The Essex-based business has launched the division following the acquisition of fellow Hays Travel Independence Group (IG) member Online Travel Group and its key assets in May. It is now seeking a small number of agents with experience selling cruise and general packages.
“We believe we have identified an area in the market," said Adore’s managing director Ian Gilder. "Everyone says they do cruise, but we are true specialists – we’ve been selling it since 1998. We have special rates because our background is an online cruise retailer.”
He added cruise was around 40% of the agency's turnover, with long-haul and mainstream packages providing the rest. “I'm almost where Dame Irene wants to be – a third cruise, a third long-haul, a third short-haul.”
Gilder said he could promise “better commission rates” as part of the Hays group and had “very, very good” cruise rates as a specialist. “We can pay commission up front for packages,” he added, with some sales offering an 80:20 commission split.
Adore is seeking a small number of homeworkers, and will waive the £295 sign up fee for the first 10 joiners. “We want people who want to earn a little bit more money than they currently earn," Gilder continued.
“We are not a side hustle – just because I’ve changed a plug doesn’t mean I’m an electrician. It works for us because we’re not spending hours with newbies asking questions they should know the answers to.”
Adore has shops in Epping and Horbury, near Wakefield, both managed by Liz Williams, who previously set up a homeworking division for another brand. “One of the key USPs is ourselves, we’ve been doing this a long time and we’re very hands-on,” said Gilder.
Adore is seeking agents with a minimum two years’ experience and with an established client base. Monthly fees are £49 and agents can use their own brand name or Adore’s and will have a personalised page on the agency’s website.
Adore also has plans for a third shop, although Gilder said there was “nothing concrete” to reveal on this and would concentrate on the homeworking launch before pursuing this.
