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ERA Franchise Systems LLC
1 Campus Drive Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 428-9700 |
Media contact: Stacy Quinn
(973) 496-7904 stacy.quinn@ERA.com |
Innovative self-promotion and recognition of ERA brand help affiliates distinguish themselves from the competition
PARSIPPANY, NJ, March 26, 2002 - Several ERA sales professionals have captured the spotlight in their communities through implementing innovative self-promotion and relationship marketing techniques.
Demetria Chadbourne of ERA Agency 1 in Gorham, Maine and her customer retention-focused philosophy has become a benefit to her homebuyers on moving day.
To help ease the moving experience, Chadbourne lends her personal moving truck to past clients, potential clients and charitable organizations. The truck has been such a hit that she's even adopted the tagline, "Buy or Sell with Me, and Use This Truck for Free" in all of her advertising materials.
"I try to give back to my community and customers," said Chadbourne. "Recently there was a customer who I'll never forget. It was closing time and money was tight. When I offered him my moving truck to use for free, he thanked me and confessed that he needed the extra money he saved for closing."
Like Chadbourne, others have made a name for themselves in their community through providing good customer service and name recognition. Nobody knows the power of name recognition better than "Uncle Pete" McGlade of ERA Dockside Properties in Key Largo, FL. For McGlade, who says he is the only "Uncle Pete" out of 350 other associates in his market, the identity is so important that he is in the process of legally changing his birth-given name of Peter Daniel Francis McGlade to his popular nickname.
"For me, the instant recognition with my name and ERA Real Estate have helped me in my business by making it easier for the customer to recognize me. And more importantly, it helps them remember me when they need a sales associate," said McGlade. "At the end of the day though, I am just happy that my professionalism eased a family through the homebuying process. Building and maintaining relationships is what this business is all about."
While name changing may seem too extreme for some, others take the word "extreme" and catapult it to new levels. Janice Petteway spearheads "The Extreme Results Team" of ERA Breese, Craft & Hensley in central Florida. The signature tool in the six-member team's advertising arsenal is its trademark Hummer, featuring the ERA logo. It not only serves as transportation for clients and a roving, four-wheel drive billboard, but appears on the teams' marketing materials, including 6,000 postcards and 1,000 newsletters each month.
Petteway says the Hummer is a great conversation starter and prospecting tool. "I can't tell you how many people come up to me and ask about the Hummer," she said. "It has become a means for me to get a foot in the door with potential customers. My real goal is to grow the business using different concepts, and with ERA Real Estate and its programs, I am able to nurture this growth."
Editor's Note: Photos available upon request.
About ERA Franchise Systems LLC
ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. It is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of its Real Estate Franchise Group. The ERA real estate network includes 2,600 offices and more than 28,000 brokers and sales associates throughout the United States and 26 other countries and territories. Each ERA office is independently owned and operated. ERA information is available to consumers on the Internet at www.ERA.com. ERA properties can also be viewed at www.REALTOR.com®.
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