March saw the return of the Hunters National Conference, which was a particularly special occasion this year as it celebrated the brand’s 30th anniversary. After a difficult couple of years for everyone due to Covid and lockdown restrictions, it was the perfect opportunity to reunite the whole Hunters network and allow everyone to enjoy some face-to-face interaction.
In keeping with the celebratory nature of the event, it was the biggest and best yet, with dozens of exhibitors and several seminars throughout the day. These were focused on the sharing of best practice, providing learning opportunities and a chance for suppliers to promote their services to our wider network, including the 200 Franchisees who were in attendance.
So, let’s take a look back at what was a special day and evening. After being unable to hold the conference in 2020 and 2021, we already can’t wait for the 2023 edition!
Where was it held?
The conference was hosted at its traditional home, the magnificent York Racecourse, less than three miles from Hunters HQ on the other side of the famous old city. Attendees were able to mingle freely around the spectacular Ebor Suite as well as venture outside to soak up the sunshine on the terraces of the grandstand, overlooking the impressive course.
“For the last two years with Covid hitting us, everything has been more Zoom-oriented. So it’s really lovely to see everyone from the field all in one place. It’s much better to learn face to face and take in the information.”
Samantha Carter, Hunters Filey
Who was in attendance?
In all, there were close to 400 people there on the day, around half of which were Hunters’ Franchisees. The rest were Hunters’ employees along with trusted and preferred suppliers, some of whom were invited to host seminars to talk about their services and deliver updates on the current and future state of the market.
Industry leaders including the likes of Zoopla, Boomin, Rightmove and OnTheMarket were also there. They were able to offer their insight and expertise, meaning everyone across the Hunters network had a golden opportunity to tap into that knowledge and use it to further their business.
Who were the exhibitors?
There were around 45 in total, including those mentioned above as well as the likes :
- Rightmove
- Zoopla
- OnTheMarket
- MoneyPenny
- Fyber
- Tenant Shop
It was wonderful to see such a wide variety of exhibition stands and it meant everyone within the Hunters network had the chance to move around and pick up plenty of invaluable information.
What did the seminars cover?
The seminars were hosted by our exhibitors and sponsors, covering a range of topics. For example, Spectre delivered a talk on off-market prospecting, while HomeLet provided advice and guidance on rent protection products. Flatfair were there to dispel the myths around deposit alternatives, and Enjoy Digital offered their take on why SEO is the way forward when it comes to vendor acquisition and brand building. And that’s to name just a few!
“The key takeaway for me has been meeting so many fantastic people, fantastic Franchisees who I hugely look forward to working with over the coming years.”
Gareth Samples, CEO The Property Franchise Group
What was different from previous years?
After a couple of Covid-affected years, first and foremost it was a pleasure to see so many faces in person. And this time, the Ebor Suite acted as the central hub, with supplier stands set out in exhibitor zones right across the stunning two-floor duplex layout. These stands were organised by service or product division, so those in attendance could easily find exactly what they were looking for, whether it be a conversation about marketing, support with sales, advice on lettings or anything else. Every base was covered, while the entertainment was provided by guest speaker Anton Du Beke, of Strictly Come Dancing fame.
“Days like today really give us that opportunity to share best practice and understand what works across other networks and other branches. We’ve been part of Hunters for nearly two years now and some of the people we’re meeting today for the first time face to face, so that’s really good for us.”
Kody Allen, Managing Director Hunters covering Bristol
Who were the award winners?
Almost 20 awards were handed out at the glitzy gala dinner, with Hunters Stourbridge scooping the Platinum Sales Division prize while the equivalent for lettings went to the Darwen branch. The overall champion this time around was Bishop’s Stortford, and Liverpool took home the Nikki Waterhouse Cup for Customer Service Excellence. On an individual basis, Ashley Woolley, valuer and negotiator from the Chesterfield branch, was named Employee of the Year.
All were fully deserving of their prizes as a testament to their hard work and professional attitude. And there was a further reward for all the winners in the shape of a trip to Lisbon! Parabéns!
“I’m so pleased to see everybody, there’s lots of familiar faces and there’s lots of new friends that we’ve got to make too. All of us together are cleverer than one of us alone, but I know that we’ll be in safe hands and the future is going to look amazing.”
Glynis Frew
You can view the video below to get a further idea of how the event unfolded, and if you’d like to attend the 2023 conference as a Hunters Franchisee, then what’s stopping you? You can request a brochure for information on how the model works, or you can always get in touch with a member of our friendly team. We’ll be happy to talk things through with you!