Jackson-Stops, which has more than 42 branches across the UK, has announced large-scale acceleration plans as the business seeks to further grow its presence over the next two years.
The well-established company, founded in 1910 after Herbert Jackson-Stops opened an estate agent office in the Town Hall in The Towcester, now plans to expand its presence by an additional 20 branches by the end of 2023.
Nick Leeming, chairman at Jackson-Stops, commented: “We are very excited about our growth plans for the Jackson-Stops Group and the next two years will prove to be a pivotal moment for our brand.”
The estate agency group, which currently has 26 members, allows them and those thinking of joining the network, various benefits and opportunities, including the ability for agents to invest in and develop their own business under the Jackson-Stops brand, with each business owner responsible for a geographical area and sitting on the board of directors.
A key benefit to new members is the ease of establishing their own business under a nationally recognised brand while contributing to carefully controlled central resources which are charged on an office-by-office basis.
Leeming said: “Our experience tells us that many individuals at a senior management level in large national agencies find they are restricted by a glass ceiling, while independent agents find they suffer from a lack of resource, support and advice from a wider network.
“Our group structure provides members with the best of both worlds – the independence to make your own decisions and drive your own strategy, with the centralised resources, support and, crucially, brand visibility of an established national agency.”
Jackson-Stops offers three primary routes to entry for new members:
Route 1: Opening in a new area
While Jackson-Stops has over 40 branches across the UK, there are many areas ready for a new business to be established within the Group. This is through the outright purchase of an area for a new regional business or group of offices. This route allows for membership of the Group and a seat on the Board of Directors.
Route 2: Licensing within an existing area
This initiative allows existing Jackson-Stops businesses to licence out specific geographical areas within their control. Such licensed activities include traditional estate agency (sales, lettings and new homes), surveying, commercial and home search services. On this structure, members enjoy the benefits of the Jackson-Stops brand but without the cost of the full membership of the Group.
Route 3: Purchasing an existing business in whole or part
This opportunity allows a member to buy into an existing Jackson-Stops business, either taking a minority or a controlling share. For example, a current Jackson-Stops owner looking towards retirement may seek to find a competent successor through staged payments over a given period, leading to ultimate control through management succession. Alternatively, it could be structured as an outright sale to an ambitious agent who wishes to take on an established business.
Jackson-Stops appeals to agents seeking ‘to be masters of their own destiny’
This is a brand I like, it is quiet and old fashioned which works well in the market it operates in, led by a credible management team.
I am not sure I understand the terminology of “members” as modern terminology would usually be licensees, franchisees or similar.
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Interesting the number of negative comments when a brand tries to offer something different for its own motivated staff who want to branch out with support.
And the alternative is?
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If you think using your employees as a cash cow is a good thing, that’s fine. After all, it’s exactly how the franchise started, getting the family (metaphorically) out of gaol.
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Hmmm. If this concept is so good, why did the York close it’s office and get rid of all its staff? Some had been there for 20+ years.
Now seems to be run from a series of rented serviced offices….
Not viable, I suspect.
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This brand lost its credibility when the old family firm went for a burton and franchisees took over. Now they have forfeited their contract Country Life page. And York folded this year having barely broken even in 30 years. Avoid.
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Latest craze, the self employed agent. No risk to the parent company, sell a dream to a naïve agent (yes some will succeed, most will not).
If i were younger, in an employed role and did not have the money to start up an estate agency and had decided on the self employed role Jackson’s along with F&C would probably be my first choices.
What this space for Knight Frank & Savills
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No. Knight Frank and Savills are properly run businesses, they have no need for this fund-raising. The J-S franchise operation arose from the need to pay off a debt in c. 1992 and has been a free-for-all ever since
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