NEWS 1
Cook has put 400 agents under consultation as it seeks to shut 50 stores
YOU NEED TO KNOW
at a glance
l Thomas Cook has cut the size of its retail network by about 50% in the past five years.
l Since October 2016, it has shut 101 shops, opened three and rebranded 50 Co-operative Travel shops following the end of the joint venture.
l It is due to rebrand 90 Co-op Travel shops in the next year.
l Its total retail network will fall to 642 by March.
Cook’s 50-shop closure alerts homeworking firms
Amie Keeley
amie.keeley@
travelweekly.co.uk
Homeworking groups and independent agencies are poised to snap up Thomas Cook staff facing redundancy after the travel giant announced plans to close 50 shops.
Almost 400 Cook agents were
put under consultation last week in the company’s latest round of store closures as it continues to review its retail network. The affected stores are either in
close proximity or located where a decline in footfall had impacted profitability, the company said. Where there are two stores in the same town or in close proximity, staff at both shops are under consultation.
Homeworking agencies The
Travel Franchise, Brilliant Travel and Inspire were this week encouraging those affected to transfer their years of experience and expertise from the high street to set up at home. Keith Herman, managing director
of Inspire, which is recruiting for 20 homeworkers to work on its new luxury brand Hidden Retreats, said: “When things like this happen, one door closes and another opens. I’m sure those staff are pretty depressed, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. “There are numerous routes to
homeworking, but what we offer is quite different. We sell to the higher end of the market, but if they have got passion and the will, we will give them everything in terms of support.”
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travelweekly.co.uk 7 December 2017
“Thomas Cook closing 50 stores is a shame, but not a shock”
Paul Harrison, co-founder of
The Travel Franchise, said the era of homeworking “was upon us”. “Thomas Cook closing 50 stores
is a shame but not a shock,” he said. “Customers will always want to
have human interaction, but now they can get this face-to-face, over the phone and via social media with trained homeworkers with exactly the same systems and training that high street agents have always had. “99% of our homeworkers are
new to travel – imagine what people with experience could achieve.” Linda Pyle, director of Barrhead Travel’s homeworking division
l Despite the closures, retail sales have remained broadly flat while web sales in the UK grew by 27% this year.
l In its year-end results, Cook reported increased revenue of £9 billion, but UK profits were down due to increased competition to Spain.
Brilliant Travel, said several agents had joined after being made redundant from other retailers and now ran successful businesses. “We would love to hear from
anyone considering starting their own business,” she added. “The market for independent
travel agents and home-based agents is stronger than ever thanks to their close-knit ties with local communities, in-depth knowledge and passion for providing clients with a truly personal service. “We have welcomed 23 members
in 2017 and are looking to continue our expansion in 2018.” Cook’s 50-shop closure is the
biggest cut since 195 were shut in 2013 and will reduce its portfolio to 642. The closures will take place
between now and March 2018. › Talk Back, page 21
Sorry, we are
CLOSED FOR GOOD
PICTURE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES
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