Ray White Marine was recently launched on Queensland’s Gold Coast. It’s a completely new direction for the Ray White Group and the brand is proving to be a powerful vehicle in an industry ripe for change. Behind the initiative are Andrew and Greg Bell of the Ray White Surfers Paradise Group and the owners of Marina Oceanus at Marina Mirage.
Sales and Marketing Manager, Mark Ali, says that the traditional way to sell a boat has been to list it with a broker and essentially wait for a buyer, sometimes for years.
“While some operators have tried marine auctions this new partnership with Ray White delivers a professional, credible, world-class brand and a successful auction formula. It also allows us the opportunity to leverage the organisations’ massive marketing resources and services, creating enormous audience reach. We have also been able to develop a range of offerings and services that really differentiate Ray White Marine, including 30 days of free insurance for the buyer.”
The free boat insurance offer developed through Concierge is now proving to be a compelling part of the unique Ray White Marine equation.
“The insurance offer is particularly great for sales concluding on the weekend as we’ve had Concierge people attending the auctions, ready to organise the cover note on the spot.”
Andrew Bell says Ray White Marine is bringing major transformation to the marine industry by successfully applying tried and proven real estate practices. And although in its early stages, the business model is clearly working; the group is now being inundated with enquiries from buyers and sellers alike.
“We’re talking about elements completely foreign to marine sales – things like vendor paid advertising, structured and sophisticated marketing campaigns, no buyers premium where commission is taken out of the sale price instead of being paid for by the buyer which can prove a potential impediment to the sale, boat funding through Loan Market and the free insurance offer through Concierge” Andrew says.
Club Marine, owned by Allianz, is the industry’s largest boat insurer and Ray White’s partner in the marine insurance offer. CEO Greg Fisher moved across from Allianz to head up the marine insurance entity six months ago and says extending the offer to Ray White Marine was intuitive.
“The Allianz relationship with Concierge has always been very positive, so when the opportunity came to develop a free insurance offer for Ray White Marine, we didn’t hesitate” Greg says.
“It’s the only offering of its kind and we’re looking forward to extending our successful relationship into this new and exciting initiative.”
