My, how times flies! It seems almost yesterday that Amanda Sharples (nee Billige) and I were sitting in a box room in Surrey, drawing up our business plan for property world domination, filing the Companies House registration documents and designing the AB Property Marketing logo.
That was in fact almost 8 years ago, back in 2005 when we were young 20 something’s, fresh faced and eager to prove ourselves. And now, as we reach yet another milestone, our 1000th property press release, I’d like to think that we have proved any doubters wrong, growing from a two (wo)man start-up to the industry’s leading PR agency with 12 retained clients, offices in Mayfair, Surrey and now Portugal and of course, a dedicated team of four PR professionals.
Having spent my entire career in the heady world of property PR (with not a sniff of the Ab Fab lifestyle I hasten to add!), I’ve come to know many of you very well indeed both as colleagues and friends but for those of you whom I’m still just a name in your “From” line then I’d like to change that in this 1000th press release. Let’s put some faces to names.
Charlotte
Charlotte Ashton, Managing Director, London
In short, Charlotte’s a property girl through and through. She comes from a property family with her Father a Chartered Surveyor and spent most childhood weekends driving around retail parks playing the classic “spot the selling agent signboard” game!
She studied Geography with Town Planning at Birmingham University and secured her very first job working for the largest Spanish property agent at the time in Surrey where she met ABPM’s co-founder, Amanda. Having come from a self-employed family, starting up on her own was pretty much inevitable and despite having endured many highs and lows including a near triple-dip recession, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Never far from her iPhone, ABPM is not Charlotte’s work but her passion although she does make time to fulfil her other love – travel. With an ever growing list of destinations to visit on her bucket list, she isn’t doing too badly with every continent ticked off – apart from Antarctica but that’s on the list too! – and trips to Kenya, Myanmar, Mallorca, Ibiza and Australia planned for 2013.
Charlotte also likes to keep fit and plays hockey regularly as well as undertaking half marathons, triathlons and 100km bike rides to raise money for the charity she set up in 2011, the Frontiers Foundation.
Her aim for 2013? To keep growing ABPM of course but also to finally buy her first home. Having been a tenant for 10 years now and the poster girl for Generation Rent (with guest appearances on the BBC, in the New York Times and most recently on LBC radio), it’s time for Charlotte to have her own bricks and mortar.
Viv Onslow, PR Executive, Surrey
Viv has 25 years commercial business experience in a fast paced sales environment under her belt. Working in a family business for 12 years as Corporate Sales Manager for a prestige motor franchise she then went on to complete 7 years in recruitment. Used to working under pressure with targets and frequently changing objectives – property PR is a perfect fit for Viv.
Mother of 15 year old, very beautiful twins, William and Rosie she has her hands full at home, and as step mother to a few more catering for large numbers is not a challenge! A very keen traveller since her early years Viv has crossed many continents and is now enjoying teaching her offspring the joys of travelling to far flung places around the world.
For kicks you will find her tripping over tree roots in the Surrey Hills – never tiring of finding new footpaths and country pubs either cross country running or hiking. A keen skier, Viv and the twins have been known to visit family in the Alps several times a year but with the twins out-skiing her on every run this too has become more challenging. Her busy active life also includes being Social Secretary for the local rugby club but there is always time for enjoying family and friends and a glass of wine or three.
Georgina Green, PR Assistant, London
Georgie graduated from Northumbria University in 2011, with a BA Hons in Journalism. She has spent the last few years cultivating her passion for communications beginning with an internship at a national tabloid paper as a trainee journalist.
After leaving the world of internships she found herself in television production for a major ITV series and with a keen eye for watching sport (not so much playing) was lucky enough to work in the press office for the London Olympics 2012, a highlight of her career after helping to manage the whereabouts of several strapping young athletes!
As the Olympics came to an end Georgie went to the islands paradise of the Maldives to combine a love of travel and journalism, commenting on island politics, lifestyle and resorts and staying at several of the most romantic hotels in the world – by herself.
Since returning to her hometown of London after living in the middle of the Indian Ocean she has joined ABPM after igniting an interest in overseas property, travel and resorts whilst living abroad.
Georgie has recently discovered Yoga and when not in ‘Zen’ mode can be found more often than not enjoying London’s West End…
Louise Taylor, PR Assistant, Portugal
Louise is the newest addition to the ABPM team. She works from sunny Portugal, where she has lived for just over three years since emigrating from London at the end of 2009.
Louise is a freelance consultant with a passion for writing. In addition to her PR work, she supports a number of charities with their writing and reporting requirements, is a prolific blogger and has just published her first book – a candid tale of her experiences of moving abroad. Louise is a committed linguist who loves the written word; she holds qualifications in four languages, a diploma in proofreading and copy editing and hopes to soon add a further qualification in the Portuguese language to her accomplishments.
Travel is Louise’s other passion. After Portugal, the US is the place that has most captured her heart. 2013 has already seen her visit New York and Florida and she plans to see more of Europe during the coming months including a trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights – something she has wanted to do for some time, but hasn’t quite got round to yet.
Working for ABPM is the ideal role for Louise, as it allows her to combine her enjoyment of writing with her appetite for travel. Like Charlotte, she is never far from her iPhone, charging through life with a ‘work hard, play hard’ approach and making the most of every experience.
The ABPM ladies are thoroughly committed to our clients so if you ever need some market comment, property information of images, case studies or interviews then please don’t hesitate to contact us, 24-7, rain or shine on 0845 054 7524 or charlotte@abpropertymarketing.co.uk.
