After being made redundant by Thomas Cook in 2019, Darren Owen immediately put plans in motion to launch Snowdonia Travel in Colwyn Bay. Last week, Owen opened a second branch in Prestatyn, a seaside town which topped a list of best shopping destinations in Wales in April.
Both branches are staffed by former Cook colleagues, who previously worked under Owen during his 28-year career at the fallen travel giant. “I was one of the lucky ones who was made redundant so I decided to use my money to open a new shop," he told TTG.
"We took on some of the ex-Thomas Cook staff. There were three staff who joined me initially, including Mandy Wagstaff who trained me when I joined Thomas Cook nearly 30 years ago.”
Owen noted how “so few places become available on this high street” in Prestatyn. “When one premises does, you have to submit a business plan to the local authority because places are so sought after,” he explained.
“It’s a high street full of little independent shops, which is combined with a retail park.”
Owen said staffing his shops has never been a problem. “We’re so lucky we’ve got experienced staff at Snowdonia Travel,” he said, adding he managed five Cook and Co-op Travel stores in north Wales.
“At Thomas Cook, I never had staff turnover issues in my shops. The staff always ask me when I am going to open another."
Sam Rickett initially joined Snowdonia Travel as a homeworker because there were not enough desks at Snowdonia Travel’s initial Colwyn Bay branch.
However, Rickett is now working behind a desk at the Prestatyn store. “Sam lives near Prestatyn so it made sense to have her in the shop,” Owen explained.
Snowdonia Travel currently employs six staff across both shops, but Owen plans to bring in another apprentice next month. Asked about his future expansion plans, Owen revealed he was naturally “a bit cautious” coming out of the pandemic.
But he added: “I was quite confident we’d bounce back [post-pandemic]. I knew it wasn’t going to go on forever. We will see how this second shop goes.”
Owen confirmed Snowdonia’s Colywn Bay branch has “more than doubled what the Thomas Cook branch was doing there”. “That’s a big increase and a real achievement,” he said. “There are so few travel agencies in north Wales apart from Hays Travel."
