We recently connected with Mindy Sheldon and have shared our conversation below.
Mindy, appreciate you joining us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
So I’ve been working as a travel planner for Tink’s Magical Vacations for over 10 years and the kindest thing that’s happened to me came from the owner of the company and just a few months ago as a matter of fact. I got a call from her out of the blue and she asked me how would I like to go to South Africa on an Adventures of Disney trip to represent our agency and bring my husband with me? Wow! Was my response. While South Africa wasn’t even close to being on my bucket list, I know she knew it was definitely on my husband’s. The only cavaet was that the trip was in 2 months and I had to pay my own airfare. I couldn’t say no, so we went. I have to say that this trip she sent me on was one of the most life changing trips I have ever experienced and I could never thank her enough for picking me to go!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
So by trade, I am a Tax Accountant and have practiced as one for over 30 years. One day a little over 10 years ago, I was active on a cruise board about a European Disney Cruise that I was going to take and had become friends with the owner of my agency. At the time, she was had not yet formed the agency. Spring ahead about 6 months and I get asked if I had ever considered being a travel planner because of my great love for Disney and cruising and the knowledge I had. I had never considered it before and I wasn’t looking to give up the job that put food in my kids mouths, but I decided to try it part time.
Now over 10 years later, I have actually retired from my Tax Accounting job (doing it on a consulting basis) and am doing travel planning full time and loving it. I sell everything Disney from Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani and Adventures by Disney. I also sell Universal Orlando and Hollywood and many of the cruise lines. I think what sets me apart from other planners is that I sell what I’ve experienced. I try to make sure I have first hand experience so I can make sure my clients know what they are getting. I have been on 15 Disney Cruises all over the world. I have been on an Adventures by Disney to South Africa as well as the Rhine River Cruise Adventure. I now live 1/2 an hour from Walt Disney World, so I go there often and I’ve been to Disneyland. I am the Company’s top seller of Disney Cruise Line vacations as well as the official “expert.”
I am proud to say that I can call my clients, not only clients but friends. I try to create a personal connection to each and every one of them and I believe that’s what brings them back to me.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I know this may sound hokey but honesty has helped me build my reputation in the market. I don’t promise what I can’t delivery and I try and set reasonable expectations with all my clientele. I am not one that will tell people what they want to hear if it’s not true and I believe my clients appreciate that.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
For me referrals and leads are my best source of new clients. Referrals are the best because someone has already talked up your services to the new client. I get a lot of leads from my agency because they have over 75K social media followers and I take each and every lead seriously and follow up with them all. Some have become really amazing friends over time.
Contact Info:
- Website: Tinksmagicalvacations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinkswithmindys/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinksmindy