Arthur Bartlett, co-founder of Century 21 real estate chain, dies at 76

Century 21 co-founder Arthur Bartlett dies at 76

CORONADO, Calif. — Arthur E. Bartlett, who co-founded the giant Century 21 real estate company by convincing thousands of independent agents to unite under the brand, has died. He was 76.

Bartlett, who had battled Alzheimer’s disease and other illnesses, died on New Year’s Eve at his Coronado home in San Diego County, said his daughter, Stacy Bartlett Renshaw.

Bartlett and Marshall Fisher opened their first Century 21 office in Santa Ana in 1971. They promoted conversion franchising, in which local real estate agents joined the umbrella brand of Century 21. Bartlett believed that would provide them with national marketing clout.

“Correct or not, consumers have confidence in the big, brand name,” Bartlett told the Los Angeles Times in 1982. “Franchising has been the savior of free enterprise in this country. It has given the small businessman a way to survive.”

“He really was one of the true pioneers, visionaries, who recognized early on the power of franchising and branding for growing and expanding a business,” said Matthew R. Shay, president of the International Franchise Association in Washington, D.C. “He recognized there was a built-in market to expand his brand by going after people who were already in the industry.”

Seven years after it was founded, Century 21 was sold to Trans World Corp. for $89 million in cash and stock. It currently is a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Realogy Corp. and has 7,700 franchise offices in dozens of countries.

After selling Century 21, Bartlett started a now-defunct home remodeling franchise business called Mr. Build International.

He also had real estate investments.

In addition to his daughter, Bartlett is survived by his wife, Nancy; stepson, Larry Wells; granddaughter, Bella Collette Renshaw; brother, Ray, and sister, Millie Schneider.

Information from: Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com