Established Independent Travel Agent In Merseyside For Sale

Business description

Well Established Independent Travel Agent with over 70 years trading experience
This very well established independent travel agent has recently celebrated its 70th year in travel and sells everything from a railway ticket to a luxury cruise. It goes without saying that during this time the organisation has developed its level of expertise to such an extent that it can provide the right travel solutions to meet all types of clientele, be it tailor made holidays, cruises, package deals, weekend breaks, business travel or scheduled air travel.

The company ethos has always been to provide its customers with a highly personalised service combined with the very best deals achievable in the travel marketplace. The company achieves this by combining their expert knowledge of worldwide destinations, their negotiating power with the finest of cruise companies and tour operators AND their extensive use of internet based information and research to ensure that the customer gets the perfect holiday to meet their desires.

The company has an outstanding reputation based on reliability, trust, quality of services and quality of product. This reputation is backed up by the fact that the business is fully licensed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the sale of scheduled air tickets and are members of Association of British Travel Agents(ABTA).

The U K holiday market is complex, varied and ever changing. To combat this and to provide customers with the peace of mind they crave the company provides a huge range of package tours and tailor made arrangements from a wider range of suppliers than can be found with the major high street retailers who, because of their very size, have to limit their product availability in the marketplace. Because this business is totally independent it can guarantee therefore a truly unbiased opinion on the holiday of your choice.

The company has a wealth of experience in the business travel sector and has serviced many large corporate clients over considerable periods of time. This success is again down to offering a truly personalised service geared to the individual corporate clients needs. Whether this be for a low cost carrier seat to Belfast or a business class seat to Bogota the company can offer not only very competitive fares but also a service that nowadays is alas something of a rarity.

The business is currently run from two prime locations in the North West. Both locations are excellent, with good frontage and easy access. Up until recently there were three sites but the current owners have decided to amalgamate two of the operations into one so as to reduce overheads and improve profitability still further. These savings will be realised in the next trading year.







Equipment:

All office equipment and computer systems.




Customer Service:

The most important aspect of customer management and satisfaction considered by the business is honesty and value and is responsible for the business retaining many customers and the reputation for which has led to the acquisition of many new customers.

High quality service, with flexibility, honesty, reliability and good value, every request is important and clients always come first. The result is self evident in the agency's sustained levels of repeat business.

Key Strengths:

This business has achieved a recognised and trusted reputation in the industry by always providing its customers with tailor made high quality and competitive travel solutions. Personal service is key and this is demonstrated in the excellent customer retention levels the business achieves.

Property information

Location:

There are two sites from where the business operates. The larger of the two comprises a prime retail site in the town centre with 1200 square feet ground floor retail space with an additional 1200 square feet of office space on the first floor. Annual rent is £25,000 plus rates(approx £10,000 p.a.).

The second site is located on a prominent parade of shops in a village location with adequate parking and good access. The ground floor comprises approx 400 square feet retail space and there is a first floor flat above that provides a rental income. Annual rent is £10,000 and rates are £2000 p.a.

Business Operation

Expansion potential:

The business sector represents an area of major growth in the short/medium term. Whilst the company already has a presence in the market it could greatly increase this through increased marketing activity.

Key Opportunities:

The travel industry is going through a period of change. The new trend for “Dynamic Packaging” or the bolting together of piece parts to build up a unique travel/holiday experience represents an excellent opportunity for proactive and experienced travel agents to increase revenues through better control and bigger profit margins. The company is already providing many of its clients with such tailored solutions and this figure is expected to grow in line with current and future trends.

As you would expect from a company with over 70 years trading history the customer database is vast. This database is ripe for future exploitation as only limited resource has been allocated to its development to date.

Whilst the company has a website it is aware that further development of its internet presence is required to make sure it fully exploits this revenue tool.

Competition / Market:

Because of its excellent reputation and standing in the community the company does not feel the need to advertise on a regular basis. Most of its business comes via word of mouth recommendations and repeat business. It does however undertake a limited amount of advertising in conjunction with various tour operators and cruise companies from time to time.

Reasons for selling:

Personal reasons.

Employees:

Monday to Friday 09.00- 17.30, Saturday 09.00-17.00

Other information

Support & training:

The current owners will assist in the training and handover of the business.