Naylor Powell directors (l to r) RobertWade, Helena and James Birt,Adam Davis
The estate agents with location, location, location
It was seen as something of a gamble when Naylor Powell decided to move from their city centre offices into Gloucester Docks just over a decade ago. Other agents in the city thought it was not a good idea for an established brand to move into an area that was then something of a backwater. But founding partners Mike Naylor and Richard Powell shared the vision of the now managing director James Birt that the docks was an upcoming location that was worth the gamble. Now, Naylor Powell have one of the best locations in the county – for any business, let alone an estate agents. “We wanted to move into the Docks when nobody was there,” Mr Birt said. “We went into the old Merchants Quay when there were only a handful of businesses including Pizza Piazza and the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
“With a very low footfall in the docks, we did at times question the move but fortunately it all worked out.” Mr Birt joined Naylor Powell as a fresh-faced 19-year- old in 1999, working alongside the founding partners who had established the company 17-years earlier. “I was 19 when I started here, having been a branch manager at TerryWarner Sports after leaving school,” Mr Birt recalled. “As soon as I started, I realised I had a passion for estate agency and the partners were brilliant with me, allowing me to share the ideas I had. “I’ve now worked here for more than 20years and had a great grounding, working with and learning from Richard and Mike. “When Mike retired in 2014 I bought his share and became a partner.” The expansion of the business continued throughout the years.
74 | December 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
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