Flitch Travel has celebrated the opening of its second high street store, located in the former Barclays Bank in Ongar.
The agency has had a shop on the high street in Great Dunmow for 27 years and has been owned by Rebbeca Kingston for the past eight years.
She said the agency “bounced back superbly” after the pandemic and business has been “booming” so the time was right to add a second shop.
“We treated customers right when they needed it [during Covid] and when the time came, they came back to travel – they were ticking off their bucket lists and recommending us to friends,” she said.
“The team grew quickly in Great Dunmow; we have a fantastic team with great skills so the time was right for expansion… but I needed to find the right property in another high street, like Great Dunmow.”
Eventually she spotted the old Barclays bank in Ongar that had been empty for six years – but was wary because it had leaks, no plumbing and no electricity.
“My partner is in construction and said it could be turned around within weeks,” she said.
“I negotiated on the lease and got it rent-free for a year.
“It was turned around in two months, from a building site to a beautiful shop – we get lots of nice comments.”
As well as a brochure wall and TV screen, there is a Chesterfield sofa for clients and three desks.
“As it was a bank, it has a very secure door so we now have a foreign exchange room and we can offer currency,” she added.
Amelia Earley has moved from the Great Dunmow branch to be the manager at Ongar, 14 miles away, supported by other colleagues moving between the two shops – which are members of Hays Travel Independence Group.
Kingston said it was hard to recruit for the new shop but she has found one new member of staff who will start next month.
“She is a customer who is well travelled – and used to work at the bank, so she has a great local network,” she said.
“I will be able to train her up after she starts in mid-October. It is perfect timing ahead of peaks.”
Kingston said customers were “shoulder-to-shoulder” at the opening party three weeks ago.
Prizes were available to win thanks to Jenny Curran (Seaworld) and Ryan Clayton (Jet2holidays), she added.
“We had a huge turnout from operators too, such as Jet2holidays, Azamara Cruises, If Only and Royal Caribbean – and Hays IG people came down from Sunderland for the day, which was great,” she said.
“I took a booking on the day, at my desk with a glass of Prosecco – a Jet2holiday package – and we made two bookings on the following day.
“Sales are doing well, people are noticing us and popping in – it will be good for peaks.”
Amber Bradshow, Hays IG business development manager for the south region, joined the opening party along with fellow BDM Helen Williamson; Harriet Thompson, head of Hays IG; and Jonathan Woodall-Johnston, Hays Travel chief operating officer.
“We were delighted to attend the opening. It’s fantastic to see our IG members growing their businesses,” Bradshaw said.
“Rebbeca is a valued, longstanding IG member and the opening day was a fantastic celebration of her success so far and a great way for the team to meet the local community who were all invited and came along throughout the day.”
The next project for the team is to refurbish a tuk-tuk which Flitch Travel staff will overbrand and drive between the two shops.
“It originally came from an elephant sanctuary in Thailand – and once carried the king when he was Prince Charles,” she added.
“We will have a speaker so we can play ‘Holiday’ by Madonna as we travel between the shops.”
Main picture, from left: Julia Askam (senior travel agent), Rebbeca Kingston (owner), Amelia Earley (manager of Ongar shop) and Amy Kemp (junior travel agent)
