Travel Counsellors Ireland is celebrating after achieving it best ever July sales in the company’s seven-year history since it started operating here. Figures for the month were 10% up on last year, with each of the company’s Travel Counsellors achieving a significant rise in earnings.
This includes Co Louth-based Travel Counsellor Fidelma Brady, who joined the company nearly five years ago and this month celebrated her best ever month, achieving sales of over €70,000.
“I have worked in the travel industry since I was 17 years old, working in both business and leisure for various agencies, but felt I needed more flexibility and to be able to reap the rewards of my own hard work,” said Fidelma. “The Travel Counsellors proposition was the perfect fit for me – it meant I could run my own business the way I wanted with the back-up and support that allowed me to focus on my customers and their needs. I also love the ethos of the company as it’s the same ethos I have in life – treat people with respect, look after them well and they will be loyal to you.”
Since joining the company Fidelma has been able to grow a thriving travel business from home, with sales figures up in the past 12 months by 12%, and puts this down to the tools and support available to her as well as the flexibility that being a Travel Counsellor offers her.
“My business is growing each year and I have built up a very loyal customer base,” Fidelma added. “A major factor in this growth has been Travel Counsellors’ own in-house dynamic packaging system, Phenix. Having these rates to hand is just fantastic and allows me to make more money for myself, as well as giving my customers a quality product at a better price, but also knowing I have the freedom and independence to decide what best suits my customers, as I still have access to a range of suppliers and operators outside of the system too. The marketing provided by head office is also really effective for my business and again saves me time to focus on my customers.”
Fidelma now does nearly 40% of her business through Phenix, which allows agents to use the company’s own consolidated fares along with great accommodation prices, to tailor-make holidays for their customers. It also gives them the power to control their own margin and significantly increase their earning potential.
Alongside building her business, Fidelma has two children under the age of five so she understands the obstacles many people face when wanting a successful career while juggling family life.
“Juggling family life has certainly been a challenge for me,” she said. “However, head office has always supported me personally and professionally and it’s great to know I always have someone at the end of the phone to talk to and who can offer me support when I need it. I actually went through a few years where head office was my only support network as my husband was studying in college and I had two children 16 months apart, so it reinforced to me why I chose Travel Counsellors to support me in running my business.
“I am thrilled to have achieved my best ever sales month in July and am excited about the future. I am confident my business will grow even further and the tools I have at my disposal will allow me to increase my sales even more.”
During its last financial year, Travel Counsellors achieved global sales of over €415 million, with a forecast turnover of €470 million for 2012. The company is also expecting to recruit more agents in Ireland over the next 12 months, as more of the country’s travel professionals look to increase their earning potential running their own business from home.
