We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Grimes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

The first client that was a complete stranger to me, I met at a craft/Vendor show. She stopped by my booth to ask some questions about a possible Disney vacation for her family. I had a basket for raffle at my table and she entered the drawing and ended up winning. She booked a vacation with me not long after that.

Ashley, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a homeschooling mom to a 4 year old boy and 10 year old girl. When I’m not home with the kids, I’m working at my day job as a Cardiac nurse. I started my career as a nurse in 2011, after I separated from the Air Force. In the Air Force, I worked in Public Health, so nursing was a natural transition for me.

I’ve always loved to travel, and besides the beach, Walt Disney World is my favorite place to be. I’ve taken several trips with my family over the years, and in 2017 we started using the services of a Travel Advisor. Once my kids got a little older, I realized that helping other families plan their Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando vacations was something that I would love to do!

I started researching and found my host agency, Pixie Vacations. I am an Independent Contractor, but as the host, they provide continuing education and the tools I need to provide the best service to my clients. As a Travel Advisor, my job is to be a guide for families and individuals traveling to Disney and Universal. The parks can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been, so I provide tips, tricks, and insider knowledge and act as a liason so my clients can have an enjoyable and stress free vacation.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clientele in my experience has come from referrals and word of mouth. I try to post consistently on social media and talk about my business often so people know what I do, what I offer, and how to reach me.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Most of the communication I have with clients is via email or text, but I make myself available for phone calls if the client prefers. I keep a continuous and open line of communication with my clients from first contact all the way through their vacation and beyond. I want my clients to know I am available to them, and I want to be the one thy reach out to for all of their vacation needs.

Contact Info:

• Website: ashleyspixievacations.squarespace.com
• Instagram: ashleys_pixie_vacations
• Facebook: Ashley’s Pixie Vacations