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The unusually driven former Countrywide agent

Meet the young former branch manger who's teamed up with two Channel 4 TV stars to launch a new car leasing business.

Nigel Lewis

On more challenging days when sales targets are slipping or landlords haranguing them, who would blame a Countrywide agent for dreaming of a new job.

That’s what happened in July this year to former Countrywide assistant branch manager Haley Chavner, only this time she turned her plans into reality.

The 32-year-old had been working for Abbotts Countrywide at its branch in Rochford, Essex for several years working her way up from an admin job to Negotiator and then Assistant Branch Manager. And then she had a bright idea.

She quit and joined forces with Leigh-on-Seas car leasing firm Planet Leasing, whose owners Darren Nash and Gary Rose (pictured, left to right) featured in last summer’s Channel 4 ‘car-crash’ reality TV programme, The Job Interview.

Her idea was to launch a car leasing firm just for estate agents called Cars4Agents.com and the business has now launched.

“I’m acutely aware of the many day to day challenges faced by estate agents,” says Haley (pictured, left). “Expectations of what a customer considers value for money has altered with the advent of online agents competing at low prices with traditional high street set-ups.

“Differentiation is imperative and it’s important for those in the industry need to be looking their best during this time of transformation.”

Haley also thinks wrapped agents cars have an edge over ordinary ones, and that digital marketing isn’t as powerful as it’s made out to be.

“We have seen it happen with our own eyes; agents re-brand, wrap the cars and see an uplift in business,” she says.

“In [today’s] digital age customers are more inclined to want to work with accessible local businesses; the ones they see around town every day, too.

“Until very recently, for the majority of Estate Agency businesses in the UK the idea of leasing a car when you could buy one as a business asset seemed like outright madness but the market is changing and people are realising that to buy a car new is leaving your business open to huge losses when residual value drops. It just doesn’t make sense any more.”

So what’s it like working with two people who are now recognised on the street?

“It’s a very fun environment as both Darren and Gary have a great sense of humour but they take their business seriously and have spent years building reputations for honesty, integrity and quality of service. Its inspiring to work with people who are passionate about what they do.”

 

July 28, 2017

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