A typical Howzat Travel tour!
Howzat Travel organise sports travel tours, helping fans get a great value sports trip from a company that really values its relationships with their customers.
Founded by childhood friends Ian and Rob, Howzat Travel’s close-knit team has kept that friendly approach whilst building and developing the company.
It’s not all been smooth sailing, travel always brings up complications from ash-clouds to cancellations, but Howzat Travel have
The cricket tours have been very successful and the team has had some brilliant feedback from their customers, so now the business is creating a new brand for all types of sports tours – All Sports Travel.
Howzat Travel tours always focus on giving people a great time – whatever the results! Get in touch on 0800 840 1110, www.howzattravel.co.uk, www.howzattravel.com for cricket tours or www.allsportstravel.co.uk for other sports.
Steve Eatherington was kind enough to give us a little time to tell us about the business and how it’s getting on.
What does your company do?
Travel and tours for sports supporters and players. We specialise in England cricket supporter tours through our Howzat Travel brand, group tour-led tours, or tailor-made travel arrangements for the independent traveller. 2010 has seen us act as Licensed Travel Operator for both the Vodafone Ashes Series in Australia, and the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
We have also launched our All Sports Travel brand this year, as a channel through which to develop a portfolio of sports travel tours for other sports, utilising the knowledge, experience and relationships we have gained through the cricket business over the last six years.
What makes your business different?
We make cricket and sports travel affordable, we have managed to retain a personal touch to our service despite our numbers growing massively year on year, and we pride ourselves on the magnificent tour spirit and diversity of our tour groups.
Steve's hard at work helping fans get to follow their teams on tour
What inspired you to start this business?
Back in the winter of 2004, friends-since-school (now Howzat Travel Directors) Ian and Rob made their own way to watch England’s test series in South Africa. Both in employment in other non-sporting-related industries, the trip was a simply holiday away, but ended up planting entrepreneurial seeds in the minds of both. Through speaking to lots of like-minded cricket fans, they realised that many customers wanted the security of a travelling with a tour operator but at a reasonable price – something that was not readily available at the time. Upon returning home, they brought on board Martin, Craig and me, and we all set about starting up Howzat Travel to fill this gap in the market.
Have you previously run any other businesses? Could you tell us a little bit about them?
No, this is the first business any of us have run.
How are you funding your business?
So far the business has seen gradual, incremental growth and has been self-funded. We have not had to seek any external investment… yet.
Do you have any staff or partners in your business?
Howzat Travel Ltd is owned by five people, four of whom work full time for the business.
Where do you see your business in 3 years?
The clear market leader in England for cricket travel, with the Howzat Travel brand more widely recognised in cricket travel circles in other countries as well as England, with a number of tours under our belt that are non-England-specific.
We would like to think the All Sports Travel brand is bringing us in lots of business and has an impressive portfolio of great value sport travel on offer.
What characteristics do you have that will help you make your business a success?
We are a (relatively) young, dynamic team with lots ambition and a broad range of skills. We have been able make a name for ourselves in cricket travel circles in a short period of time. We think this has been down to doing things the right way with the right attitude, treating our customers as individuals and maintaining strong relationships with them.
For Howzat Travel, it's all about making sure the customers have a great time - whatever the result!
What are you most keen to learn that will help you grow your business?
Predicting the future! So we know when exchange rates are fluctuating and when we need to forward buy our foreign currency to pay overseas suppliers.
Are there any brands, companies or personalities that you most admire or aspire to?
Richard Branson had to overcome many hurdles to achieve what he has. The Virgin brand is a major player in so many diverse markets around the globe. You can’t argue with that.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your company?
At the moment, we are heavily dependent on the England cricket overseas playing tour calendar. Our biggest current challenge is making this not so much the case.
Is being a business owner how you expected it to be, or have you had any surprises along the way?
Many outcomes can be anticipated with careful planning based on sound judgement and experience. It is a cliché to say ‘expect the unexpected’ but this is very wise advice, especially working in the travel industry which can be hugely affected by so many factors. Cancelled flights, ash clouds, terrorism… you name it, we’ve already experienced its effects in our short history and have successfully overcome them all. We have learnt not only to be dynamic, responsive, flexible and adaptable ourselves, but also to work only with associates who can mirror us with these characteristics.
What is your main goal for your company?
At the moment, we are happy to generate enough business to pay our salaries, plus put a bit back into the development of the business. Once we get through the recession, we can maybe elevate those goals and ambitions to something a little grander.
Do you have any advice for people thinking of starting their own business?
1. Maintain your focus, confidence and dedication and expect to have to overcome hurdles. Nothing will be handed to you on a plate – sometime, you have to work very hard to make even the slightest bit of progress. Stick at it and always stick to your vision.
2. Always listen to the customer and maintain that personal touch – actively seek their constructive feedback, take it on board and look to improve things based on their comments. You can always do something better a second time around and the best way to find out how is from the people who spend their hard-earned money with you.
3. Always look to build, maintain and protect relationships within your industry. You can be much more successful if you work together and support each other.
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