The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the cleaning industry and altered the public’s expectations of cleanliness, particularly in settings like supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and hospitals. Looking back over the last year, it is safe to assume that facilities are no longer cleaned just for the sake of appearance. To guarantee that employees, clients, and other building visitors are entering a safe and healthy environment, effective cleaning solutions must be embraced by businesses.
Furthermore, in order to give customers and employees peace of mind, companies must commit long-term to their cleaning programs, which requires investing in well-trained cleaning staff and efficient cleaning products and solutions.
This is where Australian company Jaymak comes into the picture. The B2B commercial cleaning business — led by Mark Mackenzie (CEO) — has been providing hygiene and energy-saving solutions for the hospitality, healthcare, and food industries since 1998. The company’s mission is to develop and implement the highest quality preventative maintenance programs and ensure clients’ needs are met to the highest standards.
One-of-its-kind Hygiene Business
Presently, Jaymak is the only hygiene business in Australia with an internationally recognized certification ISO 9001 Quality Management System and ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System. The company distributes its customized products and services through a franchise model with trained, territory-based franchisees servicing its steadily expanding client base.
I believe that you’re not just buying a Jaymak franchisee within your defined territory, you’re actually buying into the Jaymak family, and each and every franchisee needs to be willing to support each other and work as a team. This mentality is becoming increasingly more important as we sign up more and more National corporate customers.
Mark proudly asserts, “Infection control, HVAC&R cleaning, and food safety management are specialized fields, and in the current COVID environment, the hygiene and cleaning industry is experiencing exponential growth. All of our work complies with ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 9001:2015, covering a risk management system based on the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) for the provision of specialized cleaning services to the hospitality, healthcare, and food sectors”.
Furthermore, the industrious leader and his team have developed their own Business Management Software, which involves a Service App, customized online quoting, scheduling, and reporting system, as well as an online training and resource system for their franchisees and master franchise licensees. This guarantees continuing adherence to and coherence with service delivery requirements.
The Beginning Of Mark’s Entrepreneurial Journey
When an aspiring entrepreneur takes the plunge into starting their own business, whether going solo or becoming a franchisee, there are often a million and one things to think about or set up. And income may become one of them. The same thing happened to Mark.
After earning his university degree, heading off on a 2-year backpacking hiatus, and then returning to Australia, his entrepreneurial journey officially began. While traveling, Mark realized that he didn’t want a “9-to-5” job and wanted the liberty to make his own decisions. However, he had to make some money first.
Following this, the industrious leader began working as a chemical salesperson in the hospitality sector and rapidly formed strong relationships with several of his key Sydney customers. “During one of my monthly sales calls, a customer said to me, “Mark, if you could find a way to stop mould from growing inside cold rooms…. you’d make a fortune!” recalls Mark.
The seed was sown, and his journey in R&D began. During this period of change, his wife provided income, and Mark used his father to bounce business plans off. As a result, Jaymak was founded following several years of product research, experimentation, and business model creation.
Fast forward 24 years, Jaymak is now counted amongst Australia’s largest commercial HVAC&R hygiene companies. Under his leadership, the company has carved a niche in the market and gained trust from its various clients. Today as an experienced entrepreneur, Mark says, “The quote I love and sums up my entrepreneurial spirit is the quote by the American Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.””
Overcoming Challenges
Starting a new business from scratch as an entrepreneur is challenging for everyone. Jaymak CEO Mark also faced similar challenges when starting out. However, the biggest challenge was separating himself from the core day-to-day operations of the business.
During the first ten years, the versatile leader spent far too much time working in the business rather than on it. Over time, he discovered how to assign tasks to staff members with various skill sets to grow the brand. “It’s essential to have the right management team around you. I believe we’re in the most exciting phase of the business to date with an excellent head office team who are all extremely driven, knowledgeable, and have great vision,” says Mark.
When Mark first started franchising, he was very naive and believed every franchisee who invested in his brand would share his passion for entrepreneurship and success. But now, things have changed. Their selection criteria have evolved over time in an effort to locate the right personalities that fit the Jaymak business.
“I believe that you’re not just buying a Jaymak franchisee within your defined territory, you’re actually buying into the Jaymak family, and each and every franchisee needs to be willing to support each other and work as a team. This mentality is becoming increasingly more important as we sign up more and more National corporate customers,” states Mark.
Qualities of A Franchise Partner
As the CEO of the leading B2B commercial cleaning business, Mark states, “To try and ensure all our business partners and franchisees are successful, we like to offer licenses and franchises to people that share our values and beliefs.” These include:
- A passion for life and people
- Willingness to try new things
- Entrepreneurship
- Positive and Optimistic
- A team player
- Treating adversity as a challenge
- Service and quality orientated
- Sincerity in their approach
- Willingness to comply with systems and procedures
- Being passionate about Food Safety and Customer Service
Here, the key is to ensure that every business partner and franchisee has an opportunity to work with Jaymak.
CEO’s Outlook On Current Industry Scenario
According to Mark, Jaymak offers various services to the healthcare, hospitality, food manufacturing, and distribution industries. He, along with his team, was fortunate that their work in the healthcare and food distribution sectors continued—even intensified—during the pandemic while the majority of the hotel industry was put on lockdown.
Like everyone, they experienced some mobility restrictions with access to sites and movement across state borders. However, they could still serve a sizeable section of their client base since they were recognized as a provider of “essential services.”
Since most businesses have resumed full operations during the previous six to nine months, there has been a significant increase in demand for professional hygiene services. Mark asserts, “We are currently seeing unparalleled growth. The biggest issue we are faced with now is the recruitment of enough franchisees and employing enough staff to manage the steadily growing workload!”
Sustaining and Maintaining Quality Services
To ensure quality services are delivered to their clients, Mark and his team have been working hard over the past two decades. However, a considerable amount of work was completed in 2006, when they initially received ISO22000 accreditation. The ISO framework has been the key compliance structure to maintaining operational consistency with their products and services throughout the franchise network.
Additionally, Mark made a large investment in the continued development of their business management software, which has been essential in systemizing their franchisees’ adherence to their operational procedures.
Future Plans
Jaymak is a far superior service provider to any of its rivals in the hygiene and infection control industry due to its ISO accreditation and cleaning procedures. “The 24 years of experience and expertise in the hygiene industry provides Jaymak with the ideal platform in this post-pandemic period to grow our brand throughout Australia and the world. We have commenced discussions already with potential franchisees in New Zealand and have also engaged franchise consultants to assist us in offering Master Franchises in the UAE, Singapore, and Malaysia,” says Mark.
Over the next 12 months, Mark anticipates continued double-digit growth in Australia, while in New Zealand, he anticipates 1-2 new franchisees and at least 2 Master Franchise licenses in other countries. In the current market, Jaymak’s franchisees have the potential to grow extremely quickly.
As an illustration, a new franchisee took over an existing Jaymak business and grew it by 400 percent in just a year. In the last 18 months, another franchisee took on various territories within the Sydney market and has doubled the size of that business. Mark believes that the franchisee’s commitment and determination are essential for this kind of growth.
A Piece Of Advice From CEO
Being an experienced entrepreneur, Mark advised budding entrepreneurs, “Running a business is not easy, and success is seldom built overnight. It is often a rollercoaster ride with some amazing highs but also some lows. As the business owner and entrepreneur, the best part about it for me was that I controlled the ride. It’s important to enjoy the journey and celebrate the wins along the way. Surround yourself with good people who share your dreams and keep you balanced throughout the journey.”
Franchisee Testimonials
Testimonials build a strong credibility for any business. And here are some positive testimonials given to Jaymak by its valuable Franchisees.
“Working as part of the Jaymak network has brought me the independence to grow my business with assistance from the team at head office, great operational advice, usage of the trusted Jaymak brand and access to their tailored service system. This makes my life easier so I can focus on growing my business across the state. The progress of the business across all sectors has been spectacular including hospitality, health care, industrial and food processing. In only a few short years, I have been able to grow my business tenfold. In an environment where hygiene is top of mind, this is the business to be in!”
Tony – Jaymak Franchisee, Geelong
“I have owned my own Jaymak franchise for a few years now and the assistance I have received from our parent company has been extremely helpful in developing my business goals and drive business growth. When help is required, I just have to ask and there is a whole Jaymak network of franchisees to assist along with head office. I find it particularly rewarding when we receive good testimonials and referrals from our happy customers which helps drive business growth as well.”
Washington – Jaymak Franchisee, Sydney
