Real Estate in Review: Down Memory Lane

Steve Osborn

Co-founder & Managing Director, Identity Marketing

I worked at Harris Real Estate, back when their numbers were sitting at 25 employees. At that time, they were the underdogs, the renegades, the new kids on the block looking to switch up the industry – they were also an agency with a vision to better themselves and better the people within the agency. Over three years I saw them grow to over 80 staff and today they’re sitting pretty at over 170. The biggest takeaway from my time at Harris Real Estate was undoubtedly Phil Harris’s vision. It was contagious because he always saw more in people than what they saw in themselves. 

Eight years ago, a vision for a real estate specific marketing agency kicked myself and Jess Fitzgerlad (nee, Appleby) into action. Our initial vision was to cater for individual agents and looking back, that feels small – but this is a good thing. A vision should be constantly evolving, and you’ll know if you’re on the right path when you can look back and laugh at what you thought was an ambitious goal. Today, Identity Marketing delivers a cutting edge approach to marketing across Australia, as well as New Zealand and the USA. We still cater to individual agents, however we’ve grown to deliver office, agency and corporate marketing that solves more than just deliverable dilemmas. Never in my wildest day dreams would I think that Identity Marketing would be entering 2020 offering assistance in brand strategy, brand positioning, ongoing brand management and communication. 

As we walk confidently into the new decade, we’re taking a long term approach and prioritising market position. This magazine may only be in its third edition, however it’s a vital player in working to reach our vision, both locally and abroad.

Here’s to the people with vision, those who make plans, those taking a long term approach and thinking in terms of years and decades instead of just months and quarters *cheers*.