Local travel firm with a difference
When Motor Neurone Disease (MND) claimed the life of her brother in 2016, it was a stark reminder to Cambuslang woman Lynne Friery and her husband Scott just how short life is.
The loss of Alan at the age of just 41 prompted the couple to follow their dream of doing something they loved.
And there was nothing they were more passionate about than travel.
They launched their business, Not Just Travel – a Christchurch-based franchise which is similar to a travel agency but provides a more personal service.
“People lead busy lives, so we take the time and effort out of finding holidays and do that research for them, using our knowledge and experience to find the perfect holiday,” explained personal travel adviser Lynne.
The couple work from home in Cambuslang, taking enquiries mainly by telephone, online and through social media.
Initially working the business around her 22-year career in local government, Lynne now works on Not Just Travel full-time.
She continued: “What makes us most proud is making other people happy by finding and booking their dream holiday, whether it be a family weekend away to Blackpool or a once-in-alifetime trip across the globe.
“It gives us a buzz to make others happy and allow them the opportunity to make memories.”
Running Not Just Travel has also allowed them to broaden their own horizons.
Lynne added: “We recently visited the island of Mauritius through our business, which was amazing.
“We had never been and it wasn’t on our radar, so we’re grateful for the opportunity to open our eyes to such a stunning island and resorts. This has allowed us to be able to advise others about it.”
The couple say what they’ve learned in their business lives is the need to be proactive, hard working and determined, as well as being organised and forward thinking.
“You can’t be shy and need to tell people what you do to grow that brand awareness and knowledge of what you can do for people,” continued Lynne, who hopes Scott can soon give up his day job to concentrate fully on the business.
“The biggest challenge is building awareness, familiarity and trust, as Not Just Travel is not a well-known brand here.
“However, we’re building this through our customer base using family, friends and work colleagues in addition to attending community events like school fairs to increase awareness.
“Word of mouth is always a great way to improve this. We operate in a great local, supportive community.”
Scott’s top tip for aspiring business owners is: do your research.
He added: “Be open to new ways to find your customers. Don’t be shy, and be confident about your business. Tell everyone!”