Flagship branch opens following £200k investment (From South Wales Argus)

Flagship branch opens following £200k investment

11:04am Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Business

Haart has opened the first of its next generation of high street branches in Bridge Street, Newport following an investment of around £200,000.  
     The new branch of the UK’s largest independent estate agent, which officially opened for business yesterday, is the first of a new type of high street estate agent branch to be launched by haart across the country.
The 3,840 sq ft premises, which is based at 11 Bridge Street in what has previously been among other things a pizza restaurant, forms a key part of a drive by haart to re-affirm its position as ‘the estate agent of choice’ for people looking to buy, sell, let or rent.
Heading up the branch is Sarah Lavery. Sarah, who has worked for haart’s sister brand Darlows since 2005, most recently at Llanishen in Cardiff, heads up a five-strong sales team.
She is joined by Sarah Jenkins, who will oversee the four-strong lettings team for haart in the Newport area. They are supported by a dedicated financial services consultant.
The Newport branch will eventually accommodate more than a dozen people.
Sarah Lavery, branch manager, haart of Newport, said: “The response to the arrival of haart in Newport has been absolutely fantastic from both sales and lettings customers. The public really seem to like the new branding, which is fresh, vibrant and quite different from everything else currently on the High Street.”
The new haart of Newport branch replaces the current Darlows of Newport branch which has been based at 7 Bridge Street for more than a decade.
Both haart and Darlows are owned by Spicerhaart, the UK’s largest independent estate agency group.
Haart, which has more than 120 branches nationwide, has totally transformed both the interior and exterior of the former bar over the last three months.
This has included creating new fascias, walls and flooring together with installing state-of-the-art computer and telephone systems. The branch comes with dedicated break out areas where customers can discuss their needs in a more relaxed, informal environment.
Paul Smith, chief executive officer of haart, said: “We have been consulting widely with the public over recent months about the type of estate agent they would like to see, as well as the services they offer, not just now but also in the future. We have used this information to help shape the direction in which haart is moving as well as the look and feel of the brand as we seek to transform haart from ‘good to great’.”