The Staffordshire-based travel consultant’s sales took off during her first month, she spoke to Hanisha Sethi
Q. How are you finding your career in a new industry and new job having started last month?
A. It’s overwhelming, I didn’t expect it to take off quite like it has! Being new, I didn’t know what was normal in terms of sales and booking figures. In just over the first week, I made 17 bookings and hit £50,000 in sales. My current sales total to date is £215,000 and I have an average booking value of £4,500. The Not Just Travel team are very supportive, and encouraging. Managers are always pushing me in the right direction. You do have days where it feels quiet, and you wonder if you’re doing anything wrong, but that’s normal.
The Not Just Travel team are very supportive, and encouraging. Managers are always pushing me in the right direction
Q. How has your work background helped?
A. I previously worked in admin and accounts for about 21 years. My husband and I have our own business. I feel that picking up the phone and having confidence is a transferable skill in both industries. I’ve never worked in sales before, it’s never been my thing to try and make a hard sell. I just try to be myself, and I hope that, if I do that, everything continues in the right direction.
I liked how the training was provided [with Not Just Travel] and you have one-to-one management to help guide you throughout the process
Q. What made you join Not Just Travel?
A. I went onto The Travel Franchise website and watched the presentation from co-owner Paul [Harrison]. I instantly felt the organisation was right for me and trusted it from the minute I started watching. I also read other people’s reviews, which gave me encouragement to apply. I liked how the training was provided and you have one-to-one management to help guide you throughout the process. A typical day would be responding to enquiries in the morning and checking messages on social media. In between, I can fit in my other admin work, but I could be working until 10pm at night. This job really feels like a hobby.
I’ve always been really passionate about travelling from a young age because my parents took me on holiday regularly and I visited lots of places
Q. When did your passion for travelling develop?
A. I’ve always been really passionate about travelling from a young age because my parents took me on holiday regularly and I visited lots of places. Every year, as a family, we try to get away about three or four times a year. Within our friendship group, it was always a standing joke that I was always on holiday. My friends and family come to me for general advice, asking opinions on where to travel, so I became the go-to person to ask. During the pandemic, I managed to travel when I could. I was used to form-filling and arranging tests and people coming to me for advice. I ended up offering this as a service to family and friends.
Seeing your sales progress, getting commission and seeing customer satisfaction is all rewarding
Q. What advice would you give to someone looking to become a homeworker?
A. My advice would be to bite the bullet and go for it. Yes, it’s scary, it could have financial implications and could be tricky. The benefit is that you can fit this job around other things (if you want to) and decide what hours and days you work. I’m 40 this year and I decided I wanted to give it a go. Seeing your sales progress, getting commission and seeing customer satisfaction is all rewarding. I love it when customers come to me with an idea and I give them a variety of options. What’s great is sending holiday options they wouldn’t have thought of themselves. I find some customers are worried about filling in forms and vaccine passports, and I’m able to help with all the new requirements.
I moved to London when I was 13 and went to Sylvia Young Theatre School. I was in the same class as Amy Winehouse, Billie Piper and Matt Willis
Q. Do you have any hidden talents that help you in the role?
A. When I was younger I used to go to theatre school. I moved to London when I was 13 and went to Sylvia Young Theatre School. I was in the same class as Amy Winehouse, Billie Piper and Matt Willis. My original plan was to explore the performing arts route as a career. But perhaps this background helped me with confidence in my current role.
Where are your favourite holiday spots?
As a family we love skiing and the thrill and excitement that comes with different resorts. We have just been to Saalbach in Austria and we have a trip planned to Val D’Isere in France next March. It’s one of my favourite European resorts.
There’s a great range of slopes for all abilities and a picture-postcard town with great restaurants and bars.
It’s great that France eased its travel restrictions for Britons [in time for the latter part of the winter]. It has meant a big influx for last-minute ski trips.
Skiing can also be an expensive hobby if you are new to it, and I suggest Bulgaria or Kranjska Gora in Slovenia as a starting point for customers
As agents, we have to check the latest rules when we’re helping our customers. Skiing can also be an expensive hobby if you are new to it, and I suggest Bulgaria or Kranjska Gora in Slovenia as a starting point for customers.
The latter is really for beginners and you can have a great trip at a really good price. I advise my customers to make sure they have adequate travel insurance that covers winter sports. I can help with anything from form-filling to booking tests or travel insurance if needs be.