HOORAY FOR HOWICK!
Category General News
In the picture: A "yee-ha!" moment for sisters Pippa Griffin (right) and Liane Aadnesgaard, co-principals of Dormehl Phalane Howick. It was named Franchise of the Year at the property group's cowboy-themed national awards function last week.
THERE were loud whoops, plus a prolonged standing ovation, for a visibly moved Pippa Griffin when she took to the stage last week to collect a top award at the 15th national awards ceremony of the Dormehl Phalane Property Group.
And the roar of the crowd was not for nothing - for the first time since the property group was established in 2009, the DPG Howick branch, headed by Pippa and sister Liane Aadnesgaard, was announced as Dormehl Phalane's Franchise of the Year.
The coveted Franchise of the Year award recognises the branch with the highest commission registered during the previous year in residential sales, commercial and industrial, farms and smallholdings, and letting.
In second place was the Pinetown franchise, followed by Vaal, The A-Team and Upper Highway.
This year's awards ceremony was a fun and informal mini break, held over four nights, from April 8 to 11, at Happy Wanderers beach resort in Kelso on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
The Howick franchise has often featured in the Top 10 of DPG franchises each year, but its previous highest placing was third place... until this year.
"We brought home 13 awards this year, and received between 10 and 12 awards in the last couple of years as well. We are thrilled to be Franchise of the Year for 2023 - we weren't expecting that, so it was a fabulous and wonderful surprise," says Pippa, who is the main principal for the Howick franchise.
"I have a very hard-working team and their efforts and dedication enabled us to get this award," she adds.
Co-principal Liane, who is the franchise's top Farm and Commercial agent and spends most of her time outside the office, is very happy to be part of "this special property family".
"It's lovely for our agents to be recognised for their efforts and as a team. To get this result is wonderful!
Among the Howick team's awards this year was being named top Commercial and Industrial Franchise. Additionally, the franchise took the award for the highest commission registered for the year, for selling farms and smallholdings.
The branch also took third place, behind the Pinetown and Vaal franchises, for Residential Franchise of the Year; and third place for Rental Management Franchise of the Year.
Asked what makes the Howick branch special, Pippa replies: "We are an office with lots of character and personality, that's for sure. We pride ourselves on communication and putting our client first at all times.
"It's important for us to build a relationship with our client which goes beyond selling, buying and renting. This not only enables us to make long lasting friendships and get repeat business, but ensures we get more business through word of mouth too.
Liane concurs: "We are a small office, with a lovely working environment; being a small house with a big garden in the Howick Main Street. We are a bunch of ladies, sometimes ably supported by a man (or two!) and we are fairly informal. We are very supportive of one another, and we work hard at being part of the greater Howick community."
Pippa, the top rental agent in Howick, and "a Howick girl through and through", was not always in property. She worked as a trainee chef in a Midlands restaurant for a while, became operations manager for a hunting company in Pietermaritzburg, went on to work for a game capture company in Johannesburg, then was employed as manager of a lodge in Angola.
She later owned a Howick restaurant for five years, and it was during this time that Pippa started working with Liane in the real estate business.
Before long, Pippa had sold the restaurant and become a fulltime agent with Liane's company, LA Properties, which was based in Pietermaritzburg before moving to Howick. It was there that the company converted to a Dormehl Phalane Property Group franchise in July 2011.
Liane recalls that DPG head, Owen Dormehl, persistently called her and talked her into joining his team 13 years ago: "He was very charming and persuasive. He said Dormehl needed an agricultural agent in their stable, and that we would benefit so much from being part of a franchise. We have never looked back!"
The Howick franchise team includes highly experienced property practitioner Jennifer Gordon, who handles residential properties, and Cindy Bro, who is a leader in residential retirement estate.
"We also have Sindisiwe, our shooting star and absolute legend in PTO (Permission to Occupy) sales, and sales in the more rural areas. Then there's Pipsey, our Residential Estate Rental Agent, who has the kindest heart and the best nature.
"Marcel is our friendly receptionist; Carol is our newest team member and brings a wealth of IT knowledge and rock-solid integrity; and Jackie is the rock who holds the finances together. Mickey is our PA, who had to learn in a whirlwind..."
It was in 2018 that Liane "wanted to take a back seat" and encouraged Pippa to get her NQF5 qualification and become a franchise principal. That has happened and Liane has mostly withdrawn from the management side of the business, even though she remains a shareholder.
"Pippa has shown she is an able, encouraging and excellent boss-lady!,' says Liane.
Both sisters loved the casualness of the DPG Awards this past week.
"Head office always goes above and beyond, but this year really took the cake! I so enjoyed the time we had in between the functions to get to know our fellow agents... and I found it far easier to chat to people I didn't know at all," says Pippa.
Liane adds: "We loved it! The organisation, accommodation and support was amazing. What a great venue Happy Wanderers is! Having the awards split over two functions is genius, and allows winners the time for the accolades.
"Having the function over a couple of days and including a franchisee meeting is also excellent. It strengthens and encourages the friendships between the various franchises and really makes the individuals feel like part of a team. Dressing up is always fun and I vote the after-party as the best one yet!"
Asked for comment on the current state of the property market, the sisters say it has cooled off in the last six months, mostly due to political uncertainty and a lack of confidence in the market place.
The rising interest rate has exacerbated this situation, they believe.
Says Pippa: "The Absa news that they believe interest rates will soften will definitely improve this outlook. The market for rentals is excellent, but stocks are low at the moment. The residential sales are definitely down too."
Why do the sisters love the Dormehl Phalane brand?
"Owen is very forward-thinking and proactive in the property environment - he is actively looking to better our marketing, our website and tools for success for the company. I believe DPG is way ahead of the game in this respect.
"There is always something new to look forward to. Owen's encouragement to do better all the time, and his positiveness and ambition, is a definite driver for us to always do better," says Pippa.
"We have a great team and the greater Dormehl family is fun, friendly and supportive, always keen to share knowledge and help."
Author: Billy Suter
