Over 200 franchise owners attended the Martin & Co National Conference and Awards ceremony in Warwickshire on Saturday 26th November celebrate a record year for the multiple award winning business.

 

Managing Director, Ian Wilson commented: “We are very fortunate people indeed because every year has been a record year for us, for sixteen consecutive years since we started franchising. We expected tough trading conditions in 2011 but in fact twenty three new franchise owners have joined the brand and of 22,000 lettings achieved so far this year 8,000 are properties that we have never let before. Our investment in the website and 21st century on-line technology is really paying dividends, and we will finish the year with our managed portfolio pushing toward 26,000.”

 

Celebrating 25 years since the Martin & Co brand was first established the UK’s number one specialist letting agency can boast a successful high street business model.  More recently it has introduced an innovative On-line Agent model which permits a new franchise to be set up in serviced offices or suitable home premises.

 

“It’s proven very popular” said Scott Burgess, Franchise Director. “Since launch on 1st July we have brought 13 On-line Agents into the brand, and we always say that great oaks can grow from little acorns!! In fact none of our three current top performing franchises started in shop premises, so it’s about the quality of the individual and the strength of ambition that determines what you achieve” Burgess added.

 

Also attending the event were Directors of Sargents lettings in Gainsborough, who have recently brought their business under the Martin & Co brand. “The appeal for existing lettings competitors joining Martin & Co is that they immediately benefit from our web presence and the support of a national class head office team of experts whilst maintaining local control over their business” added Wilson. 

 

Representatives from ARLA, Audio Agent, BCQ Print, Cars4Agents, Crossley & Co, The Digital Property Group, Dutton Gregory LLP, Elevate Local, Homelet, Jupix Pannone LLP, PRS Insurance Brokers Ltd, Rightmove, The DPS, The Property Ombudsman, Vizzi Home and Zoopla exhibited at the event, providing an informative networking opportunity for franchise owners. Jupix demonstrated its on-line software solution, which has already been installed in nineteen Martin & Co offices and improves the efficiency with which

Offices can deal with new business enquiries.

 

The event concluded with an awards ceremony; winners included Folkestone who won Most Successful Young Business, Nottingham City was awarded Most Successful Established Business, Fastest Growing Business was Croydon, Local Market Leader went to Crewe & Nantwich and Portsmouth & Southsea took away Best Client Retention. 

 

It’s been a good November for Martin & Co having triumphed at “The Negotiator Awards” by winning Franchise of the Year for the second time. Martin & Co won silver for “Best Large Letting Chain” at the ESTAS awards in the spring after a gold in 2008 and silver in 2009.

 

In a highly competitive market and with the challenges of the economic climate just keeping a business afloat can be a tall order, but with over 16 years franchising experience behind them Martin & Co is on the right road to continue to build on its reputation and win further market share.