When did you start your business and how has it changed?

We started setting up our business on 1^st June 2020. Incredibly, we opened our doors just 4 weeks later. Initially it was just Jim & I. A few weeks later we employed Eileen Wheeler who followed us from our previous employer. Soon after Nicky Van Der Hage joined, and before we knew it, we had a team of nine! We bolted on our lettings & property management company and then our commercial agency. This coupled with having an in-house mortgage advisor enabled us to be a ‘one stop shop’ for everything ‘property’.

How did you grow your business?

We were so blessed that soon after opening our business the government introduced a zero-stamp duty holiday period. This coupled with low interest rates meant that the property market simply exploded! Jim & I are very well known, and once we announced that we were going out on our own the recommendations just started pouring in. We have a rock-solid policy of ‘people before profit and community first’. We were involved in numerous community projects and started supporting as many local events as we could. Our commitment to Worthing and some of the surrounding towns paid dividends. The public were repaying our generosity with theirs.

What challenges have you faced?

Personally, I would say separating work life from my personal life. The benefits of being well known sometimes means that no matter where I am or what time of the day it is, people want to talk ‘shop’. I don’t mind too much, however when I’m trying to ‘breathe in’ at the changing rooms when I’m in the gym, I’d rather not be talking about the Bank of England’s base rate!! 

Is there a particular project of which you are most proud?

I would have to say our James & James fancy dress fun run. This was inspired by hearing how upset some parents were that they wouldn’t be able to attend their children’s sports day due to ‘social distancing’. Once the restrictions were lifted, we held a fun run and raised money for Chestnut Tree House. It was so magical seeing over 100 children dressed up as a Disney princess or superhero, all out running around with great big smiles. All the families and extended families were able to attend. Even now, we see kids out wearing their ‘finisher tee shirt’…I love it!

What’s the one piece of business advice you would tell your younger self?

Don’t get caught up in the ‘noise’. There are so many ‘proptech’ companies out there with the next big thing. Software, data mining, plus so many other gimmicks. Its very easy to get caught up in it all. All we need to do is keep to our core values ‘people before profit & community first’ and everything will be OK. As my Nan always said to me, treat people how you want to be treated, and the world will be a better place.