Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2013 | Page 39

2013 MVP
By Debbie Selinsky

System-atic Success
Spencer Smith is fully on board with both his franchisors

S

ometimes leaders gain followers by being flashy and
charismatic. And sometimes
role models are people like
Spencer Smith, a soft-spoken multiunit, multi-brand franchisee who has
earned his success by following “the
program” and the Golden Rule. The
2013 winner of Multi-Unit Franchisee
magazine’s Role Model MVP Award,
he says following the program is a
simple, yet powerful concept.
“Years ago, I read an article about
franchising and some of the mistakes
people make,” says Smith, who opened
39 Aaron’s and two Big O Tires stores
across 8 western states—all in under
9 years. “I gleaned from that article
that when you buy into a franchise,
you’re buying into doing business
that particular way. If you have to be
a maverick and reinvent the wheel all
the time, both you and the franchisor
will be frustrated. When I look at a
potential franchise, I ask myself: ‘Am
Name: Spencer Smith
Title: President and CEO
Company: Smith Group
No. of units: 39 Aaron’s, 2 Big

O Tires
Age: 40
Family: Five children, 3 to 14,

and an amazing wife who makes
it all work
Years in franchising: 12
Years in current position: 12

Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s u e III, 2013



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