Tailor Made Travel is on track to grow sales from £1 million four years ago to more than £30 million.
The Travel Network Group member forecasts a £10 million increase in high street turnover for 2019. It made sales worth £20 million last year, up from £12 million in 2017 and £1.2 million in 2016.
Two upcoming openings in central Cardiff and Newport, last year’s acquisition of four-branch Regal Travel and last month’s announcement to buy Cardiff’s Blue Skies Travel takes Tailor Made’s retail network to 18 shops.
Chief executive Simon Morgan said the success was down to repeat custom, social media, networking and word of mouth.
“The key to succeeding on the high street is to not view your properties as only high street stores,” he said. “As footfall drops
it is vital each store grows alternative sources of revenue.”
He added: “In the same way that we all have our favourite hairdresser or waiter, [customers] keep coming back because of the very personal nature of this business. I will bend over backwards to ensure my team morale is always 100%.”
The miniple is undergoing a management reshuffle as it plans further expansion, with store managers given extra commercial responsibilities across the wider business in areas such as cruise, touring, training and finance.
It has hired two new store managers: former Collette business development manager Tony Mahoney, who will lead the Canton branch in Cardiff, and ex-Tui retail manager Tracey Hultberg, who will look after the Newport branch.
Tailor Made Travel aims to have 22 shops in 2019, which would make it the largest agency in Wales. Morgan has plans for openings in Cwmbran, Cardiff and Swansea.
Regal Travel will switch branding to Tailor Made Travel in June.
More: Tailor Made Travel buys Regal Travel
