Former All Black partners with Queenstown real estate firm

23 November 2012

Former All Black star partners with Queenstown real estate firm Locations

Queenstown-based real estate firm Locations has scored a coup with the appointment of former All Black Justin Marshall as the company’s brand ambassador for the Locations Group.

The former All Blacks captain, who made 81 appearances and became the highest-capped scrum half in AB’s history, has called Queenstown home for the past two years since relocating from Christchurch following the earthquakes.

His new role will see him act as a key spokesperson for Locations, involved in events, conferences and promotional activity. He will also bring his considerable network of international and national contacts to the company, with a view to helping raise Locations’ profile and customer base.

“We’re proud and very privileged to have this association with Justin,” said Locations Managing Partner Stacy Coburn. “We’re a locally owned and operated firm with strong ethics and principles which align very firmly with Justin’s.

“Most importantly, Justin is a customer of ours. We’re working with him on his own property requirements, which means he perfectly understands the customer experience. Justin is in the same situation as many people looking to get into the Queenstown property market.

With a keen interest in real estate, Mr Marshall said he was “delighted” to join the Locations team, describing the agency as the “right type” of business to be associated with.

“When I think about real estate in Queenstown, I think Locations,” he said. “They’re the leading agency in town so when I was approached to consider this role, it was a no-brainer for me.

“You need to be confident you’re going down the right path when you form a relationship like this, but I have absolutely no doubts that this will be successful.

“I’m originally a Southland boy from Mataura and Locations has been in Southland and Central Otago for 30 years, the sort of company people know and trust.”

Mr Marshall will bring his broad range of national international connections to the relationship, built up over the course of his domestic and international rugby career as well his current commentary role with SKY.

With offices in Queenstown, Wanaka, Riverton, Invercargill and Stewart Island, and a total of 50 staff, Locations is one of Queenstown’s success stories. Mr Marshall plans to be a regular presence amongst the 14 staff in the Queenstown office.

“I’ve always believed rugby is a lot like business. You need to have skills in people management, leadership, setting goals, team work and motivation,” he said.

Hot on the heels of a newly-formed association with global real estate provider Savill’s, Locations currently has a strong focus on growth and expansion.

“Justin will be more than just a ‘face’ of our business, he’ll be very much a part of the operations of the business and will be intrinsic to many aspects of Locations,” said Mr Coburn.

“He’ll play a pivotal role in our future growth phase. Our association with Savill’s gives us access to high profile opportunities in both residential and commercial sectors and enables us to market worldwide. Justin is well-known around the world and will be a great help to broadening our reach.”

Along with wife Nicolle and three children, Justin said he had ‘cemented’ himself in Queenstown and was looking forward to a long-term future in the resort town.

“I’m confident the move to Queenstown has been the right one,” he said.

As well as a hands-on approach to day-to-day general business, Justin will be involved in many other aspects, including recruitment.

Locations has recently formed a joint venture with the Open Polytechnic in promoting the Real Estate Salespersons course, a ‘first’ for this part of the world. Fifteen new recruits will soon join the Locations Wanaka office after the first successful course held last month.

“We’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry over the years,” said Mr Coburn. “We’re now a highly regulated industry which has meant some have left and many people are finding it difficult to enter.

“Locations is all about lifting the calibre and the number of people entering real estate, and we believe Justin will help attract a high level of new recruits.”

Mr Marshall said he couldn’t wait to get started.

“Rugby’s brought me to where I am today, but it’s time I had something different to talk to people about.”

ENDS

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