We're Zingtrain.
It's Nice to
Meet You!
We offer training on some of the most sought-after business topics, ranging from customer service and leadership, to training, visioning and open-book finance, among others. Here in our comfortable and colorful training facility, our experienced staff share the tools, techniques and philosophies we’ve honed over more than three decades in business with eager, motivated, out-of-the-box thinkers, like you! All with a hearty helping of the Zingerman’s Experience (we’d love to show you what that’s all about!).
We are thrilled to offer 2-day seminars, 4-hour workshops, customized training classes (tailored to your business, here at our office or at your business), books and pamphlets and a variety of exciting and engaging eLearning offerings, all carefully designed to help businesses do meaningful work that drives positive bottom-line results. All tied together with our very own Bottom-Line Training® approach.
In 1994, Maggie Bayless (ZingTrain’s founder and co-managing partner) read Zingerman’s first long-term “formal” vision – Zingerman’s 2009: A Food Odyssey, written by Zingerman’s Founding Partners, Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw. With her expertise in training and instructional design, Maggie realized that strong training systems would be key to creating the Community of Businesses that Ari and Paul were looking for. So she stayed up all night writing a vision for what would become ZingTrain, which the three of them started in June of 1994–with a $1,000 investment, a desk in Maggie’s attic, a second phone line and a fax modem for the computer she already owned.
Now, more than 25 years later, with co-managing partner, Katie Frank, and a team of over a dozen people, ZingTrain works out of a custom-designed training facility on the south side of Ann Arbor, near Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Candy Manufactory, Creamery and Coffee Company. Just a few miles across town from Zingerman’s Deli, Mail Order, Cornman Farms and Miss Kim.
Zingerman’s is a community of ten unique businesses, with 700+ employees and over 65+ million dollars in annual revenue. We’re still in Ann Arbor, and it’s in our long-term vision to keep it that way, while thoughtfully adding more businesses to the fold. During our 35+ years in business, Zingerman’s has been recognized nationally not just for our exceptional products and customer service, but also for our unique business model.
Click here to learn more about the company Inc. Magazine has called “The Coolest Small Company in America.”
Many of the accolades we’ve received from the business world reference our innovative and sustainable approach to work. This approach — what is now known as the “Zingerman’s model.” (Best as we can tell, there’s nothing else out there quite like it).
This model begins with our belief in the power of Visioning and includes a commitment to Open Book Management and opportunities for employee ownership. Our first long-term vision (Zingerman’s 2009) painted a picture of a radically different growth model—a community of businesses: each unique, each contributing to the success of the others and each with managing partners who have an equity stake and run the day-to-day operations.
The tools, techniques and methodologies taught at ZingTrain have been tested and honed by implementation and constant improvement at each and every one of the ten Zingerman’s businesses. Our clients tell us that while many things make the ZingTrain experience special, one of the most important is how after learning about systems in the classroom, they have a chance to see those very tools in action when they visit our businesses.
- Inc Magazine
In 1981, Paul Saginaw called Ari Weinzweig and told him about a “For Sale” sign he saw on an old brick building at the corner of Kingsley Street and Detroit Street, in Ann Arbor’s charming and historic Kerrytown District. A year later, Paul and Ari realized their dream of opening a traditional Jewish Deli when Zingerman’s Deli first opened its doors on March 15, 1982.
Almost 40 years later, the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses (ZCoB) now includes nine additional businesses (10 total), all located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The ZCoB is proud to have created a unique community: each business unique, each contributing to the success of the others, and each adding to the myriad of other things that make Ann Arbor great.
The community, the culture, the food, the largest football stadium in North America – Ann Arbor has so much to offer!
We love this town! And we’re pretty confident that you will, too.
