Taking new approach to sales
Helen Mays meets a new face in real estate with fresh ideas.
As people’s reading and viewing habits change, trying to catch their attention and engage with them in a meaningful way needs a fresh approach; something imaginative and eye catching.
RE/MAX Go For Sold’s newest sales person Brok Milligan says he thought ‘‘outside the box’’ to come up with his innovative out-sized advent calendar now resident in RE/MAX Go For Sold’s office on Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North. As children we all liked to open a little door in a glitter-accented wall-hung advent calendar, hopefully receiving a sweetie for each day leading to Christmas (as long as no-one else had got there first). Milligan’s calendar is a similar concept, on a grander scale.
‘‘Although the box-holes we made are all square, we couldn’t find boxes to fit the different sizes, so we went for flaps you lift up instead,’’ Milligan demonstrates.
He says his brother-in-law helped him with the 1.8 m2 construction, then he had to find a way of making it a win-win for all the local businesses participating to make the advent calendar a success. Such a bold concept needed good support from like-minded people. Milligan was brave enough to go door-knocking. He was looking for exciting prizes to assign to each day of the calendar.
‘‘There were several businesses that just said no, it wasn’t their thing, but I didn’t let it put me off and I kept moving forward, I didn’t let a rejection get in my way.’’
Despite the nay-sayers, Milligan says he has scored some excellent prizes, valued from $30 to $250, enough reward to make his advent calendar a significant Christmas treat.
‘‘I got some great support from other creative thinkers who appreciated the novelty and originality of my idea.’’
Despite the profile the advent calendar provides, Milligan says he wasn’t just looking for listings or sales per se as a new real estate salesperson, more just wanting some memorable way of getting his name out there, a difficult process when you are new to the industry.
Milligan is 27, newly married, with a seven-year-old son to set a good example for. Entrepreneurship and self-employment has been a goal of his for some time. Previously Milligan has worked in mental health and as an administrator. His ambition to succeed as his own boss saw him studying at Massey University to achieve a business diploma, then business administration at Ucol, More recently he worked fulltime in administration, increasing valuable skills for running your own business effectively. Milligan also had an online business he started himself and recently sold for a healthy profit. The ambition that charges him is finally paying off.
The advent calendar is as tall as Milligan and is a solid construction, suggesting the idea can be repeated next year.
‘‘In return for local businesses’ generosity, I promised to use my connections and social media skills to promote their participation and their business anyway I could.’’
Starting a career in real estate is a long-held dream for Milligan, though he says it has felt like a long wait.
‘‘I have wanted to sell real estate for some years but life somehow got in the way, the timing wasn’t right until now. I am finally able to work in an industry that rewards you for genuine hard work and initiative.’’
Milligan is serious about succeeding in real estate but he also likes to connect well with people, wanting to have some fun and enjoy the journey.
Milligan speaks with warmth about his employer Pamela Lee Burge, owner of RE/MAX Go For Sold, and is very grateful for the support and encouragement he has received from her and also Deb Quin, both experienced realtors who have taken him under their wing.