TGt Meets...Sarah Fudge, Owner of Lewis Dean Estate & Letting Agents - IWD Special

International Women’s Day 2021 #choosetochallenge

Sarah Fudge is the owner of Lewis Dean Estate & Letting Agents. They sell and let properties in the Hamworthy, Upton, Creekmoor and Lytchett area and are based in Upton. Read below as we spoke to Sarah to get her thoughts on International Women's Day 2021.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #choosetochallenge – what would you choose to challenge when it comes to gender equality or inequality this year?

Having been in the industry for 27 years I still don’t see many women owners of agencies or women in senior management roles locally. However, I do see that the further up the country you go the more women there are in these roles.

Thinking of your own experience in the world of business – which inequalities, if any, have you experienced personally or witnessed around gender?

The inequalities I have found seem to have been more centered around being a working mum. When my girls were younger, having to juggle work / home life balance especially in school holidays and either giving up time working in my business to be with the children, or giving up precious time being with them whilst going to work and that ever increasing guilty feeling that you were missing out.

What do you think women offer in particular to the world of business?

Definitely being able to multi task!

What do you think men offer in particular to the world of business?

Men I have found are less emotional when it comes to property transactions and moving home is an emotional time for all involved. I have been lucky working with my husband for the last 27 years, he can usually add humour in the emotional times in business for both me and our clients, which is usually the best medicine.

Can you name up to three women in business or in your organisation or in the wider business community that you admire? 

Firstly, Sally Lawson, unknown to most unless you are in the sales/letting industry, she has grown her business over the years and is now a market leader in training and systems for letting agents. She has taught us all how to pivot our businesses since the first lockdown and streamline everything.

Second would be Sandra Palmer of Farmer Palmers, Organford. Sandra is an inspiration to all female business owners, she too grew her business with her brother whilst bringing up her children. Sandra is straight talking, knows what she wants to achieve and goes for it, she is also a lovely person.  

Last but not least would be Ann Khambatta. I met Anne back before Christmas when out recording one of our #lewisdeanlocal community videos and I wanted to highlight her community work and promote how local people could benefit from visiting Moor Community Food, which Ann set up during lockdown to help with a food parcels etc. This grew and grew and now helps over 60 families each week. Ann was instrumental in many other local community projects to bring the community together, during which time she was battling her own incurable illness which she did not disclose to many and from her hospital bed she continued to make sure families in Hamworthy still received help. Ann passed away this month.

Can you name up to three men in business or in your organisation or in the wider business community that you admire? 

Can't really think of anyone other than my husband who over the last year has supported me by taking on the home schooling and ALL the housework. He has done this whilst continuing with the training for the Lytchett Matravers & Upton Army Cadets, he has 46 girls and boys aged between 12-18 years old which through the whole of lockdown he has kept their spirits up on Zoom and inspired them to “hang in there” when their moods were low.

Do you think women who start their own business experience more challenges than men?

I think that may have been the case years ago especially in my industry but not as much now. I remember “back in the day” gosh that sounds old, that men would quite often ask me if they could speak with a negotiator or manager when they wanted to make an offer on a property assuming that I could not handle this, I would take great delight in confirming that I could help fully! As I said before, women with children will always struggle slightly more in business over those women that don’t due to the juggle struggle!

Now a little bit about being based in Poole and your Covid-19 experience… 

Describe Poole in 3 words…     

Home, stunning, coast

Where’s your favourite place for an out of office/remote meeting? 

Sandwich at Lake Pier

What do you love most about working in Poole? 

Being born and bred here Upton & Hamworthy is my home ground, I love knowing the locals and I love learning new history about our area and being part of the community and the local projects. We recently set up a Facebook page called #LoveBH16/15 to help support local businesses in the Poole / Hamworthy / Upton/ Creekmoor and Lytchett area and have been promoting other local small businesses during lockdown and giving them help and guidance with their social media marketing.

How do you think Poole and local businesses will bounce-back once lockdown is eased?

I firmly believe Poole will be fine as it’s a holiday destination, with #staycations on the cards for the foreseeable future when lockdown is eased we should be fine.

How has Covid-19/Lockdown affected your business and what are your plans for the year ahead as we start to move out of lockdown? 

Lockdown has actually been a blessing in some aspects as working from home has actually been lovely, being with my family (and not having to do my hair!). Our industry has been very lucky to be stronger than before the lockdown but I think this bubble may burst this year and will return to normal/ less volume when the furlough and stamp duty holiday ends. Lockdown has taught me a lot about how to streamline my business and to be completely paper free also the importance of social media, something which we plan to continue to grow further.

Anything else you’d like to say? 

If there are any local small businesses in Hamworthy, Upton, Lytchett Matravers or Creekmoor that would like a free video for their social media marketing, which I can also use to promote them on Youtube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to promote deals they may have available, please do get in touch. I actually enjoy filming and editing people's video so much, it’s become a little bit of a hobby!

Find out more about Lewis Dean Estate & Letting Agents by visiting their website here.