An independent travel agent will start selling holidays in a fashion boutique next month – a year after being forced to find extra work outside travel to boost her finances.
Strawberry Holidays founder Kate Holroyd plans to open the concession pop-up in Chorley-based Chic Happens on June 17.
She approached her friend and Chic Happens owner Claire Robinson in early May about bringing her Strawberry Holidays business to her boutique.
When the pair announced the move on a Facebook Live broadcast, Holroyd immediately made two bookings – a Malta beach holiday and a cruise-and-stay break with Princess Cruises.
Robinson posted on Chic Happens’ Facebook page which is followed by 9,000 people. She wrote: “Strawberry Holidays can send you anywhere in the world and you’ll look amazing and feel confident doing it in Chic Happens style.
“Just like with our personal and unique approach to fashion, Kate styles your holiday for you.”
Holroyd will sell all holiday types during her 12-week stint at Chic Happens, but will only promote Disney products and cruises.
Asked about the future of the high street, Holroyd said: “I do agree that people are moving away from the high street, but this is a high street hybrid model, plus this boutique has people travelling from Leicester and Nottingham.
“The community that shop has built is incredible. I think the shop is really special. My little pop-up booth fits perfectly with her demographic.”
To improve her finances during the pandemic, Holroyd decided to take up a full-time temporary role with a marketing firm last year.
She will continue to work Monday to Wednesday in the marketing department at an electronics company called Tactus Group alongside the pop-up business which will be by-appointment only.
She added: “The ultimate objective is to speed up my recovery. I have gone into this with my eyes open.”
To cover the cost of hiring the space, Holroyd insists she needs to make one booking a month.
When asked how she came up with the idea of opening a pop-up business, she said: “I was looking for office space because our house is being renovated and I was chatting with my friend who works at a Tui concession store in Next in Preston.
“They do not have that responsibility of locking up and running the shop.”
Holroyd said she nearly cried when she did her first networking event in April this year. “I never imagined that I would get back to networking.
“Two years ago I thought I was done,” she explained.