Jamie Biesiada
$1 million in sales is a milestone for any travel advisor.
Christy Menzies, owner of Menzies Luxe Retreats in Darien, Conn., reached that milestone in just six months.
How did she do it?
Menzies largely attributes her early and continued success to her personal network, building relationships within the industry and hard work.
"It was a mix of timing, a mix of my background, a mix of my relationships," she said. "I think the one critical thing that I did prior to starting is I took it very seriously -- it wasn't a whim."
Menzies discussed her journey as an advisor on the most recent episode of the "Trade Secrets" podcast. She originally worked in finance, but she entered the travel industry for the first time less than three years ago. She went through Brownell's mentoring program and remains an affiliate of the agency today.
One of the first things Menzies did upon entering the industry was formulate a business plan.
In it, she answered a variety of questions: Why am I doing this? What makes my business different from competitors? Who are my competitors? Who are my potential clients? How do you grow those clients?
Menzies had never written a business plan before. She used several online resources to identify what was most relevant to her, then used the document often as she started her agency.
"Certainly, within that first six months, it was a very relevant thing that I would look back on," she said.
It kept her honest, she said, reminding her of her initial plans.
"That was probably the biggest game-changer for getting me started," Menzies said.
Now, a few years into selling travel, Menzies is looking at annual sales of around $4 million to $5 million for 2023. Her 2024 sales are trending 25-35% higher.
In the Trade Secrets episode, Menzies goes more in depth on her journey in travel and offers advice on explaining the value of travel advisors, finding clients and more. Give it a listen.