Celebrating seventeen years, reflecting on forty years … and proud my eldest who cried when she lost her race.
The Weekly Confession
Monday – Loud Guests & Long Partnerships
As a favour to a client, I shared the studio with them as they needed a desk. A reminder I’m not the loudest salesperson in agency anymore. Headphones saved me. Our new digital marketing specialist started, exciting plans ahead. Endured another no-show sales call and a tech demo that made me question why agents buy half the kit they do.Highlight: 17 years working with Daniel, my partner at Fine & Country. From junior to MD at Thorgills, to partner at F&C – one of the best in the business.
Tuesday – Podcasts & Problems
Women in Estate Agency podcast filmed all day. Their third session, they’re flying now, efficient and high quality. Boys Club meeting was raw but inspiring. A well-regarded industry figure admitted he still holds back online for fear of honesty being weaponised. Sad reflection of our industry. Must improve. Finally spoke to a prospect after two no-shows. Third time lucky. Went well.
Wednesday – Rain & Reality
My “little” sister turned 40. Me being middle aged confirmed. The girls’ first day back at school = torrential rain.
Major new client filmed Renter’s Reform Bill content with us. Great session. Booked three of our team onto October’s Women in Estate Agency Training Day – still amazed there are spaces, amazing value.Also dealt with a random complaint about a Fine & Country advert, explaining we achieved 20% above two bank valuations on a record sale. Apparently, that offended someone. Inbox reply speed told me everything: some people just need more to do.
Thursday – New Pods & New Sites
A friend-turned-client recorded their second podcast series with us, it’s going to be brilliant. Prepped for next week’s Moneypenny Conference and saw the first draft of our new site. Frank Marketing have nailed it.
Friday – Spark Code & CRM Calls
Digital Sparks leadership meeting: unveiled our new brand book, website, and the Spark Code. Think cheat code for video content, that’s how we see ourselves for our clients. Also: call with a major CRM, onboarding a very well-known new client, and prep for next week’s Fine & Country National Advisory Council agenda. Finished with a referral swap with a friend in SE London.
Saturday – Horseplay & Hard Lessons
Up early firing off NED details for the first round of invites. Digital Sparks is scaling, means getting the right people involved. Then of tothe horse riding “Big Weekend.” Six hours there, three minutes on a horse for my 9 year old. One “race,” fourth place, lots of tears. Some would call it negative. I call it passion. Winning matters. She’ll go far.
Sunday – 40th Celebrations & Carnage
Lunch for my sister’s 40th. Six kids under nine in a pub beer garden. Pure chaos. I spent more time playing with them then talking to the adults. Bliss. Nice way to end the week.
Same time next week. Probably (definitely) after bedtime.
Ben Madden is founder of Digital Sparks and a director at Fine & Country Chiswick
Next week….
‘Confessions of a window cleaner’.
Now we’re talking !
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Eeeerrr is this Drivel necessary….. My cat will not eat his food ……. My wife had her hair dresser appointment cancelled ….? yawwwn
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I’ve resisted commenting on the previous week’s Confessions of an estate agent. Still, this week’s edition is particularly light on anything resembling a confession or indeed any estate agency-based activities. Although it did make me want to have a dig around Digital Sparks Media Services Ltd (16211908) and Luxury Suburbia Ltd (11784284) trading as Fine & Country, Chiswick.
Digital Sparks was only incorporated in January 2025, so nothing of financial interest there. I did have a look at their Velocity Plan at £795/month for 5 videos. Based on their last 10 LinkedIn posts (a retail value of £1,590) they have yielded 0 comments or likes. So, not sure if this plan is really “…For those ready to build influence fast and become the most visible voice in their space…” as claimed on the Digital Sparks website!
Luxury Suburbia is a bit more exciting and it looks like that business is indicating revenues of just over £1m. Although, with 7 staff, I would have expected a much higher figure. In terms of properties for sale, they are ranked 6th in the Chiswick area. You could probably make a case for focusing more on the day-to-day running of the estate agency business as opposed to videos, podcasts and diary writing…
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‘Same time next week. Probably (definitely) after bedtime’. Please no more, it’s utterly boring beyond belief
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