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Hull shop opening ‘pinch-me moment’ for Beverley Travel co-owner
Beverley Travel Group is to open a sixth store in a sought-after location in Hull city centre as part of a strategic expansion plan.
The travel agency embarked on a three-year plan in January to substantially expand its retail network. Hull will be its second new shop this year, following the opening of Driffield Travel in Driffield in April.
The Hull store, which is due to open in the next fortnight, is located in Paragon Arcade, which dates back to Victorian times and is known for its independent shops and cafes.
More: ‘Emotional’ moments as Beverley Travel Group opens in Driffield
The location is particularly significant to co-owner Kelly Cheesman as it is a stone’s throw from where she grew up and lived until she was 26. Her parents owned a pub round the corner and she later ran a pub nearby, prior to working in the travel industry, while her wedding photographs were also taken outside the arcade.
She described the planned opening as a “pinch-me moment”, adding: “Hull has always been home. I’m really excited. For us, this is the best location and the only location in Hull we would consider for a shop.”
Cheesman and co-owner Karl Douglas secured the store, previously a cake shop and before that a hairdresser’s, before it was even advertised, having heard about it during a “chance conversation with a local business colleague”.
Its unusual layout includes a small area downstairs, where a desk will be fitted, and a main area upstairs for a “travel lounge”. The branch will focus on booked appointments suited to the arcade’s upmarket clientele.
“We’ll run this store slightly differently because it’s ‘upside down’. We’re going to encourage appointments in our upstairs travel lounge,” said Cheesman, who oversees the group’s marketing.
She noted: “It is very close to what we call ‘travel agents’ street’ in Hull but we will not be competing with them; there is a place for all of us. The arcade is upmarket and attracts a different clientele who are young, hip professionals.”
Two part-time employees have already been appointed and a third full-time member of staff is being sought.
As part of the agency’s strategic plan, the business has already appointed an operations manager, Elizabeth Hillary, and its first full‑time marketing executive.
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