Even if operators can be slow to play ball, changing direction has paid off.
It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
I have finished my Christmas shopping and will be decorating my house this weekend.
I need to be organised this year as I have a pre- Christmas holiday to Tenerife. I am going to York with the Swords Travel team for Christmas celebrations.
I am working on a tailor-made itinerary to Hawaii for next year, which I hope will convert soon.
Mark and Stuart Swords are taking a break on a Virgin Voyages cruise around the Caribbean while I look after the Swords Travel shop in Wimbledon. I work from home in Bournemouth.
When I say busy, I mean really busy. I have been booking ski breaks and trips to see the northern lights. I am working on a tailor-made itinerary to Hawaii for next year, which I hope will convert soon.
Don't forget to catch up on disagreements.
I have been moaning over the past two weeks, but I am usually full of joy, fun and laughter. A few of the associates and myself jumped on to the call and started talking about the positive and negative situations we have faced recently.
Correct me if I am wrong, but tour operators are desperate for our business. They have been hard to get hold of recently.
A few of the associates and myself jumped on to the call and started talking about the positive and negative situations we have faced recently.
I don't have time to sit on hold for more than an hour just to get a quote. It can take minutes to put the quote together on a website.
This is not possible for the tailor-made quotes. I now have a list of operators that offer an amazing service.
Audley Travel has incredible destination experts. I didn't know much about Hawaii before I called Audley Travel. I feel like a pro now. They listened to my customers and recommended places to stay and excursions, not just put a quote together. They went above and beyond.
Excited year ahead.
Most of you will know me from my days as a tour operator. Swords Travel will be set up this spring. I knew I needed to make the move, but I was nervous. I'm glad I did because more bookings are coming in.
I am expecting to end the year with more than £300,000 in sales, which is great. Not bad for the first year.
After eight months of trading, building a database from nothing, networking and offering a service that makes customers want to book again, I have already beaten the target I set myself for this year.
I am expecting to sell more than $300,000 by the end of the year. Not bad for the first year.
I have big plans for year two.
Is it home or shop? I have the best of both.
Being a homeworker doesn't mean you have to work from home. I can work from the shop in Wimbledon whenever I want.
If you need to be in for online deliveries, working from home is a great option.
I have to get dressed for work, put on my makeup and pack my lunch while working from the shop. Sometimes I miss having face-to-face contact with customers who walk into the shop. I love the office banter with my colleagues. If you need to be in for online deliveries, working from home is a great option. I probably get too many things to think about. The best of both worlds are the options for the office and home.
