Janine Loves Travel duo to open stores under other brands

The founder of Janine Loves Travel and her business growth director are both set to open high street shops. 

Janine Marshall, whose homeworking agency joined Protected Trust Services in 2023, is refurbishing a coffee shop in Westbourne, Bournemouth, while Max Kelly is renovating a barber’s premises in Johnstone, near Glasgow.

Marshall’s shop will open under a new luxury brand, Agent Nouveau, while Kelly’s will take his existing brand, Loupr, which offers adventure travel for couples.

Marshall said her shop will be in “beautiful, vintage-style premises”, with sofas rather than desks, and an open-plan kitchen. 

“Peaks are coming, so we signed the lease, hoping to be in before January,” she said. “We both feel it is the next step. I’ve worked from home for a long time, and I’m ready to have a workplace.”

A former chef, she aims to incorporate food and drink in the business and host events with local brands.

Kelly will be joined in his shop by husband Charles, who has an accountancy background.

“There is still demand for people to visit a high street store for a sit-down conversation, particularly when planning something bespoke,” he said.

The area is busy with Glasgow commuters and Kelly hopes to turn the shop into “a destination in itself”.

“It has got to stand out in the marketplace, be something different, and encourage people to go in,” he said. “There’s a plan to expand, possibly with some homeworkers, under the Loupr brand, hot-desking within the shop.”

The shop plans come as Janine Loves Travel reported it is on track for more than £22 million in sales this year and now has 411 homeworkers. In April, it said it had made sales of £12 million in the past 12 months and had 380 home-based agents.

“The business has been growing very organically throughout the year,” said Marshall.

“We have got three agents who have hit £1 million in sales and agents making it a full-time business.

“I am positive. We’ve had really good year; it’s set us up for the next phase of our business.”

The agency also launched a bookable website last week in partnership with Top Dog Travel Systems, enabling homeworkers and clients to book online, especially simple family packages to Mediterranean destinations.

 

Emma Collis, PTS executive director, said the development of JLT since joining the consortium in 2023 has been “exceptional”.

 

“The quality of her training platform, the support offered to her agents and the clarity of her processes have set a strong foundation for that growth,” said Collis.

 

“The PTS model was created not only to ensure full compliance, but to give travel businesses the freedom to remain fully in control of their own direction. Janine is a perfect example of how this approach works in practice.

 

“PTS provides a secure base to grow from while allowing business owners to stay focused on their brand, their people and their vision.

 

“That freedom has enabled Janine to build her team, open new stores and expand her digital offer without being slowed down by practicalities behind the scenes.

 

“The expansion into new stores and the launch of a bookable site reflect the strength of the team behind it.”