TAP 48. An Interview With First National CEO Ray Ellis. A Podcast For Real Estate Agents

When Australia’s First National Real Estate Group kicked off in 1980, it was a very different business model

As a co-operative style enterprise, ‘ownership’ was essentially shared by participating agents and the group quickly grew as independent real estate business owners saw the unique opportunity to secure exclusive branding rights in their area.

First National agents are some of the most respected names in the industry and enjoy substantial market share in many markets.

Today, CEO Ray Ellis heads up a vibrant and thriving international business with more than 400 agents in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and Vanuatu.

At the end of my interview with Ray, you’ll hear a short session with my father Bill, who came up with the idea in the first place. Bill’s marketing frustration as an independent led him to start exploring the concept of an alliance of agents and the power of a group branding.

When Bill reached out to Gippsland agent Chas Heath, the two independents starting hatching a plan and quickly built a steering committee of 6 agents.

The rest as the say, is history.

During the second world war, the Royal Australian Airforce used the main beach at Ocean Grove (Vic) as an airstrip.