Tradition and innovation

Press, 29 September 1988, Page 39

Tradition and innovation

It was 1888 when J. B. Harcourt returned to Wellington after acting as the commissioner of the Melbourne Exhibition to wind up his failing softgoods empire and turn his attention to a new area of business — real estate, valuation and sharebroking. It was a wise move, and J.B. became a highly respected member of the burgeoning colonial community. He was described in “Fair Play — An Illustrated Journal for Sensible Men and Women,” as “one of the foremost community men in the Empire City ... Mr Harcourt has done much to advance the interest and trade of the city.” By the turn of the century, his firm had grown from a staff of J.B. and “one small boy” to 14 staff and two principals — J.B. and his eldest son, Stanton. The growth continued through the early 1900 s,

with Harcourt and Co. containing five trading divisions: country properties, businesses and hotels; city and suburban properties; auction sales; house letting and rental collection; and stocks, shares, finances and loans. The latest stage in Harcourts’ development came nearly a century later, when in 1985 it merged with a Christchurch real estate firm as new and innovative as Harcourts itself was old and established. Collins Real Estate was begun by Stephen Collins in 1972, and under his direction placed an emphasis on marketing, training and technology hitherto unseen in New Zealand real estate. Collins experienced quite spectacular growth and success in the ensuing years, quickly becoming the major force in Christchurch real estate and making the number one spot its own as “the house

sold name.” In 1986 Stephen Collins moved to Wellington to take up his position as managing director of Harcourts Real Estate and to engineer the expansion of the company throughout the North Island. Amidst plans of public listing, real estate companies in Palmerston North and Auckland were purchased, and a Howick company followed soon after the share float. The emphasis on training continued, as Harcourts salespeople learnt the Collins commitment to service and personal development. Bob Cooper, Stephen Collins’ partner and the man largely behind Collins’ highly successful computer software packages, moved to Auckland to ensure the smooth introduction of the computer and administration systems. In the last two years many more real estate

offices have come under the Harcourts wing, the latest being in Hamilton, and the company is well on its way to providing the national service envisioned at the time of the Collins/Harcourts merger. The purchase of a large shareholding by the National Bank of New Zealand has also allowed the introduction of a mortgage finance package for Harcourts clients. The National Bank of New Zealand is owned by Lloyds Bank in England, and this association brings an alliance with Black Horse, one of the largest real estate networks in Britain. Meanwhile, Harcourts’ Christchurch operation has continued to expand from five offices in 1985 to 10 this year, providing an even more comprehensive coverage of the region. It remains one of the strongest and most successful regions in the network.