One of Malta’s youngest franchisers, the QLZH Group, has celebrated the fifth anniversary of its letting company QuickLets. The newly revamped Ġnien Laparelli at the foot of the Valletta bastions underneath City Gate served as the perfect backdrop to host a grand event intended to celebrate the successes the real estate company has achieved over the last five years while also announcing new concepts for the future of the real estate industry in Malta.

This success has been achieved by employing a franchising strategy that helped the company grow significantly in a short time. President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the teams at QuickLets and Zanzi Homes, family, friends and service providers were among the 400 guests joining in the festivities.

It was in 2014 when the initial QuickLets sign was put up outside the first branch in Swieqi. The office then was bare and simple, featuring recycled and refurbished furniture donated by family and friends, perfectly in line with the ethos of the company.

Steve MerciecaSteve Mercieca

The first rentals started dripping in slowly and gradually. Co-founder and CEO Steve Mercieca was the first and sole letting specialist to disseminate the QuickLets business cards but soon the team started growing and a larger space was required. Ibraġ served as the perfect location to house the first QuickLets head office.

As the company started to grow, top performers were offered the opportunity to open their own branches, starting a successful chain of franchise offices around Malta and Gozo. Together with its sister brand, Zanzi Homes, QuickLets today offers the real estate market a team of circa 400 property specialists spread across 30 offices.

What made this franchise model a success goes beyond sales technique. The company has become well known for its innovative, fresh and vibrant approach to carrying out business. QuickLets has introduced concepts such as the Virtual Agent Programme, Revolut payments for staff and the 360 degrees virtual reality tour technology, keeping its team and clients engaged as well as its franchise model relevant.

Mr Mercieca said: “From the start we knew we wanted to create a culture, not just a company like any other. We built what we have today on three pillars: technology, culture and philanthropy. The goal was always to create a place of belonging and joy for our franchisees and team, because ultimately that’s what life is all about.”

Portraying his words were two videos, one showing the achievements of the QLZH Foundation, the non-profit organisation founded by the same group, and another featuring their most ambitious project to date, Saġġar, which aims to plant a million trees over the course of a decade.

“We believe people need a purpose in life to feel fulfilled and content with what they do. This is what QuickLets offers to our team and franchise owners, while giving back to the planet we love,” he added. The event also served as an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the group’s top performers. The awards ceremony recognised over 50 individuals who contributed to the growth of the company, not just from a revenue perspective but also from a culture and values point of view.

“The success of a company means little when it just creates income but nothing more,” said Michael Mercieca, co-founder of QuickLets and Zanzi Homes.

“We offer continuous training and development as well as individualised support to our franchise owners because ultimately their success is our responsibility and, naturally, profits are important, but we make sure that while attracting business our people are also growing as individuals,” he added.

In fact the awards presented included Social Heart, Culture Champion and Grit.

Following the presentation, attendees were invited to enjoy the rest of the evening together, which included a fire-juggling show and a gypsy jazz band which added flair to the already impressive venue. Naturally, the conversations turned into anecdotes from the previous five years, with guests recounting their most cherished memories.

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