'It will bring us to life!': homeworking agency Club Voyages to expand onto high street

Founder Sam Ballard is currently negotiating a lease on premises in Clarendon Park – around a minute’s walk from where he lives in the south of the city. Ballard said his aim is to overhaul the space over the summer, with a view to opening the branch in September.

He told TTG: “The reason I’m going down this road is that I’ve always believed in the power of retail and how having a physical presence on a high street can really leverage a brand. It will really bring us to life.

“I’m from Leicester. Having a shop local to me in a community I understand is really attractive. I’m hoping a Club Voyages shop will elevate this particular high street.

“You want to see interesting things pop up on the streets local to you. Having a high-end travel agency like ours on the street will be a good thing.” 

A recruitment drive is under way for sales staff to work in the shop, with Ballard stressing he is looking for candidates with at least three years’ retail travel experience and who are passionate about creating bespoke itineraries for clients. 

“We’re interested in hearing from people who work in an agency,” he continued. “But rather than stacking the bookings high, we’re more about the customer service offering – our average sale is around £10,000. 

“An important KPI for me is maintaining our margin. I’ll assess people on the margin rather than the volume. It’s about hiring the right people rather than filling desks. I’m looking for people prepared to go that extra mile to create something special for their customers.”

He added: “Anyone who is interested in the new retail venture should get in touch. People can either contact me directly or email enquiries@clubvoyages.uk.”