Barrhead pushes further south
Barrhead Travel has confirmed plans to open an ‘experiential’ store in Southampton, investing £2.1 million over five years.
The new store, it’s third in England, will create approximately 12 new jobs in the local area and the travel agency is looking for experienced travel specialists to apply.
Glasgow-based Barrhead currently has a network of over 70 retail outlets across the UK.
There will be separate cruise and long-haul areas in the new Southampton store, but the agency in Above Bar Street will provide all types of holidays.
Barrhead Travel revealed another new store in Fort Kinnaird Retail Park in the Edinburgh area earlier last week, with an investment of £3.5 million over five years.
The travel agent is investing millions of pounds in new store launches across the UK in 2018 covering shop fit outs, staffing, technology, training, IT and support. The most recent opening was in Victoria Square Shopping Centre, Belfast, in December 2017.
Barrhead said the expansion was needed as the number of customers booking holidays in its stores continues to rise.
Chairman Bill Munro added: "We are absolutely thrilled to announce the new store opening in Southampton, the first on England’s south coast. We really look forward to welcoming new customers to our fantastic store.
"Customers book with Barrhead Travel because they want the expertise of our specialists.~ Holidays are an emotional purchase and customers want to feel they are getting the best possible value for money, sound advice from genuine specialists and to know that their holidays are fully financially protected."
In 2015 Barrhead Travel expanded into the England for the first time with a store in Eldon Square, Newcastle, then in Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester.
It currently employs over 1000 people and is recruiting for Southampton and throughout the UK for experienced sales consultants, team leaders and managers.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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