NEW TOLEDO JOBS

West side company to add 125 positions

Call center’s summer better than expected

9/27/2013

A growing company on Toledo’s west side is looking to add as many as 125 new employees this fall.

Tammy White, Universal Marketing Group’s training manager, said Thursday the company has both part-time and full-time jobs open and intends to start hiring immediately.

Universal Marketing Group is a call center that works for the companies behind some of the most popular infomercial products, such as P90X. The company says it’s the No. 1 call center of its kind in the United States. And officials say the company has been growing significantly over the past two years.

“This time of year is usually the slowest time. During the summer we don’t usually do much hiring, but that has not been the case this summer,” Ms. White said. “We’ve been busier this summer than we ever have with record numbers of sales.”

The 10-year-old company has about 200 employees. About 40 percent of those are full-time. The call center, located on Airport Highway, is staffed seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

In its last big hiring push in late 2012, UMG added 55 people, and it had about 70 employees two years ago, Ms. White said.

“In the last year to year and half we’ve seen the most growth by far,” Ms. White said. “Our goal is to expand, open up other facilities, and just keep growing.”

Though UMG is entering its busiest season, the company said the new jobs it is advertising are permanent, not temporary.

Ms. White also said UMG has made strides in cutting down on its turnover rate, which previously had been a challenge.

“We’ve made some adjustments as far as our scheduling to help with the turnover rate,” she said. “That has definitely gotten better. This type of a job can be mentally challenging. You won’t go home physically tired but if you’re doing your job the right way you’ll go home pretty mentally drained.”

The company announced its hiring commitment in a news conference Thursday with Toledo Mayor Mike Bell and City Councilman Rob Ludeman.

To apply for positions, visit the company’s Web site, www.umg1.com.