Scottish agency moves to bigger shop six months after retail debut

Aberdeenshire agency CK Travel Trade has moved to larger premises six months after opening its first shop as the founders seek to capitalise on growing demand.

Chris Stark-Proctor and Kevin Christie, who originally started the brand as a homeworking agency, will host the grand opening of the Fraserburgh high street store on Saturday, June 20.

The business partners had been operating from nearby Frithside Street since December, but were attracted to premises about “five times bigger” than the old store and located in a more prominent location.

“People are almost breaking their necks trying to look through the windows when they’re driving past,” said Stark-Proctor, noting the new shop is situated on the corner of two streets by a set of traffic lights.

He and Christie took on their first member of staff at the start of April, with their second due to join shortly.

In the past four months, Stark-Proctor said, trading has been twice as strong as the same period last year.

“I just want to grow and grow and grow,” he added.

He expects some of the growth will come through the new store’s introduction of a foreign exchange bureau, which was one of the key reasons for moving to a larger shop.

“I always wanted us to be that one-stop shop,” he said. “The only thing we don’t offer is travel insurance, but nine out of 10 people have got it through their bank.”

A considerable portion of bookings come from recommendations and repeat customers, he said, while the most in-demand holiday type is “bucket and spade”, though growing numbers are seeking long-haul destinations.

The business had “quite a bit of demand” for Fifa World Cup trips, with enquiries continuing to come in as the tournament progresses.

Stark-Proctor said he is open to the possibility of a second shop, adding: “I always want to reach for the stars and I’ve always been a grafter.”

For now, though, the business will focus on growing its existing operation.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day,” Stark-Proctor said. “We’ll build this one [shop] up and see where it takes us.”

CK Travel Trade originally launched as a home-based agency with Explorer Franchise in October 2023, but moved to Hays Travel Independence Group in December.