As the saying goes, those who can, do, and those who can’t, teach.
Except that long-standing industry trainer and marketing specialist Sam Ashdown has turned it on its head – by opening her own estate agency.
AshdownJones, in the Lake District, opened in April.
By Ashdown’s own account: “It has been very interesting, mainly because I’ve been telling estate agents what to do and working hands-on with different agents for the past 13 years.
“For the first time, I’ve had the freedom to implement my own marketing strategies and build my own agency using my own ideas.
“A taste of my own medicine, so to speak.”
So – how has she done?
Well, today you have a chance to find out, with Ashdown running some live online training where she is sharing the first 80 days of AshdownJones.
At 2pm this afternoon she will talk about the marketing techniques she used to get from a standing start to having properties on the books; and how she has stood on a few toes and used some aggressive marketing tactics.
“I’m going to be an open book and share both the highs and lows of what have been a very interesting few months,” she says.
The session is free and, knowing Ashdown’s refreshing and lively style, should indeed prove interesting.
Simply register at http://www.samashdown.co.uk/the-reveal
Comments (34)
Thank you everyone for your comments – both negative and positive. It’s certainly provoked some commentary, which can only be good!
I have to say it was very scary opening myself up on the webinar on Tuesday, knowing I had some critics on there, as well as some of our local competitors. I knew people would rush straight over to the AshdownJones’ site and find all our mistakes and tech issues, and they did! We’re still a new company, so this feedback has been invaluable. We’ll be rectifying all the errors, so thank you for finding them.
We had almost 500 independent agents register for the webinar, and I’ve spent the last two days (and evenings) answering everyone’s searching questions about how we did it, why we do what we do, who we use, what we charge, and much more besides. A few of you have even asked me to send them our marketing letters (you can’t blame them for asking). We’ve had an email from a disgruntled competitor who tells me he can’t wait to undercut our fees (fine by us), yet another we’re meeting for a friendly coffee. Just shows the difference in the attitudes of ‘old school’ versus ‘new school’ approach.
I’ll definitely run another of these ‘reveal’ webinars at say 120 days in, and I’m sure I’ll get the same backlash. But as one critic has said, I’m a ‘big girl’. I believe in our industry, especially the ‘small and the brave’. The independent agent trying to get launched, and who will do whatever it takes to give the best service at all times to their clients – that’s my type of agent. I believe in you. Only by being transparent, and thus laying ourselves open to criticism, can we then drive our industry forward and make it better in every way we can. And that’s what we’re doing, one home at a time.
If anyone would like to have a chat about their agency, find me on Facebook and message me!
Love Sam 🙂
“But as one critic has said, I’m a ‘big girl’.”
Trust me – you don’t want me to start being critical. As another poster spotted, I was simply engaging in
“affectionate rough and tumble between battle scarred veterans…”
which I am sure you agree is a more positive outlook to have – and one which is far easier to learn from than out-and-out criticism.
“We’ll be rectifying all the errors, so thank you for finding them.”
You’re not the only one running free web-based training seminars, Ms Ashdown…
We call ours “Train the Trainer! You’ve had the Induction – hope you come back prepared for the main modules and refreshers – they are far more important for long-term learning!
;o)
Knowing people as self proclaimed ‘expert trainers’, including ‘marketing gurus’ ‘social media experts’ ‘MLM reps’ and ‘wealth generators’ the all have a big, fat secret in common…
‘Fake it, till you make it’
they are relying on the gullible to be sucked in by their re-hashed presentations/plagerised ‘knowledge’
What epic rants on here today, shame I noticed it so late, a confession, our window was full of mock ups of my mum’s house when we opened, basically this is what we would do if we had anything to sell
Your confession is safe with me, the only person still reading at this time of night. You will be forgiven…go in peace my friend!!!
When you say you are a professional trainer … no-one expects any mistakes when you try and put into practice what you preached for so long to others. If you haven’t got it right, you are going to be shot at.
I’m a long time reader of the site but never comment. Today is an exception just to try and add some more balance to the thread!
As someone who has invested in Sam’s training I can genuinely say that she represents excellent value for money and teaches many innovative marketing methods.
Ashdown Jones looks to have got off to a great start in a low volume, high value market and in my opinion their property marketing is exceptional!
Okay… you like Sam and what she does – we get that. So, for that matter, do I in the main – but from a distance having never experienced anything other than her writings and the very occasional brief exchange of views on this type of site.
But what, may I ask, do you think about what appear to be a catalogue of basic errors in their setup and marketing?
Not what I would personally expect from one who has, as you say, “represents excellent value for money and teaches many innovative marketing methods” – but maybe I’m setting the bar too high.
Actually – it ain’t me who set the bar – it was the relevant authorities.
You’ve “invested in Sam’s training” – then i would expect you to expect her to be on point with all aspects of the job.
I was taught something many years ago by one of the best in the business:
Trainer Do As Trainer Say To Do.
Thank you thank you!!
How lovely of you to say 🙂
Sam x
Just checking, Am i right in thinking the business opened in April and in that time it has taken on 5 properties and sold 2? (according to the website)
Problem is I’ve sold more in that time, but I am fast running out of stock!!!
So from next week we start using our new prospecting ideas…..some of which have come from other agents in the ‘Ideas Network’. I am hoping they will prove as valuable as I expect them to!
First property i click on it asks me to click on the virtual tour button – no virtual tour button!
Details are hardly comprehensive.
No office front.
To me it looks like somebody that has asked their friends to “market their properties” so they have something to launch.
Those who can do …. those who cant teach…… why does that phrase spring to mind? (Ah yes also in the title of the story – Credit Garret2)
…Coz it was the opening line of Ros’s article perhaps?
I have to say though, the negative tone of many comments on this website never ceases to amaze me.
Here’s someone that’s started a new business (to be applauded) + refreshingly she’s charging 1.5%+VAT (to be applauded) + she’s a vocal advocate for full service local high street estate agency (to be applauded).
And what happens?….The hole pickers and negative aspersion casters come out to play.
No doubt someone cleverer than I will point out why I’m being a douche for bringing this up…
Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s fundamentally wrong with this phenomena.
Garret.
If you set yourself up as an industry expert.
If you charge a crazy amount of money to attend “Training” (Thousands of pounds not hundreds)
If you then ask for a story to be published on a industry news site which is basically bait to sell your over inflated training packages.
And then you do not even have the basics on your website.
Is it not right for people to question how good / compliant the training actually is?
As predicted, someone cleverer than I has shown me I’m an oversensitive douche bag.
I shall medicate appropriately.
To be fair Garret, your points are valid.
It would be nice if we can support others and praise them.
Sadly most people are only here for their own gain, people like you, me and others who post with no agenda only to educate ourselves and others.
Chances are if you post under your real name you are after something which should be checked out if it is indeed a good offering.
Three stories today.
1= Celia – Looking to raise money from agents (for what?)
2 = Sam Ashdown – Looking for people to join her on a free webinar which no doubt explain why she is doing so well. If you want to learn more about her tips (and things to avoid) sign up to her next training course.
3 = Emoov – A guy that has raised millions of pounds from investors, still looking at raising millions and they are not even close to breaking even after 7 years.
If someone has a really good idea, if it can really help agents or the industry – People will be supportive of it.
Sadly the above three stories (in my opinion) are not about helping others or the industry (it would be a by product if it did), It is all about generating themselves greater wealth – Which is fine if they can help others.
Damn it. I confess – I find your points valid too (I usually do).
Garret2
What is “negative”, exactly?
Sam Ashdown (a lady who I actually have quite a lot of time and respect for…) is a big girl. I am pretty sure she has faced “negativity” before.
As a trainer, she is well capable of taking “negativity” of all forms and turning it around to become positively charged energy.
She no doubt also has the capacity to take criticism – whether justified or not – and use it positively to her advantage.
What certain people need to understand is that in order to grow the best roses, they have to have a good supply of 5h!t to feed off. Sam, I am certain, will harvest some cracking blooms in future – but she seems (unless I am actually wrong at which point I will be the first to admit…) to need to get her 5h!t together first – ESPECIALLY if she is teling others how to grow their own flowers.
Of course, I could have said nothing. That sounds like it would have suited you down to the ground.
I, and other “Negative Normans/Nancys” could all sit there silently nodding and occasionally uttering positive noises to every story – but what would that actually achieve – other than a happier Garret2?
Thanks – but I’ll stick to being that annoyingly demented Jack Russell that gnaws on ankles and all things requiring a burst of negativity.
That does indeed seem to be your role (and your right).
I dare say it is ‘my right’ – but I certainly do not consider it ‘my role’ – I would much rather be heaping praise on the lady.
Sam isn’t one of the industry’s “issues” – far from it. BUT… if she wants to be known as – and paid bl00dy well as – a ‘Trainer’ – then she is going to have to prove her worth which this isn’t a good example of, IF I am right.
And so far, she hasn’t tried to prove otherwise…
Ah, I see…So really this is all just affectionate rough and tumble between battle scarred veterans designed to help sharpen her up….A riff on “Spartan Parenting Guidelines”….Makes sense.
I for one will watch the free training as ostensibly her expertise is in marketing and not EA compliance.
To be fair, she had me at “close up of crossiants”…
Think I might shoehorn a few of those beauties into my listings next time I get a breakfast treat from Greggs.
Garret2
Headline: “Our fees: let’s keep it simple”
Footer: “(all our fees are subject to vat)”
Where’s the simplicity for the Vendor in that? Where’s the compliance with TPOs CoP?
May I remind you that these are Estate Agents we are talking about. They are required to know – and abide by – the rules and legislation that our industry is governed by. You seem to think that Sam is somehow immune to that – I fail to understand why, and seriously question your judgement on that single point.
They are the face of our industry; we are all judged by what they do in their little patch of the land, in the same way that what we do in our respective patches has an impact on the public’s judgement of our industry.
Scary, innit? It bl00dy well should be!
“Affectionate rough & tumble”?
You just keep hoping your @$$ off I never get out of ‘play-fight mode’.
Dissapointing….
So I sat though all 90 mins of the presentation.
The crossiant photos turned out to be the best bit.
A vegan presentation all in all – no bones and certainly no meat on the aformentioned missing bones.
…You make good points PeeBee, carry on…..Grrr….Woof!
Glad i didnt waste my time. Her website looks good visually but the concepts are straight out of the 90’s just in modern wrapping – very representative of somone who hasnt been at the coalface for a long time.
i find it all a bit patronising to be honest – she should go have lunch with Perry Power.
What does he do that’s groundbreaking?
He’s got a sharp suit and it’s all a little less “kitchen table” but other than that all i see is vendor centric content (similar to Sams).
What am I missing?
Of all the criticisms you could level at Sam I really don’t think you could call her methods old fashioned!
Well I for one applaud anyone who has the bottle to actually have a go at being an estate agent after advising others on the subject for so long.
I will be attending the training to see if I can learn anything – and I’m sure I will.
Sam – whatever the results of your enterprise I totally respect the fact that you’ve tried something different and are happy to share your experiences. Thank you.
“See you” at 2pm!
Simon, thank you as ever for your kind support and gentle coaching – I appreciate it hugely!
Speak soon
Sam
Ros, sort your above link out – it takes you off your site….
I have a small – but potentially highly significant – question to ask.
One of the properties advertised has the same address as that shown for the company on the website.
Does that mean that they are advertising a property which should carry a statement of ‘connected person interest’ under Section 21 of The Estate Agents Act 1979?
‘cos I can’t for the life of me see one.
I might give that training a miss…
awwww…. come on – you no likee comment at least have the ‘nads to post why… and maybe even try debating the point.
Well, rules is rules, and you can’t have them applying to some folk and not to others..
Don’t see any mention of an EPC on Amberwell either?
I wish Sam all the best, and it really is interesting to see if the methods that she preaches really are transferable to creating a successful business. Starting any new company is hard, especially in estate agency which is already highly competitive. At this point it is good to see that her company has some properties on its books, not massively sure about the lifestyle photo of the croissants though.
Thanks so much! That’s really kind of you SB 🙂
Haha we’ll have to agree to disagree on the croissants! When they are from our lovely Booths, they are top of my ‘staging’ list 😉
Sam