Sunday 2nd January 2011 - Published by Kelly Jackson - Communications Executive
Entrepreneur overcomes superbug to launch unique property venture
A poor economy, difficult housing market and even a life-threatening illness could not stop one entrepreneur from pursing his dreams to launch his own business.
For Jamie Gordon, 22, from Lisburn in County Down, spending weeks in intensive care spurred him on to undertake his greatest challenge yet; launching a new property business in an economic downturn.
The young entrepreneur spent months in hospital being treated for a superbug and amnesia. He then developed blood clots in both his intestines, requiring two major operations and having to spend weeks in intensive care.
Jamie says: “Being in intensive care for three weeks was such a big shock for me and really pushed me to reassess my life. I decided I had to live my life to the full and not let anything get in the way of my ambition to run my own business.
“However, raising the necessary capital to launch a new business in the current climate is near impossible. The banks didn’t want to know, I didn’t meet the criteria for Government schemes and I couldn’t ask my family for the level of capital I needed. So I struck on the unique idea of selling shares in my new company via a blog, and the response has been amazing.”
Jamie is marketing his shares via http://jamesandcookeshares.blogspot.com/, offering returns for investors over three, five or seven years.
The new company, James & Cooke Estate Agents, will offer an original proposition for house buyers, with the ambitious goal of becoming the first estate agent in the UK to have any home sold within just two weeks.
“We’ll do this by operating a loyalty program through an organisation called Cashbax”, explains Jamie. “It is a scheme whereby a new buyer has the potential to be mortgage free in just seven years.”
James & Cooke will also offer a range of complimentary services, to help prepare a property for an open day.
This is the Director of James & Cooke Estate Agents
