!
In your opinion, why do you think that Spherion would be a
great opportunity for someone? A Spherion franchise offers a person
interested in business ownership an opportunity with an established
leader in a growing industry segment and the support of a franchise
community of owners who truly care for one another. And since the
staffing industry is projected to continue growing along with the
US economy, the ability to succeed in this business is really
dependent on the owner’s desire to build lasting relationships in
the community and a commitment to service excellence.
