p38-39 Frontline Dec11 8/12/09 12:47 Page 38
knowledge homeworking
ttglive.com
Timetable planning
Time is money
Homeworking doesn’t have to mean working 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to
make ends meet. Debbie Ward speaks to agents who focus their efforts on the most
lucrative times of the day, week or year to their advantage, leaving plenty of time to
enjoy their own breaks without compromising their business
E
veryone looks forward to some time He then typically takes off October, No- yet still maximise booking peaks.
off for Christmas but for home- vember and December and resumes his hard “In summer we’ll work 12 or 14-hour
worker Dan Wylde, the end of the work for the next peak, starting in January, days,” says Louisa. “We know that there’s
year often means a three-month before holidaying in April and May. really good money to be made and you’ve
holiday. “I’m a bit of a rebel, I think. I try new got to get it while you can.”
“I work six to eight months of the year and things,” he says. “I like to look at what peo- The couple have part-time child-care and
take the remainder off to travel and enjoy ple are doing and do something different!” can take turns on the phones. They usually
time with family and friends,” he explains. Dan realises it’s not a system that would take the whole of December and part of
Dan went away 15 times last year, yet he suit everyone. He concentrates on seasonal February off and, unlike Dan, rarely work
brings in a full-time salary. In fact, he’s one bucket-and-spade product and, unlike many weekends.
of Holiday Experts’ highest earners. So homeworkers, does not rely on building re- Louisa believes tailoring your hours to the
what’s his secret? peat business (see case study). He also has no demand is good not only financially but
The Aberystwyth-based agent simply family commitments. psychologically.
works the seasonal peaks and troughs to Having children doesn’t necessarily pre- “I have known people sit there at the
their maximum advantage. He pulls out all clude you from hitting the primetime, how- phone 14 hours a day. They get demotivated
the stops for the lucrative months of June, ever. Rotherham-based Louisa Baughan and because they maybe sit for hours without a
July, August and part of September, often her partner Andrew Cranswick, both home- call. A lot of it is their background: perhaps
working from 10 o’clock in the morning workers for Holiday Elite, have a five-year- they come from the high street where it is
until 10 at night plus weekends. old daughter and 15-month-old twin boys totally different. If you come from a call
38 11.12.2009
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