Meet Jim
Jim Penman started a part-time gardening business while earning his PhD in history at Latrobe University. He launched a full-time mowing business in 1982 with a $24 investment.
He originally aimed only at taking on subcontractors, but his business grew and he gradually began to specialise in the building up and selling of lawn mowing rounds. By 1989 he franchised his business, and since then Jim’s Mowing has become the largest franchise chain in Australian and the largest and best-known lawn mowing business in the world.
Jim’s Cleaning was launched in 1994, followed by more than 50 other divisions which now operate in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom. Jim’s Group now has over 5,000 Franchisees and a turnover of approximately $500 million.
Jim says
“The key to success in franchising is an overriding concern for the welfare of franchisees, and constant improvement in customer service.”
He is still actively involved in the running of the business, is directly accessible to all his Franchisees and to any client with a serious complaint.
He is funding a research program into the epigenetics of social behaviour, a continuation of his PhD work, which he believes could help in the treatment of mental illness and addictive disorders.
His books ‘Biohistory’, Biohistory: decline of the West’, and ‘Every Customer a Fan’ are available on Amazon and from his web site www.biohistory.org.
Jim and his mowing for
Beyond Blue charity effort
To contact Jim on any matter including ideas for new divisions, public speaking, consultancy, or any issues to do with business or science, please reach out by calling 0800 454 654.
#ASKJIM
There is an age-old ice breaker “if you could ask one famous person, living or dead, a question, what it would be?” Imagine you selected the founder of Jim’s Mowing, Jim Penman. What would you ask him? Luckily for you, this doesn’t have to be hypothetical.
Jim has a weekly web show called #ASKJIM where he implores you to ask him any you may have. Be sure to check it out Wednesday 7PM AEST on the Jim’s Group Facebook page.
The Jimscast
Is there really a Jim? Is he a real person? You know that Jim, the smiling man with the beard and the hat that you drive by on your way to work. Jim Penman is a well-known Australian entrepreneur rag to riches story. Every week, along side Joel Kleber, Jim puts out a podcast about whatever relevent hot topic of the week; whether that be science, history, politics, religion, or a breaking news story. Follow along every week wherever you get your podcasts.
Jim’s Books
Every Customer
a Fan
The story of Jim’s Group, as written by Jim himself. Download your free version by clicking the button below
Biohistory:
Epigenetics & Character
In ‘Epigenetics and Character’, Dr Jim Penman details a revolutionary new theory about why societies prosper and why they decline.
Biohistory
Academic Version.
Biohistory details a revolutionary new theory about human society. For the first time, Dr Jim Penman PhD explains how biology can explain both the rise and fall of ancient civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans.
Jim’s Book
The biography about the man behind the Jim’s Group. Over 100 people were interviewed for this warts and all book