While real estate is often perceived as a hyper competitive industry where transparency is hard to find, Tauranga’s Tall Poppy franchise owners demonstrate the opposite.
In a collaborative culture, Janet O’Shea and Susan Northey lead their teams at Tall Poppy with a client focused approach and the type of service that wins awards and builds great relationships.
“Passionate about the Tall Poppy brand and all it has to offer, we believe in a fairer system, for clients and our teams,” Janet says. “What resonates most is Tall Poppy’s business model which is centred on honesty, value and results.”
Janet owns and operates the Tauranga South franchise and Susan holds the reigns at the Tauranga Central branch, but they work together on promoting Tall Poppy’s message within their communities. While leveraging their individual strengths, they focus on the bigger picture and on redefining the industry’s future.
“My career in sales began straight out of school, working in retail pharmacy and later as a sales rep,” Janet says. “Real estate was a natural transition; for me, success in sales has always been about solving problems and ensuring customers feel better after every interaction. A passion for making a difference has been the cornerstone of my career.”
Susan obtained her real estate qualifications in the early 2000s, but she honed her skills in sales and marketing with a large Bay of Plenty media organisation and later as a franchise owner of Her Business Network, founded by Anna Stretton. In 2018, she purchased the Tauranga Central franchise because she was drawn to Tall Poppy’s fairer system and its focus on technology.
“Tall Poppy has provided us with a platform and digital tools that enable us to work in the best way possible,” Susan says. “This focus on technology and innovation is fantastic, and we are proud to be part of New Zealand’s most forward-thinking real estate company. However, it’s important to note that we are, and always will be, a people-centred business.”
Janet elaborates, confirming that, at Tall Poppy, internal competition and the ‘usual drama’ that comes with working in a real estate office is a thing of the past.
“We’ve created a supportive environment where team members look out for one another. Communication is key and we genuinely care about each other and our clients. There are no hidden agendas here,” she says.
Together, Janet and Susan are excited about building the Tall Poppy brand further in Tauranga, prioritising quality and service over rapid expansion.
“We are looking forward to growing our teams and would like to hear from exceptional salespeople who share their vision and passion,” adds Janet.
“With Tall Poppy, we are well positioned for the future and ready to set new standards for real estate in the Bay.”
