A founding partner of a Harrogate estate agents has died.
Charles Smailes co-founded Feather Smailes Scales, which is based on Raglan Street in the town.
Mr Smailes had more than 30 years experience in the local property sector.
He set-up FSS with Jim Feather and Peter Scales in 1994.
He was appointed president of the National Association of Estate Agents in 2005 and was also the first chairman of the board of the National Federation of Property Professionals.
In a post last night on social media, FSS said Mr Smailes died on October 9. It added:
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our founding partner, Charles Smailes.
“Charles’ legacy will continue as we, as a firm carry forwards the values and principles that he held so dear.”
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Westmorland Sheepskins set to close Harrogate store
Westmorland Sheepskins on Montpellier Parade is due to close its Harrogate store.
The shop which opened in 2018, specialises in sheepskin, leather, and wool products.
The date of the shop’s closure is uncertain, but the company believe it will be “around June” this year.
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In a statement, Westmorland Sheepskins told the Stray Ferret:
“We have invested a lot into our website and our bricks and mortar store.
“But, we haven’t been able to renegotiate a flexible extension with our landlord post-covid”.
The Montpellier Parade unit has recently been listed to let on Rightmove for £2,500pcm and is over 1,200 sq. ft.
The company said:
“We have loved being part of the Harrogate community.
“We are now actively seeking other opportunities, collaborations and journeys to go on with the brand”.
Customers will still be able to shop all the products on Westmorland Sheepskin’s online store.
The company has “no doubt” the brand will “pop up” again in the area soon.
Harrogate town centre shop closes as business continues to tradeA shop in the centre of Harrogate has closed suddenly this week.
The former Dizzy Duck shop in Albert Street is now being advertised to let by FSS at £22,000 per annum.
A sign in the window says the estate agency re-entered the premises on Monday, on behalf of the landlord. It adds:
“As a consequence of the re-entry, the lease is forfeited and the premises have been secured.”
However, Dizzy Duck continues to trade online and owner Louise Chesters has been posting on its Facebook page frequently this week.
The business had a stall at Ripon market today, and has posted about plans to attend markets in Masham and Thirsk next week.
It changed its business address and phone number before 9am on Monday to remove the Albert Street details.
The Stray Ferret contacted Dizzy Duck about its departure from the shop. The owner declined to comment, but said there would be news coming soon about the business.
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Knaresborough ecommerce firm acquired by Leeds agency
A specialist e-commerce firm in Knaresborough has been acquired by a digital marketing agency in Leeds.
Three members of staff from Audere Commerce have joined Ascensor as part of the deal, including managing director James Withers.
He said:
“The Audere Commerce team and I are very much looking forward to joining a larger, more established digital agency.
“Ascensor share our values of delivering advanced digital technology to clients looking to grow through conversion.”
It is the third acquisition for Ascensor in the last 12 months. Managing director Andrew Firth said:
Harrogate estate agents take on Yorkshire Three Peaks“This is a very exciting deal for Ascensor, and presents an opportunity to build further our ecommerce client base. We will be able to extend the range of services offered to the new clients.
“The skills base represented by this acquisition complements our existing strengths.
“Audere Commerce are ecommerce software specialists, they’ve developed a specialism in B2B ecommerce.
“We will be able to provide the new clients with marketing services, and they’ll benefit from our focus on conversion rate optimisation, that helps website owners to generate the maximum possible value from their digital assets and grow through return on investment.”
Harrogate estate agents take on Yorkshire Three Peaks for charity
Harrogate estate agents, Feather Smailes Scales (FSS) are hoping to raise more money for Maggie’s Centres by climbing the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
The team at FSS said they wanted to support a charity that helps those undergoing treatment.
Maggie’s Centres builds centres next to NHS hospitals to offer professional support for anything from treatment side effects to money worries.
The FSS team will take on the 24-mile hiking challenge tomorrow.
Partner and auctioneer Richard Smailes said:
“Last November, I was incredibly touched by the enthusiasm of those supporting the charity. Those who were affected by cancer planned to carry out incredible tasks to raise money for a cause that supports those suffering take back control when cancer turns their life upside down.”
To donate click here.
Networking event for SMEs at Harrogate Convention Centre this month
Harrogate Borough Council and SME Growth Managers have organised an event for Harrogate district businesses to share ideas and solve problems.
The event, on April 21, is aimed at local SMEs, small to middle-sized businesses.
‘Five tips to sales and marketing effectiveness in challenging times’ will hear from numerous business owners about the impact of marketing.
The event lasts 90 minutes and is free to attend. It will highlight funding opportunities and give business owners the chance to meet with similar, like-minded businesses.
The event begins at 9.30am at Co-Lab Harrogate, through entrance three at the convention centre.
Harrogate Convention Centre
For every for-sale and let sign, FSS will plant a tree
This article is sponsored by FSS.
Feather Smailes Scales (FSS) have become the first Harrogate estate agent to launch a ‘plant a tree’ scheme to help combat climate change, ahead of next week’s COP26 Climate Change Conference.
For every for sale, to let or auction board put up, FSS will plant a tree. So when your for sale sign goes up, you’ll know that somewhere in the world, a new tree is growing too, and the planet is a little better protected.
Harrogate’s leading estate agent have joined forces with a tree planting agency to ensure that they do their bit for our world.
The trees will be planted as part of a wider project to support communities in poverty and increase biodiversity in Madagascar, Kenya, and Haiti. Not only will the trees themselves help the planet, but the planting projects also help grow the economy and offer employment opportunities in these low-income communities.
Simon Croft is a partner at FSS. He said he hopes thousands trees will be planted under the company’s scheme:
“We are all much more aware of the need to be greener, as such all of us at FSS wanted to contribute to reducing our carbon footprint.
“We are conscious of numerous things we can do to help, such as staycations, recycling, sustainable energy, or greener cars – and they all have divergent arguments as to how green they actually are!
“To try and improve our green footprint as a business, we have decided to plant a tree for every single board we place on property or land we have for sale or to let, across sales, lettings, auctions and commercial property.
“Trees are without doubt the lungs of the earth and are essential to our future wellbeing on this wonderful planet.
“We feel the physical planting of a tree couldn’t be more demonstrative of our wish to improve the environment.
“So you know whenever we are instructed, you are also helping to help us save our world!”
FSS, the only fully comprehensive property agent in the district, offers a range of services, including sales, lettings, surveys, auctions, valuations and commercial offerings.
FSS Property are leading the way with combatting estate agents’ carbon footprints.
Anyone who instructs FSS to sell, let or auction their property will have a tree planted on their behalf! You can follow how many trees the company has planted by checking the tree-counter on their website.