Mystery surrounds what appears to be an ambush marketing campaign targeting landlords and tenants in the leafy Hertfordshire towns of St Albans and Harpenden.
Letting agents have been baffled and upset to find that their To Let boards have been covered up by black plastic, showing a picture of a bull.
There are no other clues, but the same image appears on a website called bulllettings.com
The site gives no details, simply proclaiming “Coming soon … no bull, just lettings” and giving a countdown, suggesting that it will be opening for business in St Albans in two weeks’ time.
But the stealth advertising campaign has not gone down well, and unimpressed agents have complained to police. The local council has also been informed and the planning enforcement team are looking to see if the signs breach the Town and Country Planning Control of Advertisements regulations.
The superimposed signs have become a topic of discussion on Twitter with Let Me Properties tweeting: “Really disrespectful to all of us.”
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Comments
Interestingly, there is a Mike Bull and Kim Bull following bull lettings on twitter!
Well I am only a couple of miles down the road in 'sunny' Hemel. So far we seem to have escaped the bullish tactics of this new and somewhat sinister agent.
Kind of has a mafia feel to it. Let's hope they are not openly advertising how they intend to run their business.
I think the idea is brilliant, but will be very interesting to see how they operate, I struggle to believe there will be an experienced and knowledgable letting expert behind this and put money on a 20 something marketing wizkiz with the idea that lettings is easy money.
Good luck to 'em expect to see you bac0k in the local rag when you lose landlords money, upset tenants and have no idea how to manage a property and a subsiquent eviction correctly :)
Poor Matt - like a sausage in a chip shop. Battered.
Excellent point about Globrix mind.
Matt Adams.....
How many newspapers scrape websites and put OUR properties with photo's on THEIR websites? They also publish photos of OUR boards and offices.
If you are so precious, don't put photo's on the Internet? Or at least, add 'Copyright'
Oh, look - you are part of Homes 24 powered by Zoopla - now TDPG who have the worst offender Globrix - so stop moaning!!
@Matt Adams - I wonder if the BBC will complain to ITV about having the same headlines....
Can't see the word 'exclusive'
@ Matt Adams
More likely someone sent it in
This is the article.... lifted?
http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/police_called_in_over_st_albans_and_harpenden_marketing_campaign_1_1347040
This story has been blatantly copied from my newspaper, the Herts Advertiser, without even a credit to the source. Even the photo has been lifted.
Bull Lettings Limited:
29 STEPHENS COURT, STATION ROAD, HARPENDEN, HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND, AL5 4FE
Company category: Private Limited Company
Company number: 07985311
Company status: Active
country of origin: United Kingdom
incorporation date: 2012.03.12
has UK establishment: No
has appointments: Yes
More details of directors available at Companies House Webcheck for £1
It starts with a picture, next it will be a horses head on the doorstep
I believe it is unlawful to display any sign on a property with the owners express consent. To do so implies they have instructions and may result in them trespassing on land or property
Bloody great way to make friends though.
This is undoubtedly the product of a very smart marketing mind. A very clever and very inexpensive way of launching a new business; courting controversy and creating a newsworthy story.
It does, however, demonstrate a total lack of insight into the marketing issues of letting agents.
When rogue letting agents, and agents whose poor practice brings the industry into disripute, is forcing the issue of licencing the lettings business, launching your new agency in this way is very foolish market positioning.
This is funny, but I reckon a massive own goal. Finding a mysterious bull on your doorstep/property is quite creepy, I certainly wouldn't be panicking if it happened on my properties. In fact, it would emphasise my professionalism.
Perhaps our resident comic Andy is starting up an agency, sounds like their kind of approach!
I think we can guess that the new agent will be full of shirt and will treat all & sundry in this same cavalier manner. Any landlord using them is likely to regret it.
But there is a Bull!
Oh this has made me laugh over my coffee this morning! What an ingenious marketing plan! Great slogan.. "No BULL just Lettings"... Yes I'm sure if my boards were covered up I'd be furious but thumbs up to thinking outside the box!
Sounds like a load of old 'Bull'.
When revealed, I am sure they will enjoy the cordial manner in which their competitors greet them ;)
I agree - very disrespectful