Chad Franzen 3:37
Okay, how’s that going?
Maurice Jennings 3:39
Last season was over this year was it was rough for us. But towards the end, the team really started to gel and we actually made it to the second round of semi-finals.
Chad Franzen 3:56
Oh, nice. Very nice. I mentioned that you guys are serial entrepreneurs. You talked about your dry cleaning business. Can you take me through some of your your entrepreneurial journey.
Tracy Jennings 4:07
It started with DHL. We were independent contractors with DHL prior to them ceased in domestic operations. We had a fleet of 12 trucks on the Eastern Shore and then 19 trucks in Allentown, Pennsylvania. So, for a year and a half, we you know, we love DHL, I mean, it was a great contract. changing people’s lives and what we do and mentoring and we just had a lot of fun, but they in 2008, right when the recession hit, they cease domestic operations, therefore, putting us out of business but we were always smart and wise with our money so we never defaulted on anything and that’s how we came into That’s
Chad Franzen 5:00
okay. And then you and then from there, you you went to Jersey Mike’s.
Tracy Jennings 5:06
Yeah ZIPS Dry Cleaners was a one price dry cleaners. And for seven years we were road warriors doing that. And then when we said enough, we did Jersey Mike’s,
Chad Franzen 5:19
what are some commonalities or similarities between maybe what you had been doing in your other stops your other entrepreneurial stops? What are some similarities to that with what you’re doing now at Jersey, Mike’s
Tracy Jennings 5:32
people, you’re dealing with people, you’re dealing with people and you’re trying to coach them and mentor them and letting them know that you got to do the small jobs where you get the big jobs and you know, just building them up and creating an opportunity for them?
Chad Franzen 5:48
What’s maybe the biggest difference or something that you weren’t necessarily expecting? Between Jersey Mike’s and then maybe ZIPS?
Tracy Jennings 5:56
I think ZIPS was a lot more labor intense. So I was pleasantly pleased that, you know, you didn’t feel a hostage situation, when you’re, if I wanted to had to come and run the dry cleaning machine, you couldn’t do that. But I say Chad, come over here. And just the customers would tell you what they want in their sandwich. You could do that. But not necessarily want a dry cleaning machine or press clothes or anything. So I was very pleased that you know, you didn’t have that call for when you with limited? Staff.
Chad Franzen 6:38
What? When did you know? So you had one? You had one location? And you said it was slow going at first, but it picked up? When did you know that it was time to add to your kind of your Jersey Mike’s portfolio
Tracy Jennings 6:50
In six months? Oh, we knew we knew we went into this knowing we were gonna grow.
Chad Franzen 6:56
Okay, and how did it how did this? How did it go up? Opening the second one.
Tracy Jennings 7:01
Oh, that one was gangbusters. I mean, because we opened up in a pandemic. And even though it was a pandemic, this location is a top 56 store in the nation. So it was crazy busy. We were fortunate with the relationships that we built, we had a good staff, and my husband took the reigns with getting us there. And again, partnering with the community and having a charity that is actually dedicated to the community. I think that that plays a big part, we anchor ourselves and become a part of the community.
Chad Franzen 7:42
Oh, great. Can you tell me a little bit about that charity.
Tracy Jennings 7:45
Um, that one is Tanner resource Community Center, both of them LCAC and Tanner resource community set of centers are different for each location, but they provide emergency services. They have a food bank, emergency funds, rent assistance, things like that.
Chad Franzen 8:05
What would you say is most important when it comes to operating multiple units at one time, you know, you had one now you have two, what’s most important?
Maurice Jennings 8:16
I would say the having the consistency from an administrative standpoint, because the food is going to be the same whether you’re here in Virginia or you’re in Florida, but the administrative consistency is what’s very important in any sort of business where you’re opening multiple locations,
Chad Franzen 8:41
so there are plenty of franchise opportunities out there you said you stopped in to to Jersey Mike’s for lunch? What was it about the about Jersey? Mike’s I mean you can you can go to other places and stop there for lunch? What was it about Jersey Mike’s that stood out?
Tracy Jennings 8:57
The quality of the food and the experience they try to give you in the store?
Chad Franzen 9:02
Okay.
Tracy Jennings 9:05
So even though your food is fresh slice the slicer, you know, ask you how your day is the bantering, it’s the small things they become to know who you are. And you become a part of you know, the staff.
Chad Franzen 9:19
Sure, sure. How did how did COVID kind of impact or change operations if it did it all for you guys.
Maurice Jennings 9:30
The third-party delivery services definitely increased I would say and Lordan if it increased probably by 50%. Oxon Hill we just opened. So we the we will come in like towards the I would say towards the end of the pandemic towards the end of the pandemic. So people were out and about Hmm. But the third-party delivery for our Lordan and location, it really helped. And the online service,
Chad Franzen 10:08
would you say that that has been a positive, kind of a positive development for you further partnership with third-party delivery services?
Maurice Jennings 10:17
Um, for me, I was saying, I would rather have more online orders than third-party, because it I mean, the percentage they take from you, it adds up and then in a year, you probably notice a lot of piece of franchises don’t even offer third party deliveries. I mean, they really cut into your profit.
Chad Franzen 10:43
Right, right. What are some of your future plans or goals?
Tracy Jennings 10:50
Um, continue to grow the Jersey Mike’s brand and change people’s lives. I think that that’s where we are. We got a core group of managers who, you know, know us and know, our expectations. But, you know, developing people and putting them in their next roles and telling them, you know, it’s a different generation, that’s what I can say, is a different generation. So we work with them, and we develop and grow them.
Chad Franzen 11:19
Yeah. Is there something you tried to do to get, you know, maybe people might think of a place like that as a place where you go work for the summer or something would take off? Is there a is there something that you tried to do to get people to stick around?
Tracy Jennings 11:31
Yeah. Well, one, I mean, Maurice, and I practices were definitely different than a lot of the other franchise owners. The way we take care of our employees, some of our employees work for other franchisees, we reward them and we pay them well, that’s first and foremost. The second thing is that when we, when you have the younger generation, you know, they want instant gratification, and you got to crawl before you work. So when they’re doing their little mess ups, and not only my job, you know, I’m the one that typically sets them down. And you know, says, Hey, you’re not gonna get to that, just because of how the way you act. If you cannot do the little job, you can’t get to a big job. Or if you get to the big job, it’s not going to last because you are going to get in your own way. So it’s just that development, a lot of them have different upbringings and you got to be able to bring yourself down to their level. And it’s really like a life coach. In many ways by Reese relates a lot of things to sports and theme and stuff like that. So he’s able to connect in that capacity.
Chad Franzen 12:49
Sounds good. Hey, I have one more question for you. But first, how can people find out more about your locations? Maybe you can just tell us where they are.
Tracy Jennings 12:56
Okay, our first location is Lorton Valley. It’s right off of Ox Road at 8971. We’re this proud supporters of South County stallions great football basketball team championship school We’re at every football game so stop by our tents member there on the sport stays. And then our Oxen Hill location is at 6017 F. Oxen Hill Road. And Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Chad Franzen 13:31
Okay, great. Hey, so last question for both of you. When you guys when you guys go to Jersey Mike’s as customers, what’s your go to items?
Tracy Jennings 13:41
Mine is the 13
Maurice Jennings 13:43
Mine’s the nine.
Chad Franzen 13:46
I’m gonna have to get some more details on this.
Tracy Jennings 13:47
Alright, so the 13 is the Italian. And the number nine is the club supreme. Okay. The Italian is amazing. Because you know, we bake up. I mean, what sets us apart than most of the other sandwich shops is that everything is 100% Fresh. We bake our own bread, we slice our own lettuce, we slice our tomatoes, onions, everything is done fresh every day. We have rosemary parm bread, wheat bread, white bread wraps. And if you don’t do the bread, we have our sub in a tub so you can kick the bread. That’s real good for keto people if they’re not wanting the car intake, but want the fat intake, and you gotta have it Mike’s way. Have you ever had a Jersey Mike’s? Yeah, that’s great. You got to have Mike’s way which is the onion, tomato, lettuce, red rice, vinegar and spices. The best.
Chad Franzen 14:40
Yeah, sounds great. Well, I’m hungry now. Hey, Tracy and Maurice has been great to talk to you. I really appreciate your time today. Thanks so much. Thank you. So long, everybody.
Outro 14:50
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