An agency owner has credited a chance meeting with a friend en-route to a winning night at the Agent Achievement Awards for inspiring her to open a sixth shop.
Seaside Travel owner Nicola Park opened her fifth store in April and said an “amazing” first three months had given her confidence to secure a sixth store in Lanchester, Durham.
Park, who currently employs 30 retail staff and one homeworker, is initially seeking to recruit four people for the new shop – which she intends to open within the next six weeks – with scope for more staff to join once it is up and running.
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“I was on my way down to the AAAs on July 13 when I bumped into an old friend and he suggested Lanchester as a location for a new store,” she said.
“That night we won best small agency in Yorkshire, North Midlands and North East England which was amazing and then the next day I got onto an estate agent and got myself an appointment to see a shop in Lanchester the following week.
“As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted it so I called up and put in an offer which was accepted. It all happened so fast and I’m so excited for it.”
She added: “Covid truly was the most awful time and even now with all of the wildfires and intense heat in Europe there’s a lot changing in travel.
“But I’m just going for it – people will always want a holiday even if they go in June instead of July, we just have to adapt and I’m so excited about the new shop.”
When asked if she intends to open a seventh store, Park said she is “not saying no” and finding the right location is key for expanding further.
“I don’t want to move into a town and potentially threaten an independent business and destroy what they have built – that’s not what I’m about,” she said.
“If we find the right spot then I definitely think expansion is on the cards and I’m thinking maybe somewhere towards Middlesborough might be a nice location.”
She added: “Years ago a psychic told me I would have seven shops – let’s see if they were right.”