Gary Gillespie, Managing Director and Kai-Yin, Sales Director of Independent Travel Experts had a fantastic time visiting Rachel from Pebbleshore Travel, Craig at Craig Goodridge Travel, and Gwyndaf of Gwyndaf Williams Travel (or teithiau in Welsh!) at their stores.
The chance to have meaningful conversations with Rachel, Craig, and Gwyndaf about their businesses and future plans, as well as offering advice, was invaluable and inspiring. We’re incredibly proud of their accomplishments and excited to see what they’ll do next.
First Stop – Rachel, Pebbleshore Travel
Rachel owns a charming shop within Scarborough Public Market Hall, surrounded by a variety of vendors and anchored by a popular cafe/bar, and is currently being assisted by Ella, one of her team from the local college. She has expanded her business through networking with other market retailers and the local community. Rachel hosted her first cruise show in May, drawing over 160 attendees and leading to impressive bookings. Currently, Rachel is refining her customer database to collaborate with more suppliers and draw in additional customers. She’s also organising her next cruise show and an upcoming afternoon tea event! Moving forward, she wants to target a larger share of the Royal Caribbean and MSC business in town.
Next Stop – Craig, Craig Goodridge Travel
Craig has made an impressive start in his first year at his city centre shop in The Moor Market, Sheffield. The location’s high footfall has opened up new business opportunities, with coach holidays now a growing part of his sales. He’s successfully filling seats for an overnight Christmas Market Break. Craig, who also specialises in cruises, boosts his community profile by regularly appearing as a travel expert on local radio. As a key trader in the market, he’s on track to meet his sales goals for the year. On top of running his business, Craig is planning his November wedding with his partner Cian, keeping him incredibly busy.
Final Stop – Gwyndaf Williams Travel
Gwyndaf’s shop, located on the main road into Y Felinheli near Bangor, North Wales, is hard to miss. He has clearly dedicated a lot of time to outfitting it to a high standard. The shop also serves as an office where customers enjoy refreshments and a warm welcome in a modern, stylish setting. It features the latest Mac, which Gwyndaf uses to display booking screens and videos on his TV monitor.
Working closely with his wife Carys, who runs a local hair salon, they frequently refer clients to each other, significantly boosting his business growth. His Facebook page is thriving, thanks to a mix of great deals and personal updates. Welsh is Gwyndaf’s first language, and he embraces the area’s rich heritage by communicating mostly in Welsh, strengthening his connection with customers. Looking ahead, Gwyndaf plans to host events later in the year to broaden his network even further.
