Husband and wife team Mark and Isobel McCardie are celebrating, having secured over £1 million in holiday sales in just one month.
In July alone, Mark and Isobel helped organised 134 departures for customers. In the last six months, the couple has enjoyed five of their best months of sales on record.
Surprisingly, one factor in their success was the summer’s negative media coverage as airlines cut flights.
Customers want the reassurance of an expert at the end of a phone, to talk them through the booking process, and be on-hand should flight changes or cancellations take place.
“We have had a boom in new customers as a result of the media coverage of the difficulties airlines and airports are experiencing. The value that travel consultants offer during difficult times has never been more evident. We go that extra mile to ensure we get live updates of flight changes so that we can swiftly advise customers what to do and help them navigate what can be a very stressful situation.”
Mark McCardie, Not Just Travel travel agent and franchise owner, who runs Rock My World Travel
The duo also put their consistent success down to pent-up customer demand following two years of Covid and the free VIP concierge service they offer.
Each customer, whether they are a family on a package holiday or a luxury customer on a £50k getaway, receives a free concierge-style service and a dedicated VIP manager who can book restaurants, organise birthday cakes or bottles of Champagne.
As a result, the majority of their customers come from valuable referrals.
Mark, a former marketing director and Isobel McCardie, a former graphic designer, bought a franchise with The Travel Franchise in May 2017.
The Travel Franchise trained them to be agents in just five days, providing them with a ready-made travel consultancy from home to start earning immediately.
Everything was provided including a website, booking system, staff office support and marketing materials.
With franchises starting from just £2,995+VAT, The Travel Franchise is the UK’s fastest-growing travel agency franchise.
As more people want to start their own businesses and side-hustles around other jobs and family lives, The Travel Franchise has seen a four-fold increase in phone calls and enquiries in recent months.
The Travel Franchise enables people to operate their own travel agent business from home without the risk of going it alone, and unlike many of its competitors, franchisees do not need any travel agent experience or qualifications to join.
With calls and enquiries coming in from 6am to 10pm at night, Edinburgh-based Mark and Isobel say it’s vital to carve out some free time as a married couple.
Isobel sea swims throughout the year, while Mark leaves work behind as soon as he walks on the golf course.
“In order to maintain our successful business we often have to sacrifice evenings and some time socialising, but we love what we do. Providing clients with stress-free time away with friends and family in amazing places across the globe is so fulfilling. When our customers send us pictures of them on the slopes with their families or relaxing in an overwater villa in the Maldives, we couldn’t be happier. We love being part of making people’s dreams come true.”
Isobel McCardie, Not Just Travel travel agent and franchise owner, who runs Rock My World Travel
“Mark and Isobel are a true power couple. From day one of running their travel franchise, they were driven and knew what they wanted to achieve in a relatively short time. They have built a multimillion pound travel business and go from strength-to-strength, expanding their knowledge and skill set for further growth.”
Paul Harrison, co-founder of The Travel Franchise and Not Just Travel
Train as a travel agent in just 5 days: Instant business with The Travel Franchise
