UK Ferry Tickets

So, you’re strolling down the high street, doing a bit of window shopping, and you decide to pop into your local travel agent – for a bottle of suncream or a new pair of designer jeans.

It doesn’t seem very likely does it?

That’s the latest idea to be doing the rounds and Thomson is rumoured to be considering the move. The operator has got a problem, you see. Actually around 750 of them in the form of high street shops. Many are looking a little empty as more people book over the Internet. Open the door at some and you’ll hear it creak and see the bales of straw blowing down the high street.

The company needs to find something to sell in these outlets. It has just started offering holiday homes for sale, which is one of the more sensible ideas I’ve heard. You can’t buy holiday homes elsewhere on the high street, most people would like a chat about such a big purchase and it’s a natural extension for an outlet which still, sometimes, sells holidays.

Thomson had a flurry of interest when it launched the scheme – over 100 enquiries on the first day – but there isn’t enough business to sustain so many shops. Contrary to the hype, only a tiny fraction of people can afford to buy a holiday home abroad.

So the shops need to be selling something else. But suncream and clothes – surely they’re having a laugh. Yes, suncream is a natural extension of a holiday sale, but why would I go to a travel agent for a bottle when I can buy it cheaper in the supermarket (or order it on the Internet) when I do my weekly shop?

Meanwhile, there are dozens of other, better outlets for selling clothes. For a start, there simply isn’t the space in most travel agents to retail trousers and shirts. Agencies would end up looking like charity shops with just a couple of racks of clothes to choose from.

And can you imagine buying Thomson designer jeans? Sounds all a bit naff, doesn’t it?

I reckon it’s back to the drawing board for those clever people in the Thomson marketing department, but I’ve been wrong before. Perhaps you can help them out.

What do you think travel agencies could sell in the future?

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Saturday, July 7th, 2007