17th May 2013
The General Manager’s Corner UPCOMING EVENTS 11TH JUNE– RURAL AND COMMERCIAL CONFERENCE– NOVOTEL ROTORUA
12-15 JUNE– FIELDAYS– MYSTERY CREEK HAMILTON
10-11 JULY– PROPERTY MANAGERS WORKSHOP– AMORA WELLINGTON
AUGUST– AARON SHINER WORKSHOPS– VENUE TO BE CONFIRMED
19-20 SEPTEMBER– ADMINISTRATORS WORKSHOP– AMORA WELLINGTON
17-18 OCTOBER– SHAREHOLDERS WORKSHOP– AMORA WELLINGTON
First National Group NZ Ltd
The General Manager’s Corner
THE NEW FIRST NATIONAL BOARD The National office team and I warmly welcome Anton Jones (Tauranga), Gordon Turner (Whangamata), Joe Mullins of Giera Progressive onto the board of Directors for First National Real Estate. We welcome Ann Crossley back to continue her great work as your representative. Bob Brereton once again takes the reigns as Chairman and our kumara man John returns as director from Dargaville. The board have been intimately involved in the changes through 2012; they have been supportive, proactive and definitely fulfilled their fiduciary responsibilities to the membership throughout their term. I look forward to working with a larger team, with diverse areas of expertise and experience.
Joe Mullins First National Giera Progressive
Ann Crossley First National Rotorua
First National Group NZ Ltd
Anton Jones First National Tauranga & Omokoroa
John Powell First National Roper & Jones
Gordon Turner First National Whangamata
Bob Brereton First National Motueka
The General Managers Corner
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting was held in Wellington on the 23rd of April 2012. There were no matters arising from the minutes of the previous AGM for 2012, or from the floor during the AGM. The Financial Statements 2012 prepared by Paul Dodd and Associates were reviewed, discussed and accepted. The topic regarding Conferences was once again discussed during the board meeting and at the AGM briefly with a decision to organise a survey of the membership and owners to determine next year’s events including national conference location. The next event is Hamilton Island which we have approximately 40 attendees. We are very pleased to see a large number of award winners attending and believe they will receive the recognition that many of our leading sales people are seeking.
BRAND PROTECTION
As I write this month’s General Managers Corner it is with particular reference to the protection of our First National brand. Well what a week. This month First National NZ Group has been challenged by the Advertising Standards Complaint Authority. First National brand and the membership were exposed to media attention which can negatively affect all businesses within the group. One consumer complaint relating to an inappropriate advertisement is all that is required to bring our reputation into question. The relevant sections of the Advertising Codes of Practice www.asa.co.nz were referred to as being breached and the Code of Ethics. It is certainly a worthwhile exercise to make your team aware of these standards and the penalties for any breaches in their standards. This is relevant for the administrators who may be loading photos or script onto the internet on your behalf. Another matter which raises concern for the group resulted in a CAC finding of ‘unsatisfactory conduct’ of a member that was not advised to neither the First National board nor the National Office. For the protection of your members and business all complaints must be notified on the Membership Declaration of Formal Complaint and Notice of Proceedings, these were introduced last year at the AGM and copies were sent to all members. Please see attachment for further details.
First National Group NZ Ltd
The General Manager’s Corner
CHOICE TV The Choice Television Option was discussed during the AGM. First National has been provided with an offer to continue advertising at the current rate through another 26 weeks. Choice Tv will create a ‘PIMP MY PROPERTY’ TV Commercial for placement July, October and January. Discussions took place that this was the most successful advertising FNA undertook as it drives consumers to the website to complete their details which is then provided as a database to members. The recent success of the current broadcast was recognised as our website hits increase some 20% over the period when Choice advertising was introduced. It was recognised other factors contributed.
VOTE PASSED AT AGM LEVY INTRODUCTION (Notes from AGM)
Concerns raised by members ‘why am I paying when other offices are not’. Suggestion of a marketing fund being created that allows for campaigns like this to be put into place without the need for a full shareholder vote each time.
Marketing fund would provide a lot of additional opportunities too. Currently 83% of offices are contributing to the Choice TV campaign. A resolution would be required to get approval for this fund.
A member was concerned at using Choice TV, but Jill Wilson said her relatives in 20s and 30s watch all the time. Colleen confirmed the demographic for Choice TV is mainly 25 to 50 year olds – this is who we need to be targeting for recruitment too.
Members are not happy hearing that 17% not paying for advertising. Ray Ellis stated that in Australia, once the state council make the decision, everyone is in. No option.
A motion was taken to determine if a marketing levy should be introduced from the floor. Should it be per office, or per salesperson? Agreement that it should match the current category of salespeople to ensure its fair. Mark Stevenson put forward the motion, Jon Simpson seconded. All those in favour – everyone present Passed – marketing levy will be introduced. Details are attached for future charges to all office by DD unless otherwise arranged.
ADVERTISING LEVY The members agreed that levies should be charged as per the office size. Please see below table of charges which will be included in your monthly Levies in the future.
First National Group NZ Ltd
AAA
1 sales
60
AA
2 Sales
60
A
3 Sales
80
B
4 -6 Sales
80
C
7 -9 Sales
110
D
10- 12 Sales
110
E F
13 -15 Sales 16+ Sales
130 140
The General Manager’s Corner
FIRST NATIONAL PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES REINZ DIRECTORY FEATURE
There has been some interest in the costs from the main TV Channels, I met with Channel 3 this week to consider advertising during the ‘Block’ which is due for screening in August 2013. I have included their costs for your review. We are very pleased that First National have been placed onto page 6 of the REINZ Directory which was published this month. We are opposite the CEO Helen’s introduction. REINZ also requested an editorial from First National which they will publish, they wanted to detail our move to Auckland, change of structure and also introduce myself which was ‘free’.
The First National Property Management Workshop is on 10th & 11th July at the Amora Hotel, Wellington, with the theme ‘From Good To Great!” During these two days, we will hear from those both within and outside our industry who will challenge us to think differently about the limits to our potential and to introduce tools and resources that you can take into your business towards a new more profitable level. With specific sessions aimed at risk management, software, legislation, service, growth, and qualifications there are important topics to interest both principals and property managers who are serious about their departments setting new targets. Our clients are now demanding so much more from us, more service, more growth, more skills. This agenda is packed full of tools and resources to help your department be a market leader, more profitable and enjoy the ride along the way.
First National Group NZ Ltd
The General Manager’s Corner
NATIONAL OFFICE TEAM CHANGES We have recruited a new Accounts Manager; Julie Cook who is currently training for the role to replace Marion, who resigned for family reasons this month. We wish Marion all the best for her future with her last day on the 15th of May. Celia and Gina have now travelled throughout much of the country and met many members. With the different skills; (Celia’s strength is in training sales teams and developing property management, Gina working with your administrators and also training in IT systems and solutions) they are a great asset to First National. Over the next months National office will develop a strategy that delivers to each office the training and resources they have requested or we have identified. We have actively focused on providing webinars for sales, property management with Celia. Gina has actively developed Profile books for each office. I have focused on recruitment this month and have met with a number of interested parties, however, this is a long process as you know. A recent potential candidate would not join the group unless his name was BOLD with a little logo, and it had to be black and white signage only. Needless to say we did not progress. The exciting criteria we can now meet as a brand in recruitment is providing a complete suite of IT solutions, they like the Choice TV advertising and our Home Safe kits, also that we have an active Google group with our own lawyer. The fees are important, however many people I have spoken to are looking for value more than $. Now that National Office structure and the First National business foundations are laid, growth is our focus for our future. Celia is also keeping in touch with her network of contacts so please send though any contacts you may have across the country that are worth meeting. Alternatively, if you are planning for succession and require some assistance in identifying your successor please let us know before you talk to other agencies.
OPERATIONS MANUAL
This will be formulated from materials provided from members and other operations manuals that have ‘fallen into our hands’. We are hoping to work on this post the Hamilton Island Conference. Once a draft is available we will advise the membership.
Colleen Milne General Manager P: 09 557 0300 ext. 208 M: +64 29 771 0750
First National Group NZ Ltd
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. -Aristotle