If you want to find Generation Y dominant in a work space then the offices of commercial and industrial property sales specialists James Group, in Auckland, are the perfect place to visit.
The average age of the dynamic 14-strong James Group team is well under 30 and the company’s 25-year-old co-founder and director, Blair James, leads decisively from the front.
“James Group’s points of difference are our youth, energy, fun and enthusiasm – tongue in cheek goes a long way for us and fosters a great deal of creativity in the way we do business.
“We are everywhere in the market place and adopt a guerrilla approach to our services and marketing. While often we are under the radar we are always completely in the mix and creating havoc amongst our rivals ,” Blair James says.
Despite the young blood and fun-filled approach to work the team at James Group lacks absolutely nothing when it comes to having serious credentials.
It boasts the country’s past two years commercial and industrial Real Estate Rookies of the Year within its ranks.
And a highly-skilled and educated team is paramount to driving success at James Group.
“A tertiary education is of huge importance to us and the majority of our team are Bachelor Of Property graduates or current students. We know the jargon, the stock and most importantly we know the property market,” Blair James says.
Technology and innovation are also playing an increasingly vital role in giving James Group a cutting edge over its competitors.
“Technology is fundamental to the way we run our business. Our property listings database is the best around and we have worked hard with the developers to ensure it features everything to easily generate everything for our customers,” said Blair.
“We are also able to work remotely through apps and remote logins so we can get the job done wherever we are! When it comes to technology we pride ourselves on having the latest and greatest tools,” Blair James says.
Blair James also says that James Group have enlisted the support of Social Media and PR specialists, MediaPA, which uses the very latest Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) techniques to ensure that James Group and its clients stay at the front of the pack.
James Group was established in January, 2013, and started from modest beginnings in a small area of Blair’s father’s office.
It is now a flourishing business with 14 hand-picked staff and its own stylishly decorated and trend-setting premises in Botany Downs, Auckland.
“Setting up James Group was an awesome yet scary challenge. I took on a massive risk but despite a few sleepless nights I’m not looking back.
“We have such a strong, growing team and we’re driven to deliver the best results for our customers. That’s really exciting for me and it certainly keeps us ticking,” Blair says.
Blair James is the motivating force behind the organisation. He worked for Westfield before Jones Lang LaSalle, and is now well into his fourth year in the property sector. Blair was the REINZ Rookie of the Year in 2012 and won the Auckland University Emerging Talent Award for Real Estate in the same year.
Blair is also an active committee member of the Young Professionals in Real Estate (YPIRE) group, where he has been a key note speaker and member of the panel at recent events in Auckland.
David Annan, fellow director and another expatriate of Jones Lang LaSalle, was REINZ Rookie of the Year in 2013 and was a co-recipient of Jones Lang LaSalle’s highest earner-of-the-year in 2013.
Warwick James – or more commonly known as Frosty - is the company principal and co-founder. “Frosty” has more than 35 years of real estate experience in agency and property management.
James Group specialises in commercial and industrial sales and leasing and its core focus area is South Auckland.
Its latest deal was transacted in Hamilton demonstrating James Group is more than capable of covering the country to cater for expanding tenant’s or buyer’s needs.
James Group also offers property management services in commercial and industrial property.
James Group targets tenants and buyers for commercial and industrial property at sizes ranging from 100 sq metres to 10,000 sq metres as well as landlords for listings for property management of the same size.
“There is no particular age or demographic we are targeting but we are primarily focused on the South Auckland area,” he says.
Blair says that the core values of James Group are loyalty, trust, quality service and authenticity in our relationships. We promote creativity and perseverance in our delivery and providing quality services from quality people.
“We are a family business and people come first. Dad has taught me that no matter how far we progress with technology, the best form of negotiating is face-to-face. Networking and word of mouth is where some of our best deals have come from so we certainly value our relationships with new and existing clients.”
Blair also acknowledges the instrumental role that his mum, Jenni, has played in the overall success of James Group.
“She is a town planner, author, pilot, designer and most importantly, an incredibly supportive Mum–. She’s the real backbone of the business and has done so much for the company. At the end of the day, Jenni’s the boss so she’s always involved with ideas and innovations,” Blair says. “I can’t thank her enough.”
Looking towards the future for the business, Blair sees James Group as growing from strength to strength as a boutique agency and home to the best agents in the country.
Contact James Group:
www.jamesgroup.co.nz
027 466 2187
blairjames@jamesgroup.co.nz
Level 1, 277 Te Irirangi Drive, East Tamaki, New Zealand 201
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