The Spear Travels Group is actively looking for more shops while also hoping to boost its trade profile following the appointment of Julie Kendrick.
Kendrick joined the 12-branch agency last week in the new role of group commercial and marketing manager from Midcounties Co‑operative Travel, where she was head of commercial and marketing.
Her appointment frees up group operations director Trevor Davis to spend more time looking at growth opportunities.
The miniple, which has an ultimate target of around 20 shops, is focusing on Essex, Oxfordshire and Dorset for expansion.
The group has one branch in each county, while it has five in North Yorkshire and four in the West Midlands. Ten are branded Spear Travels and two are Broads Travel.
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Trevor Davis appointed group ops director of Spear Travels
Davis urged agents to get in touch. He said: “It’s easier running three or four in an area than one. We will continue to keep our ears and eyes peeled for the right opportunities. Independent travel retailers who are retiring or selling up need to tell us.”
In North Yorkshire, Spear recently shut its Leyburn branch and relocated its Northallerton store to premises three times larger.
In Dorset, it has closed its Sturminster Newton shop and relocated the team to a new store in the busier town of Blandford.
Davis added: “No retailer enjoys shutting stores but the economics tell you it’s the right thing to do and already Blandford is performing really well.”
Kendrick’s appointment will raise the miniple’s profile, added Davis. “There is no doubt Julie is highly regarded, very well known and liked.
“The group has been trading for 35 years, but we know that in some instances we are punching beneath our weight.
“If we have better and more proactive relationships with our key partners then that will bring more business.”
Kendrick, appointed following the departure of marketing manager Ben Farbrother in December, said there were opportunities to increase sales in long-haul and luxury, but added: “The priority is to get the marketing strategy tied down.”
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