STA Travel’s new “mini-concept store” could act as a template for future stores, the high street retailer said yesterday.
The new pop-up store in Boxpark in Shoreditch, London, has been open for less than two weeks but has already had a big impact.
Speaking to Travel Weekly at the official launch of the store, Laurence Bresh, STA marketing director, said that the new store had received a great reaction from the local community.
“The footfall around here has been amazing and we have been so busy since we opened,” he said. “I think people have been very intrigued by what we are doing here.
“We have the new iPad technology and TV screens in store, alongside some of the aspects from our concept store in Bristol such as the world wall which has pictures and brochures from around the world.
“On the day we opened we had our first sale within hours.
“We initially planned to be here in Boxpark for a minimum of a year, but if this first ten days is anything to go by we will be here for a long time.
“And if the concept of this store works then it is something we would like to base other stores upon in the future.”
Bresh said the mix of customers had been exactly what they expected from the area – young professionals and students in the week and domestic tourists during the weekends.
Grace Baldwin, store manager for the St Pauls branch and the new pop up store, said: “The amount of enquiries has been far beyond what we expected for the first couple of weeks.
“We have been so busy and all of the enquiries have been of an amazing standard, anything from round-the-world trips to smaller tours.”
The opening of the store also coincided with the launch of STA Travel’s new mini-brochure, We Know Because We Go.
The new brochure features 50 top travel tips from STA’s UK staff.
Bresh added: “We whittled down the top 50 tips from hundreds that were submitted from our staff in stores all over the UK as well as offices in London and Manchester.
“The depth of travel knowledge among our staff is truly astonishing.”
STA opens its first shopping centre store later this month in Plymouth.