TTG 30 Under 30 alumnus Craig Goodridge launched Craig Goodridge Travel in Sheffield’s Moor Market in the summer of 2023 after Covid forced him to put his retail plans on hold. On 1 October, Goodridge will move from his market concession to a shop on one of the city’s main arteries, Abbeydale Road.
He will continue to run the business via The Travel Network Group’s homeworking outfit Independent Travel Experts as a one-man-band, with the unit not being much bigger than his current premises.
However, with large windows and parking, he is confident the new store will be popular with customers – and will come into its own when he launches his new events programme.
“I was looking for a bit more freedom," said Goodridge, who was a member of the TTG 30 Under 30 class of 2016. "Being in my own shop on the high street means I can be a bit more flexible with how I run the business.
"I’ll be able to hold events and open on Sundays and bank holidays – I can’t do that at the moment as the market is closed then.”
Goodridge said he chose the new location due to its proximity to several local restaurants where he hopes to hold themed events for clients, and revealed the new premises would cost broadly the same in rent and fees as his current space.
But while he is looking forward to the opportunities the new site offers, he admitted he will be sad to leave the market, which proved the perfect place to nurture his business. “They have 50,000 people a week coming through the market so there has been loads of footfall," he said.
“I’ve also really benefitted from repeat custom there, as well as word-of-mouth and recommendations as I was the only person doing travel in the market.
"There have been a few raised eyebrows as I was known as the boy in the market, but I’ve told all my customers and they can’t wait to see the new shop.”
Goodridge explained the shop has typically been at its busiest during the summer months when people are hunting for late bargains while during the winter, most of his enquiries are made online.
Goodridge started the business more than a decade ago as a part-time job while he worked as a flight attendant for Tui.
His original plan to become a full-time agent was scuppered by the pandemic, meaning he could only dedicate himself fully to the business in 2023.
He’s since become a feature on BBC Radio as an expert travel commentator, regularly appearing on BBC Radio Sheffield in his home city.
