BCBusiness

July/August 2022 - The Top 100

With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.

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He graduated UVic with a BA and then completed a diploma in Urban Land Economics at UBC, going on to work for the world-leading real estate program at the Sauder School of Business where he managed and developed academic materials, and then became a realtor. THE EARLY DAYS Kit & Coop were both out there pounding pavement in real estate, eager to work when they realized an important opportunity. "We had mutual friends starting to buy, so rather than compete for their business—and possibly make things awkward—we decided to team up and work together," Coop says. "That's how Kit + Coop began, and the rest is history." In 2016, they bought an office in Lower Lonsdale and have been the #1 agents in LoLo year after year ever since. As partners, Kit + Coop push each other. They hold each other account- able, and they both work collabora- tively with every client. "Realtors needs to wear a lot of hats," Coop says. "And while no one can be good at everything, we feel we have the combined skills that make us a great real estate team." They also don't take themselves too seriously, which allows them to think out- side the box with purchase and sale strat- egies and with marketing campaigns. "We like to put ourselves out there and have fun while we do it," Coop says. Coop excels with numbers, marketing ideation and helping cli- ents navigate the emotional stresses of real estate. Kit has the background in construction, knows the legal side inside and out, and his social, outgo- ing personality fosters important connections with clients. "It's a marriage!" Kit says. "We have fun, and we are aligned on work ethic and goals, but we both possess strengths that allow our relationship to grow and thrive." They'd always wanted to open a brokerage, but quickly realized it was more difficult than anticipated because it meant aligning with companies' mis- sion and vision, which proved tricky. "The Agency had just opened up in Victoria in 2018, and we wanted to learn more," Coop says. "Upon peel- ing back the layers of the company, we were completely drawn to their brand, principles and core values. We loved how they represent properties, how they treat people and other agents, and how the culture is built within the company. The Agency is boutique and focuses on quality, not quantity. We loved this and it spoke to us!" CLAIM TO FAME The Agency earmarked its claim to fame early on with a clear founding vi- sion—breaking away from tradition and creating a modern brand that speaks to today's luxury consumer. It was an early adopter of social media, going all-in on Instagram and other digital platforms. This approach paid off as the home shopping and buying experience went increasingly online and mobile. The Agency has also been fea- tured on global television shows, like "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles" and "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." This exposure has expanded the company's global presence and brand awareness, which has proven invaluable for its agents and clients. "Today, The Agency is one of the most followed residential brokerages in the world with over 370,000 followers on Instagram," Kit says. "It doesn't just share listings. It engages with a global audience. Beyond growing the brand presence, this approach has translated into success for agents and clients. "Success for one of us means suc- cess for all of us." HOME TO VANCOUVER In 2021, Kit + Coop brought The Agency to North Vancouver. Because it is one of the most livable cities in the world, Vancouver's real estate market has ex- perienced substantial growth over the past years and will continue to rise as it establishes itself as a "supercity." "Real estate in Vancouver is stunning and expansive and commands agents who set themselves apart in a very com- petitive industry," Cooper says. "Vancou- ver has a lot of established brokerages but few are utilizing global exposure coupled with social media better than The Agency. We feel it's going to make a lot of noise here and shake things up." There is growing demand for luxury listings in Vancouver—think 3755 Calder Avenue and the pent- house at #50-133 Keefer Street—but in a quickly changing, highly fluctuat- ing market, luxury has become more than a price point. "It comes down to the client experi- ence," Kit says. "That is how we define the word luxury. Every client, no mat- ter the price point, receives the same level of concierge-style service. Every client feels seen, heard and cared for." Kit + Coop will be bringing The Agen- cy to downtown Vancouver, opening a new office in Gastown in Q4 and working on opening another office shortly after. "We are talking to some great agents and teams that will help grow the brand and the culture," Coop says. "With them, our goal is to paint the town red." @theagencyvancouver @kitandcoop Discover The Agency and Kit + Coop today at: theagencyre.com/vancouver and kitandcoop.com

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