UK Ferry Tickets Travel next to the pick and mix?

Travel next to the pick and mix?

There are literally hundreds of thousands of holiday websites available on the Internet, but would you choose to travel with the pick n’ mix kings?

Woolworths is the latest company to enter the travel arena. It had a particularly poor Christmas and, despite a recent deal to supply Virgin Retail, is looking for new revenue streams.

So travel seems like a great idea. The barriers to entry these days are relatively small because, in theory, anyone can start selling no-frills flights and accommodation over the Internet.

Woolworths has 250,000 visitors to its site each day and hopes they will be tempted to buy travel from them. Incredibly, considering how many travel agencies are shutting, it also plans to sell holidays in some of its 821 stores throughout the UK.

But I predict Woolworths will struggle. Although its brand is synonymous with value-for-money, it is entering a fiercely competitive market where numerous other firms are also offering good deals.

Without wishing to give UK tour operators too much of a plug, if you are used to buying European holidays on the web, why would you switch to a company whose expertise is in selling sweets, CDs, DVDs and the like?

Similarly, you’re unlikely to suddenly start putting in a chocolate order with UKferrytickets if that became available.

I know people like the convenience of one-stop shopping, but they also buy from brands they trust which specialise in certain markets.

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore