Winkworth has over 100 offices nationwide, owned and run by franchisees who made the move from working with large corporates or small independent estate agencies. Here is a round-up of great advice from existing franchisees for those thinking about launching out on their own.
Carl Burgess - Winkworth Shepherds Bush
Carl Burgess, the franchisee for Winkworth Shepherds Bush and Acton, has some invaluable insights. He said: “Joining Winkworth means you are working with a trusted and respected brand. The website has more than four million visits a year and so you know you are reaching the right target audiences. The great thing about running your own business is that you benefit directly from those long hours and hard work you put in. You also become part of a group of other talented and motivated franchisees. Having the freedom to make all kinds of decisions, from the dress code in the office, to the length of holidays and the hours worked, is invaluable.”
Donna Pearson - Winkworth Canterbury
Donna Pearson runs Winkworth Canterbury in Kent. Donna has worked in estate agency for over 26 years, progressing her career with roles including branch manager and area director. She took over Winkworth Canterbury as a partner as the next natural step to take in her career.
Donna says; “If I could talk to myself before I purchased the business, I would say go for it. Like me, if you have worked hard, you are an expert in your field, you have done your homework, you have been working for someone else, now it is time for your hard work to be rewarded. Get a good team (someone like yourself) around you, that you can build on, and trust to come on this journey with you, and don’t doubt your own skills and abilities.”
Ajay Bathija - Winkworth Kingsbury
Ajay Bathija converted his independent agency in Kingsbury, which had been trading for 25 years, to a Winkworth office four years ago. He said: “ My advice to an independent looking to convert is very simple – do it! Joining Winkworth was one of my best business decisions. From having three or four sales instructions as an independent, to now having more than 20 at any one time is incredible and makes such a difference. You don’t realise the power of the network until you’re in it. Once you’re in it, you’ll love it.”
Jamie Moore - Winkworth Poringland, Hellesdon and Southwold
Jamie Moore is one of Winkworth’s youngest franchisee – Jamie has opened three Winkworth franchised offices in the past four years – Hellesdon, north of Norwich, Porlingland, to the east of Norwich and at Southwold on the Norfolk coast.
He comments: “I’m a big believer that people support local businesses – and here we’ve been able to offer the integrity of the Winkworth name, as well as our hard-won reputation for good service. It’s taken off in a way that I wouldn’t have imagined it would do, but we just do the little things right every day. If you look at any of the agents who perform best around here, it’s the ones where the owner is in the branch or business every single day driving it forward, unlike the ones who have directors you never see and who have people running it for them. Then the results tend to be very mediocre.”
Simon Barnes - Winkworth Highcliffe and Mudeford
Simon Barnes runs the Winkworth Highcliffe and Mudeford offices in coastal Dorset, after spending a number of years as an agent in central London with a major corporate.
He says: “Winkworth is a heritage brand that has not just been around for five minutes. Having sixty offices across London is a big pull for a lot of my clients, who are well aware where a lot of the money flowing into our area is coming from. I have no doubt that the network size and marketing strength of the brand was a key ingredient when we pitched for and won our biggest contract.”
If you are an ambitious property professional with an entrepreneurial approach and would like to find out more about becoming a Winkworth franchisee, please contact our new franchising team.