Travel Designers has made a U-turn on its plans to quit the high street after managing director Nick Harding-McKay (pictured) said customers were tired of booking online.
Harding-McKay had planned to rent an office when the lease on his current shop expires in June.
But now he said: “Customers want the service a traditional agent can provide.”
The agency will move to larger premises in Balham, south London, where Harding-McKay believes there is an opportunity on the high street.
Harding-McKay said the shop, which will be ready in April, will have a champagne bar, ice cream for children and a tuk‑tuk to promote the shop in the local area.
“We’ve noticed that ‘walk-ins’ are going up as people swap away from the internet,” he said. “There are good and bad sites, but if customers have a bad experience they turn away from the internet.
“We want to up our game on the high street and make it really funky and different. There are no bonded, full‑service agents in the area, so it is a good opportunity.”
The new shop, on the site of a former estate agent, has the benefit of free parking – a boon as parking charges in Clapham are an issue.
Harding-McKay said the new shop would cater for families in particular, as well as weddings and honeymoons.
Travel Designers’ Clapham shop will remain open until June while the team of four makes the transition to the new premises.
Harding-McKay said he hoped to take on one or two more staff once the shop is up and running.