There are branches of Althams Travel and Tui in Otley but Parry said she doesn’t intend to steal business from them. “It’s not about getting their customers; I want those customers who don’t book with an agent.”
She plans to open late two evenings a week and also on Sundays to appeal to those who work full-time during the week.
She added that she hopes to “put the fun and excitement back into booking a holiday”.
“People work so hard and save so much to go on holiday; they should come out of the shop absolutely buzzing.”
Parry chose to use her maiden name Arundel for the store as the family name is well-known in the town. Arundel Travel’s Facebook page already has almost 500 Likes, and she’s already had several enquiries from customers who’ve said they’ll wait til she opens to book.
“Otley is crying out for independent businesses and the response from the local community has been fantastic,” she said.
Parry said it was experience gained at Jet2holidays that had given her the confidence to start her own business.
“I wouldn’t have had the confidence when I first left Tui but at Jet2holidays I’ve learnt so much from Steve [Heapy], Alan [Cross] and Craig [Davidson]. I’ve been out of my comfort zone so many times and learnt to look at things in a different way, and to try new things,” she said.
Working at Jet2holidays had also taught her to see marketing as an investment, not a cost, and to appreciate the importance of strong relationships with other suppliers and agents, she added.
Arundel Travel has joined Advantage as an Advantage Managed Services member and Parry said the support she’s had from the consortium, and particularly fellow members in the Yorkshire Focus Group, had been “amazing”.
She will open the store will two full-time, experienced sales staff (who worked with her previously at Tui) but is keen to take on an apprentice within her first year of business.
“That’s how I started, and I’d really like to give someone that same opportunity to do what I’ve done,” she explained.
“My whole family has been so supportive. I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to follow my dream.”
