Garstang Travel

This long-standing agency has been a fixture on the high street of Garstang near Preston for 32 years and most of the 10-strong team has worked at the store for between 10 and 20 years, boasting an incredible amount of knowledge and expertise between them.

Of working for Garstang, the girls say “it’s like family”, and one adds working here is “the best thing she’s ever done” after years working for a much larger agency group. There can be few agency teams more tight-knit than these girls, who regularly go out together and had such a memorable trip together to Hawkshead in the Lake District two years ago that one of the team called it “one of the best weekends of my life”.

The store recently gained a new lease of life after an extensive make-over, including sleek new desks, a stylish brochure display, a coffee machine for a fresh brew and even a prosecco fridge for clients booking a special occasion trip.

But the refurbishment project was not just about creating a more appealing retail environment for customers: it’s also given a massive lift to the team as well.

“First impressions count, so there’s no doubt our new-look store has helped our business,” says owner Nicole Eaves. “But it also boosted team spirits and their pride in their working environment, plus it means we can offer even higher levels of customer service now.”

The window is a real matter of pride for Garstang Travel, with a proactive approach to seasonal displays and relevant promotions. Awards and certificates they have earned also take pride of place in the window, while senior advisor Ruth Angus often puts her creative and crafts inspirations to work in the window too.

The team invests a huge amount of time into Garstang Wedding World, with this town quite a magnet for brides to be, some who make 100-mile round trips to come here.

Eaves helped galvanise the initiative, which now includes Wedding Week, set to take place again in September. “People make a day of it to come here to sort out all their needs – which includes the honeymoon of course, so we work with a tour operator like If Only as a partner for the day. And we even wear wedding hats,” says Eaves.

Her entrepreneurial spirit has also seen Eaves organise group walking and cycling tours for locals. Working with Inghams, she first got together a local group to Ellmau, Austria last year. “Lakes and mountains holidays are popular round here but I knew there were solo ladies who don’t want to travel on their own, or perhaps have different interests to their husbands. We advertised it in the window and it sold out in two weeks – 40 of us had a great time.”

• garstangtravel.com