Working Wonders Matching legal, documented, insured workers with short-term jobs
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It's early morning in the South Bronx, and representativesfrom construction, manufacturing, meat-packing, cleaning and movingcompanies are cruising the streets, plucking would-be employees,many of them undocumented immigrants, from the sidewalks. They aregathered there, hoping for at least one day's work to put moneyin their pockets.
This common scenario is dangerous for both parties: Businessescan be fined or shut down; the workers may not be paid the promisedamount, or they may be cheated altogether. Yet companies nationwideresort to these easy-to-hire workers in order to fill their needfor day laborers and temporary or seasonal workers.
Enter 32-year-old Warren Zinn, a former staffing agency managerturned entrepreneur. His New York City business, Hire Point,matches legal, documented, insured workers with short-term jobs inand around the Bronx. "There's a market demand fortemporary workers that's not being satisfied," he says,explaining why he launched Hire Point. "A lot of companiesdon't know there are places to go to for these kinds ofworkers. At the same time, despite the good economy, there arepockets of poverty where people can't find jobs."
Zinn shares that insuring the workers and withholding taxes,while creating a hands-on service for both the business clients andthe temporary employees, distinguishes Hire Point from the others.Zinn travels to work sites to promote Hire Point and make sure bothparties are satisfied. If they're hired for full-timepositions, that's just fine with Zinn.
Marketing Hire Point is a no-brainer, as Zinn learned early on:"I got into my car and drove around with a bag of businesscards and fliers looking for businesses with trucks parkedoutside," says the street-savvy entrepreneur. "If theyhave trucks, that means they need people to run those trucks."Workers aren't hard to come by, either: The day he opened forbusiness, they showed up at his door. Now he places 40 to 60 peoplein jobs each day.
Zinn expects to earn more than $1.5 million in his second yearof business, up from last year's $700,000. "The key to mysuccess is building relationships," says Zinn, who zealouslyplans to open five more locations in the next four years. "Nomanager of an employment chain will care as much about the businessas I do about mine."
Pamela Rohland, a Bernville, Pennsylvania, writer who findsmysterious spots on her clothes, believes a good dry cleaner ismore valuable than a sack of pearls.
Contact Source
- Hire Point, c/o Warren Zinn, 669 Elton Ave., Bronx, NY10455, (800) 401-5021
