Century 21 co-founder Art Bartlett dies at 76

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Arthur E. Bartlett, a consummate salesman and co-founder of the real estate behemoth Century 21, died New Year’s Eve at his Coronado home after a long bout with Alzheimer’s disease, his daughter Stacy Bartlett Renshaw said. He was 76.

A firm believer in the power of the large, corporate brand, Bartlett pioneered the concept of conversion franchising, in which he convinced independent real estate agents across the country to don the signature mustard-colored jacket and market themselves as Century 21 salespersons.

The formula worked. Seven years after starting the company with Marshall Fisher, he sold the Irvine-based firm to Trans World Corp. for $89 million in cash and stock. These days Century 21, based in Parsippany, N.J., is a global firm with 7,700 independently owned offices in 67 countries and territories.

After selling Century 21, Bartlett tried the home repair business, founding Mr. Build International, which sold remodeling franchises to contractors.

A full obituary will appear later at www.latimes.com/obits.

--Alejandro Lazo