Company History

Not every firm can claim they helped keep the Minnesota Twins in Minnesota…now that’s history!

Freelance Staffing, Inc. is a locally-owned, family-run, light industrial and clerical staffing business. Its founder, Sharron Clasen, had worked for a national temporary help service for 7 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom when their youngest son was born. When Christopher entered the 1st grade in 1980, Sharron started Freelance Staffing, Inc. Her husband, Fred joined the company on a full-time basis in 1989.

 

Was it the best time to start a business?

When Freelance began in 1980, the unemployment rate was well over 6%, interest rates were over 20% and inflation was rampant. Many companies were downsizing or moving out of Minnesota due to the high cost of doing business within the state. It was not a great time to start a new staffing business.

 

The first office was 225 square feet in an office building on Little Canada Road. A $200 help wanted ad would result in 30-40 applicants who were given clip boards and stood in the hallway to complete applications.

 

Now we own over 3,000 square feet and continue growing with the addition of a second office in Osseo. Thanks to our reputation, our greatest source for new employees comes from referrals. We also draw a lot of new people through online recruitment.

Freelance Staffing rescues the Minnesota Twins

In the early 1980's, the Minnesota Twins were threatening to leave Minnesota. They had to sell 1,500 season tickets in order to stay. In two months, a national firm had not sold any season tickets.

 

The Minnesota Association of Commerce and Industry (MACI) recommended Freelance Staffing to the Minnesota Twins to rescue their telemarketing campaign. There were only 6 weeks left in the 4-month campaign. The crew Freelance Staffing hired sold the required 1,500 season tickets in 6 weeks! The Twins stayed in Minnesota.

 

 

Another client success story…

Another major account in the early years was a manufacturer of plastic bottles. They required round-the-clock service. The business phone was forwarded to the Clasen home at night and on weekends.

 

It was not unusual to have to pick someone up at midnight and drive them to work when their car would not start and the customer desperately needed them. We still do whatever it takes to keep our clients operating. Would you get that kind of service from a national firm? Contact us with our Quick Response Form.

The new CEO is “groomed”

As Freelance grew, so did Fred and Sharon’s son Chris. As soon as he was old enough, he was scheduled at various customer sites on various jobs. He worked in the team dining room of the Minnesota Twins, he packaged fishing sinkers, assembled water pumps and packaged medical supplies.

 

Upon graduating from college, Chris spent three years working full time outside the family business as manager of a local golf store and part time for Freelance Staffing as an on-site safety manager. He joined Freelance Staffing on a full time basis in the summer of 1999 as a site administration manager or "SAM." Fred and Sharon have since retired. Chris is now the CEO of Freelance Staffing, Inc.

Some things change and some things stay the same…

 

In twenty years, Freelance has seen the unemployment rate plunge from above 6% to below 2%. The industry changed from one of "temporary help" to one of "staffing."

 

Our purpose goes far beyond just "filling an order." We believe that every person should have the right to achieve and also have the responsibility to achieve. This is our foundation…

 

This second generation family business is, above all, dedicated to the success of its client base and its employee family. It's what we've been about for our first twenty-five years and it's what we'll be about for the next twenty-five years. Our success has been built on the success of our clients and our employees.