Originally from Atlanta, Georgia Brent Beisher arrived in China in 1998 as part of an exchange programme, studying Chinese in Beijing at the Culture & Language University. Thereafter, deciding not to return to the US he found a job as a journalist before moving to Shanghai in 1999 to work as an editor at the ¡°Shanghai Star¡±. Eight years later he is settled in Shanghai with a wife and son and now devotes his time to the development of commercial real estate projects in the city, interior design work and some journalism.
Brent & Leona Beisher
On arrival in the city in 1999 Brent had secured a high profile editorial job with ¡°The Shanghai Star¡±, a weekly newspaper publication. This included a driver and car with official siren. A generous housing allowance also provided the stimulus for a first foray into the alternative property market. Eschewing the normal high rise apartments on offer, he put effort into finding an apartment in one of the many historic buildings in the downtown area, eventually securing a traditional Sikumen house on Yongjia Rd., in the former French Concession area. It was this house which drew the interest and attention of friends and consequently provided the stimulus to enter the real estate business on a full-time basis.
Home Essence was thus founded, changing its name to Space Property in May 2002. Located in a small attic above a friend¡¯s offices at ¡®That¡¯s Shanghai¡¯, the company, now known as Space International (www.space.sh.cn), continues the tradition of providing historic and high quality housing to the local and international community. Setting up the company was made significantly easier by being married to a Shanghainese girl, which enabled them to use a local company structure, not usually available to foreigners. And, in its early incarnation, the company was run and survived by maintaining a very low cost base, aided by bartered advertising, contributions of editorial to various publications and the quality of stock they were able to offer clients
Work in the Foundry
In 2004 Brent returned to the USA with his wife and family, at the same time ceding majority control of Space Property to his business partner. He came back to China in early 2006 and started a new operation ¨C Build Shanghai ¨C which focuses on commercial property developments and interior designing. One of their first projects was the redevelopment of an old warehouse on Shanxi North Rd. ¡°The Foundry¡± located at the end of a residential lane, initial looked uninviting. However, post renovation this has been turned into a stunning office space
and art gallery, now partly let to a marketing company www.tmsw.com with part used for his own offices
.
Overall you would probably describe Brent¡¯s career in China as a laid back approach to business. A desire to create Space Property initially came out of the lack of available choices for his personal home and grew on the back of demand from friends and contacts. On returning from the USA the focus has been different, with an emphasis on moving away from brokering property towards development. A progression which he sees as the logical step in terms of developing one¡¯s career and earnings capacity. However, against this background, it is important to be realistic about the problems associated with smaller scale property development in Shanghai. First amongst these is the difficulty of sourcing projects. For an industry which is relatively de-regulated on paper, Chinese property development and access to it for foreigners, remains strictly governed by the quality of personal relationships within both the government and private sector. As a foreign operator, you have to expect to be one of the last to see a ¡®new development opportunity¡¯.
Life as Art in the Foundry
Problems managing and retaining staff is another recurring issue which comes out of our conversation. Contrary to perceived wisdom, his unstructured approach to hiring and firing is probably something which marks out this unusual career. Family, friends, university notice boards, schools and occasionally a formal advert, have all been used to co-opt workers into various of Brent¡¯s businesses during his time here. A man who hires on gut instinct ¨C he once took on a secretary on the basis she was from Nanjing, before the interview had started. His comment on the benefits of a structured
approach to employees¡¯ career management was simply: ¡®I¡¯ve heard if you can do it, it¡¯s a very good thing¡¯. Ill at ease having to fire employees, his strategy is rather endearing ¡°make them feel uncomfortable, then they leave¡±. It¡¯s not the advice or practice you would find in a multi-national¡¯s employment policy, but it probably serves to reflect rather more of the reality than many admit to
.
Married to the county and fluent in its language, it is not the formal advice and structured approach to business which marks out this career. Rather it is a contrarian, laid back approach which seems to meld into the colour of the city which at the same time, stands out as being somewhat unique.
Belfrey Partners has provided leasing services for Build Shanghai in respect of their development at The Foundry.
If you would like to contact Brent Beisher please do so via
beisher@gmail.com
Author: Jerome H Vaughan
Belfrey Partners
