Kuoni is piloting a new partnership scheme to allow smaller independent agents to work more closely with the operator.
Travel Designers was the first agency to sign up. It launches with a Kuoni look-and-feel in its new premises in Balham, south London, this week.
The scheme aims to create closer ties with agencies on lower turnovers, according to head of trade sales Amanda Darrington.
Kuoni has six full partner stores and 33 retailers with a Kuoni point-of-sale wall. It is targeting 50 high street partners of different levels within two to three years.
Darrington said: “Our partner stores need a turnover of £4 million to £5 million as one shop and we target £1 million in turnover for Kuoni in three years.
“But it is hard to find retailers turning over that amount. With our new partners, there is a smaller but still considerable investment and more achievable targets, relevant to the individual business.”
Darrington said five agencies had already expressed an interest in the scheme, adding: “We’d love to work with more this closely.”
Darrington is also looking into a new partnership with miniples where one store is a partner and the remaining branches feature Kuoni walls.
New partner stores receive £10,000 investment for a refit and are listed on Kuoni’s website but are not promoted to its direct clients or featured in brochures.
There is no requirement to rebrand shopfronts or wear Kuoni uniforms – although Travel Designers has opted for both.
Managing director Nick Harding-McKay said: “We were doing really well with our Kuoni wall [in its previous store] but wanted to keep the relationships with other operators and retain our independence while associating ourselves with a good brand to drive customers through the door.”