Of all the knowledge a working professional can have during their career, perhaps nothing is more valuable than years of experience to help guide and serve as a reference point when making decisions.
For TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Franchisee Stephanie Clarey, she has just that – experience and nearly two decades worth of it at her side. Clarey has held a variety of roles within the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK system for 18 years now and over this time, has worked her way up to now having her own location.
“I had just graduated from college when I was hired as a marketing manager and human resources assistant,” Clarey said. “Owning a franchise started to become a more attractive idea as my husband and I started working out of college and deciding what we wanted to do with our careers.”
Clarey and her husband, Justin, made their first franchise purchase in January of 2019 when they signed on to take over the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Columbus, Ohio franchise. It was a major milestone for the two as they had been working their way up for years, and it was a chance to take on a franchise in a thriving market for the moving industry.
Their years of experience – paired together with the training and mentorship they received from the previous owners of the Columbus location – helped make the transition smooth as they became business owners.
“We trained with the previous owners and shadowed them for several years before making the transition to ownership,” Clarey said. “We thought it was really helpful for us to do that, and it’s made things easier for us as we were able to understand issues better and work through them.”
Still, like any big career move, there are some challenges involved with making a big shift like becoming a business owner. Clarey was now tasked with seeing things from a big-picture perspective, instead of focusing on certain areas like she did in previous roles.
“I was the sales manager before I became a franchisee, so I wasn’t used to looking at the company as a whole,” Clarey said. “When you are a franchisee, you focus on all departments. I just didn't have experience doing that before.”
As Clarey navigated her new role, she continued to see the impact she was able to have on so many different people, which is something she really enjoys.
“I love seeing the growth in our employees as they move forward,” Clarey said. “We enjoy that each day is different – or even each year, as we learned last year with COVID-19. It keeps you engaged and encourages you to always keep learning and growing.”
While Clarey is focused on growing her location in Columbus, she also wants to hone in on the people side of things and wants the absolute best for her team.
Both her and her husband have transitioned seamlessly into being franchisees, and she encourages anyone who enjoys making a difference in people’s lives to pursue a franchising role.
“Yes, I would absolutely recommend franchising with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK,” Clarey said. “It is just so rewarding to make a difference in someone’s life.”
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
