TOP TIPS GROW REPEAT BUSINESS
EMMA BUCKLE Designer Travel
“I had worked at Going Places and First Choice, but then I became a primary school teacher, so when
I joined Designer Travel in 2020, I had no existing client base. I knew it would be a challenge to get established, but I haven’t looked back. I stopped teaching in 2022 to focus on my business full time, and since then it has grown 200%. About 80% of my business is from recommendations or repeat clients. I’ve learned so much in a short time. Last year, I achieved diamond status, hit £930,000 in sales, got on the top sellers’ trip and won ‘social and business development champion’ for 2023-24. I've worked hard to grow my brand. For example, I collaborated with a local bus company to advertise on the back of four buses. I’ve used videos to promote my business, grown followers on social media and taken on board all the help and training from Designer Travel. I finally feel like a professional business owner running a successful business.”
"Build trust – don’t put all your focus on getting new customers; leave time to make sure you are delivering for your existing customers to encourage repeat bookings. Don’t expect to get rich quick – take it step by step and see what works for you. Communicate what you do well and what you want to be known for."
Julia Cullen personal travel consultant, Hays Travel
to like your page on social media, get recent customers to leave a review and include your business card any time you send out booking documents so clients can pass your details on. Don’t overlook simple interactions either – if you’re just starting to build your network, an impromptu conversation at the school gates or a note in your village newsletter can get the ball rolling. Sam Fisher, head of business
development and training for Inspire, says: “We always advocate our homeworkers use social media – it’s a
16 JULY 2024
great way of communicating with your customers and helping to grow your customer base. Leverage the marketing resources available to you – our marketing team determines travel trends with individual homeworkers and offers raw data to help market the right product to the right client.” Look out, too, for ready-made assets
from suppliers as well as your agency network. While running a small business can mean shouldering everything from sales and marketing to admin and operations, there’s plenty of support at hand, so you can focus on what really makes you stand out from the crowd. Q
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock/LightField Studios
Emma Buckle with her bus advertisements
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