The Merseyside-based company closed all 10 of its shops on Monday (14 July) so colleagues could attend the event held at the agency’s Eastham store in the Wirral.
Perfect Getaways’ co-owner Dave Palmer told TTG 15 travel companies attended the event, which was run on a speed dating basis allowing them to meet the agency’s staff in groups of two and three in 10-minute sessions.
Suppliers taking part included Jet2holidays, easyJet holidays, Sandals, P&O Cruises, Fred Olsen Cruise Line, Ambassador Cruise Line and Liverpool John Lennon airport.
Palmer explained those suppliers in attendance were all advertisers in Perfect Getaways’ annual consumer magazine, Explore, which has also been published this week (week beginning 14 July).
“This is the third year that we’ve produced the magazine, but it’s the first time we’ve held a supplier event for all our staff,” said Palmer. “The idea came from staff feedback – they wanted to have the chance to ask suppliers questions.
“What we wanted was for a wide range of suppliers to get in front of all of our staff. It’s much interactive and a great opportunity for them [suppliers].
"The main thing is that it will really help improve our staff’s knowledge and find out about the offers available. I’m a massive believer our staff will sell what they see, and the suppliers can promote what they want to promote. We also hope it will lead to an increase in business.”
Palmer said a total of 18 suppliers were advertising in its Explore magazine, which is free and distributed through M&S Food, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons stores in the Merseyside area. It is also available at local independent businesses.
The agency is distributing 5,000 printed copies of the magazine, which runs to 84 pages, with a digital version being sent to its database of 19,000 consumers.
"We want the magazine to have as much editorial content as possible so we limit the number of advertisers to 18,” explained Palmer. “The support from suppliers has been amazing – everybody who advertised in the first two has continued to advertise.”
’People want to give high street agents a chance’
As well as meeting suppliers, Perfect Getaways’ agents also took part in an afternoon training session. The initiative with Palmer expecting a “really big lates market” during the rest of July.
"It’s already happening," he said. "We’re selling, but there’s a lot of availability with people not having booked yet. Last year was the first time we’ve seen that very, very late market, but that trend seems to be continuing into this year.
"Peaks in January was a record-breaking month for us – up 17% on the previous year. I think that’s because we’re growing and becoming more established in the Merseyside area. People want to give high street travel agents a chance – and it’s up to us to win that business.”
Perfect Getaways wants to double its number of shops to 20 by 2028. It has tapped Jet2holidays’ Scale Up Your Street initiative to secure the necessary funding to open its next store.
