About Jim’s.
How it started…
Jim’s Group started as a part-time gardening business while Jim Penman completed his PhD in history. It went full time in 1982 and was franchised in 1989. Currently, there are nearly 4,000 Franchisees in four countries, and growing at the rate of around 200 per year. Jim’s Group also boasts one of Melbourne’s best conference centres which is used for meetings, functions and training for Jim’s franchisees and staff.
There is no company owned businesses and all work is done by licensed operators and Franchisees. Franchisor rights are also privately held and all Divisions, except Mowing, are partnerships with individuals experienced in those industries.
Jim is the owner and full-time CEO of Jim’s Group. He is happily married with ten children, loves his work and has no plans to retire – ever!
For all the business success he has enjoyed over the years, Jim Penman remains remarkably unassuming. At the start of the interview, when Wealth Creator asks to confirm his correct business title, he has no idea. He has to pull out his business card, which says he is a director.
“It’s funny though when you own a business,” he said. “You don’t ever introduce yourself as a director, or CEO or founder or anything like that. I just say “I’m Jim” and that is usually enough.”…As written in Wealth Creator Magazine.
Need for Franchisors
As the number of Franchisees grew, steps needed to be taken to ensure “in the field” quality control. Accordingly, regions were offered for sale to the most experienced Franchisees, including several whom later moved interstate, and even internationally. Purchasers of these regions became “Regional Franchisors” (Master Franchisors) who took over responsibility for providing local attention to Franchisees; thereby ensuring company standards were effectively maintained. Today, Franchisors are in place across all divisions and continue be a driving force in the prosperity of the group.
Rapid Growth
Growth has been fast for the Group even in times where the rest of the business community has slowed. For example, Jim’s experienced a rise in Franchisee numbers during the last Australian recession, due to more recently unemployed people looking for a new income. In 2013, Jim’s has over 3,500 Franchisees stretching across all States and territories of Australia and New Zealand, and parts of Canada and the U.K.
Jim’s Skip Bins was launched in 2007
Jim’s Skip Bins was launched as an extension to the Mowing division. In 2006 Jim was approached to develop the Jims Skip Bin division and was up and running by 2007. Jims Skip Bins & its hire services are dedicated to servicing the waste removal and recycling needs of the community, with trained and professional franchisees. Wherever possible, we belong to the local Waste Management Association, in order to remain up to date with industry developments. Jims have modern trucks and equipment in the fleet for enabling its hire services, along with well trained and experienced franchisees’.