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How Can We Innovate to Put Customers First?

June 16, 2021 By

Would you be willing to walk away from your current role, on the heels of a bet?

That’s exactly what serial entrepreneur Chieh Huang, Co-Founder of Boxed.com, did and it’s landed him in not one but two successful business ventures. When host, Kristen Meinzer spoke with Chieh about his career, he shared his not-so linear path of how he’s launched disrupter companies in extremely competitive markets.

Chieh and his friends left their day jobs (with benefits, we might add!) to launch a video game studio on a bet that mobile games would be the next big thing. Armed with his 2G cell phone at the time, Chieh knew that smart phone technology would continue to scale and he and his friends had a hunch that the demand for smart phone gaming would naturally scale alongside it.

Their hunch more than proved to be accurate, as their newly launched business venture gained momentum and was later acquired by a larger gaming company in the market. This was only the beginning for Chieh and his friends.

What was next, you ask? Yes, you guessed it. There would be yet another bet that would lead to launching a business.

This time, however, it wouldn’t be in the category of gaming. Leveraging the hypothesis of their first launch, Chieh and his friends saw another opportunity to meet a demand for consumers by leveraging smart device technology.

In another highly competitive market, they saw a gap to fill that would give consumers access to essential everyday products, in bulk, at lower prices, with just a few clicks from their phones. You may be asking, do consumers really need another online store where they can purchase toilet paper, in bulk? The answer to this question, is without a doubt, yes. Yes, we do.

Chieh and his co-founders found a way to stand out in the crowd by leveraging AI technology, and the power of datasets, to create a seamless and convenient user experience. If that’s not enough, they elevate the customer experience in adding hints of personalization into each order. He also shared how they’ve built a company culture, within Boxed.com, that’s increased employee retention by carrying the “putting others 1st” model into their relationships with their employees.

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In this episode, Chieh shares how you can enter a saturated market, find a niche, and defy mediocre customer experiences, within the walls of your company and beyond. Listen to this full episode of season 2 of The Relentless, and #jointheconversation on how you can innovate to put customers first.

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When wouldn’t you go with the highest offer?

June 11, 2021 By

It can be hard to imagine — choosing an offer that is $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000 less than the highest bidder. However, it actually happens all the time, and for good cause.

Here are four reasons why you might choose a lower offer when selling your home:

1) Cash offers are more reliable than loan-contingent ones, especially because there are no lenders involved. If your priority is to close fast, accepting a lower all-cash offer is a good strategy.

2) If the highest offer is full of contingencies, a lower offer might be worth the peace of mind. If a prospective buyer waives inspection, financing and appraisal then you know the odds of them backing out are slim.

3) A well-qualified buyer who starts low may ultimately get you the most money. Find out what you can about a buyer’s motivations and qualifications. If their offer starts low but they express a strong interest in your home and they have a great pre-approval letter, counteroffering may ultimately net you the most money. Your real estate agent can help you weigh each buyer’s potential.

4) Finally, finding an offer that fits your timetable can be worth a lot. For example, consider a situation where you need extra time before your new housing is ready. Choosing an offer that lets you stay as long as you need could save you money on temporary storage and rent.

The right offer usually comes down to more than just top dollar. By considering price, financing, contingencies and motive, you can be certain you’re choosing the offer that’s best for you.

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Inclusivity and Representation Matter

June 10, 2021 By

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CENTURY 21 Bear Facts Realty celebrated their grand opening in June of 2021, marking a full 8 months after Broker/Owner Juan Sanchez made the decision to affiliate with the Brand. The timing of launching a new business in the height of a global pandemic might make many wince, but for Juan – the affiliation with the C21 Brand came at the exact right time. 

We recently sat down with the leadership team at C21 Bear Facts Realty: Juan, a self-described “real estate baby” (his Aunt was the first Latina real estate broker in the state of Colorado), and David Walsh, Broker and Education Director. Their tenured real estate experience is only matched by the passion and energy they exude in support of their vision.  Over the course of our conversation, one thing became very clear: Juan and David are on a mission.

Promises made, promises kept: The C21 Bear Facts Realty Philosophy

C21 Bear Facts Realty was inspired to elevate the agent experience as the result of a disconnect they observed in the industry – agents would get promises from brokerages to incentivize them to join their companies, and ultimately these companies were not able to deliver. Juan saw a way to defy these expected results and “fill that hole.” The opportunity was simple: be agent-first. From that insight came their goal: to build a team that truly understands their agents and provide what agents need for success. This requires addressing two key questions, “what motivates this agent to achieve their goals?” and “how can C21 Bear Facts Realty curate coaching and training opportunities to fit the individual agents’ needs?”

This agent-first mentality expands beyond what they’re able to provide to make an agent a success, it’s also about aligning with the right agents who support what they’re trying to build. Juan is passionate about affiliating people who sound like, look like and think like the clients they’re serving. For the Denver market, many cultures are represented – the 2010 Census reported 68.9% White, 31.8% Hispanic or Latino Origin, 10.2% Black or African American, 3.4% Asian, 1.4% American Indian or Native Alaskan, 0.1% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 4.1% two or more races. In addition, making it to many “best places to live” lists over the past decade, the Denver area is also very inclusive in their support of the LGBTQ community.

“It has been inspiring to see the growth of our new office since October 2020. As a diversity-based, Latin-owned and LGBT-run new business Juan and I felt strongly about our role in the community and the importance of our agent family being as representative of the broad spectrum of clients they serve.”

David Walsh, CENTURY 21 Bear Facts Realty

Leap of faith: Supporting Community

Juan and David are both very active in their communities and truly serve as complements to each other. David takes more of an unstructured approach to community involvement, often fostering great relationships from the places and events he engages locally. Juan on the other hand is more structured in his efforts and has lent his time and support to organizations that include NAHREP, LGBTQ Real Estate Alliance, American GI Forum, League of United Latin American Citizens, Hispanic League and the Imperial Court Board of Directors…just to name a few. Regardless of their path to giving back, the COVID-19 pandemic found the perfect opportunity for them to align with the community in a different way. Using their platform, they sought out other LGBTQ and minority owned businesses to support. As Juan states, “Many LGBTQ companies were in the weeds trying to survive hard times. We took a leap of faith that when helping others, it will come back to you.” This grassroots approach to building up their community has resulted in approximately 12 different partnerships they leverage for everything from real estate photography to closing gifts. As this wasn’t something they could accomplish in person due to COVID, SEO and social media became a key part of their strategy in keeping a pulse on the community, outreach, and even recruiting. Through these efforts they have created a space of empowerment, pride and inclusion that extends beyond their affiliates. Juan recounts the story of a photographer they partner with who recently came out and shared with him a sense of happiness that he can “just be himself” when he enters their office, stating that he’s been closeted for so long, coming out personally and professionally has made the entire experience easier.

Culture Call: Show up as your authentic self

The word of the day is intentionality. For David, that’s what he believes separates the say-ers from the do-ers. His advice to any local business, “be intentional about looking at what’s going on outside in the bigger world, not just your office.” For C21 Bear Facts Realty, intentionality takes on a couple of different meanings in support of their agents:

  • Being intentional with removing limitations from agents to make it comfortable to do business with who they most identify
  • Being intentional in the way they recruit, who they choose to work with and understand the impact of the changing demographics and habits of consumers
  • Being intentional about how the leadership team supports their agents – whether that’s on the personal front as a counselor or coach, or on the professional front in providing new pockets of business for the agents to experience.

The results speak for themselves; C21 Bear Facts Realty has recruited 22 agents since joining the brand and they attribute this to their own abilities to show up as their authentic selves and to encourage and support others in their office to do the same. David put is best in saying, “If we’re going to claim to be diverse – we need to look, sound and think that way.”

Doing it my way: Why C21

Juan and David put out a bold mission. They intend to be the flagship diversity franchise office in the west for Century 21 Real Estate. They believe so passionately in what they stand for, and when engaging with the C21 Brand, learned what that support can really look like to achieve these goals. C21 Bear Facts Realty is part of the Inclusive Ownership Program, an effort from the C21 Brand to support and empower brokerages owned by a minority-classified leader that chooses to affiliate with the brand.

With a lifetime of experience in the real estate space and all the highs and lows of the markets they’ve pushed through, Juan and David did not need help with their chosen expertise or direction, but they did seek a strong brand that could support their efforts. They both experienced Aha! moments so far on the journey of affiliation with C21. For David, the C21 Brand alignment has been a freeing experience. After years of affiliating with major competitors and having to abide by specific types of messaging or work within a culture he did not feel fit, he is now given the space to craft his own messaging for recruiting and building community. As for Juan – after being an independent Broker for 14 years, he enjoys the fact that they don’t have to recreate the wheel with training. With the C21 Brand’s renowned educational content in place, Juan believes this has opened his time to concentrate on the individual agents to help them grow.

We can make the local decisions that are right for our marketplace, but we have the infrastructure there sitting behind us to allow our agents to do what they need. Gives us credibility we wouldn’t otherwise have.

Juan Sanchez, CENTURY 21 Bear Facts Realty

Their decision to partner with the C21 Brand ultimately boiled down to an aligned mindset and the ability to leverage that name recognition in their local market, all while being given the support to be true to themselves and their business and accomplish the goals they look to attain.

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These days when this team kicks off their day, the mentality they take is “what can be done?” vs. “what has to be done?” A slight shift in mentality with major impact. And a lot can be done from their perspective. The way people live in this post-COVID world is fundamentally changing what work and home mean. In addition, the transition to more inclusion across the country is a force to be reckoned with. Juan and David believe that these national shifts in mindset are here to stay, and for their part – they intend to do what they can to make waves in support of those transitions in their local market by empowering their agents and making the dream of home ownership a reality for everyone.  What’s more relentless than that?

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“Mastering the Art of the Thoughtful Gesture”

May 19, 2021 By

In episode 2 of season 2 of The Relentless, host, author, and entrepreneur, Kristen Meinzer spoke with an entrepreneur who’s got an insight into how to make customers feel happy, supported, and valued.

Launched in 2015, Papier, which by the way, is French for paper, has been taking the stationery category by storm in more ways than one. Founded by Taymoor Atighetchi, Papier has set out to defy what’s been previously done all while creating a unique and personalized user experience for their customers.

What really makes Papier unique is its mass appeal in the digital era. In a time where you’d think hand-written notes were a thing of the past, Papier has shown that there is still a “magic that happens when you receive a handwritten note,” Taymoor says. The resurgence of cards and handwritten notes isn’t a trend, Taymoor shared, but a “revolution in analog means of communication.”

Analog is the antidote for digital overdose, Taymoor believes, which is why Papier has also become wildly successful among Gen Z and millennials.

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Taymoor has successfully scaled Papier and leverage online marketing and social media, what we all know as the digital space, to essentially sell an offline activity. (which is quite extraordinary) Taymoor goes on to explain how he’s been able to marry the two worlds together while providing a meaningful and seamless experience for his customers.

We won’t spill the tea here, so you’ll have to listen to the full episode to hear just how he was able to master the art of the thoughtful gesture to grow his brand. Don’t forget to #jointheconversation.

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Is This New 3D Printed Home the Future of Housing?

May 19, 2021 By

One of the world’s first 3D-printed homes has made its debut in Ravenna, Italy. Designed by Mario Cucinella Architects, the 645-square-foot structure is made entirely of local clay — a departure from previous 3D-printed structures that used concrete or synthetic materials like plastic. Mansion it is not, but the minimalistic design feat combines new technology with the ancient tradition of using building materials from the Earth. Named TECLA (after Italian writer Italo Calvino’s fictional city of Thekla), the home was built in just 200 hours and boasts a bedroom, living area, and bathroom.

Efficient, sustainable and low-waste, TECLA could offer a new vision for our building future.

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Spring floods: How to handle water in your basement

May 13, 2021 By

Nothing wrecks the beauty of spring like a basement flood. If you’re one of the unfortunate souls who ends up with rising waters this year, here’s how you can handle the problem.

Get the water out. The first step is to remove water as soon as safety allows. The longer water sits, the more damage it does. If the flooding is weather related, you may have to wait until the storm has passed. Depending on how much there is you can remove water with towels and sponges or a wet-dry vacuum. If the flooding is severe, you can hire a specialist to pump the water out.

Dry everything off. Set up a dehumidifier to draw out as much moisture as possible. Move anything you want to save out of the basement and into a dry, well-ventilated space. Let items dry completely before putting them away. If you have carpet or dry wall, remove what was damaged to prevent mold and mildew.

Fix the problem. A basement shouldn’t flood in the first place. Flooding may be due to burst pipes, broken pumps, bad seals, foundation problems and more. Solutions range from easy fixes, like clearing clogged gutters, to major interventions. Whatever the solution, do everything you can to make it happen. Otherwise, you’ll end up underwater again in the future.

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Bruno Baldini 1980’s- C21 Making it’s Mark

May 12, 2021 By

A second-generation real estate agent, Bruno Baldini of CENTURY 21 Baldini Realty in Belmont, California joined the ranks under his father, who had his own brokerage in 1972. His dad started, in the business, in 1968, and made his way over to CENTURY 21 real estate, from a different brokerage, through his close friendship with Dick Loughlin, former President and CEO of CENTURY 21 Real Estate.

The year was 1986 when Bruno officially came into the business with his dad. Bruno recalls there being about fifteen CENTURY 21 offices, in the San Francisco area, as he shared some of his fondest memories of being a part of the brand. Today, there are currently over 11,600 independently owned and operated franchise brokers spanning across over 80 countries and territories.

“CENTURY 21 was always synonymous with residential real estate and had a great reputation. Back then, there were so many [real estate] offices, but people knew CENTURY 21.” Bruno recalls.

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One thing Bruno remembers were the gold blazers.

“We would go around with gold jackets in caravans and spread out and knock on doors. They were always a conversation piece. We wore them all day and everywhere. You’d get stopped in a grocery store and people would ask you about real estate.

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Bruno Baldini still has his gold blazer from the ’80s.

It was a solid tool when used properly. It opened doors and conversations and you didn’t know who you’d have the opportunity to talk to but before you knew it, you’d end up handing out business cards.”

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CENTURY 21 real estate agents wearing their signature gold blazers.

Bruno recalls how CENTURY 21 agents were the hot topic of discussion among competitors. It was another way the brand has executed remaining top of mind and disrupters to the market, over the years. Bruno still has his gold blazer and even a prized possession of a CENTURY 21 kimono, presented to him by a group of agents from Tokyo, whom he had the opportunity to accompany on a tour of the city of San Francisco.

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Kimonos gifted to Bruno from affiliates from Tokyo.

Bruno has been an eye-witness to CENTURY 21 making a mark in real estate. From a time that precedes the digital era, wearing an iconic blazer was just as important as today’s Instagram profile. Imagine a time where you garnered a good percentage of your business by being stopped in a grocery store. We are continuing to celebrate half a century of momentum and memories by sharing the stories of our #relentless throughout the decades. #OurBrandofRelentless

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New Technology Promises to Revolutionize the Construction

May 12, 2021 By

There’s no question that technology is making an impact on the construction industry – even though construction is an industry that’s been historically slow to embrace innovation. The reluctance to change and evolve is due to fragmentation in the industry. With so many small firms specializing in different aspects of the construction process, it’s a challenge to adopt seamless processes and adapt to new technologies.

But recent advances that increase the efficiency, flexibility and adaptability of many emerging construction technologies are making them more cost-effective for firms to adopt. Just a few of the new technologies in use today include modular construction (using free-standing, integrated modules that are manufactured off-site and then transported to a site for installation), geospatial technologies (used to visualize, measure and analyze Earth’s features) and wearable technologies (such as head-mounted displays).

There’s more on the horizon. Some emerging technologies in the construction industry include mass timber (an engineered wood product), construction robotics (using robots to build) and autonomous construction vehicles (equipment operated by a computer).

To read a NAIOP report about new construction technologies, click here.

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Immerse Yourself in Van Gogh

April 26, 2021 By

Being able to stroll through “Starry Night” is an art lover’s dream — and now you can feel as if you are rolling with the very clouds painted by Van Gogh himself. One of the pandemic’s most popular art events, “Immersive Van Gogh” is expanding its reach to cities across the U.S. The multisensory experience debuted in Toronto last July, and opened in Chicago in February. Now the show is headed to San Francisco (now open), Los Angeles in May and New York in June.

Immersive Van Gogh features more than 500,000 cubic feet of projected iconic van Gogh works  and lasts one hour. Ticket prices for “Immersive Van Gogh” start at $39.99 for adults and $24.99 for those 16 and younger. Expect face masks, temperature checks and social distancing. A similar exhibit is running in other cities, including Las Vegas, Atlanta, Boston and Houston. The shows are selling out so quickly that many are being extended through the fall.

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