Sandy is probably the most committed Disney lover I’ve met, and she turned that passion into a business, where she could spend every day helping others have the experience of a lifetime at her most favorite place on Earth.
Originally working as a conference and events specialist, she made the transition to Disney travel 15 years ago and jumped right in to start her own agency so she could live her dream of making Disney her job.
Today, Sandy runs a successful travel business focused entirely on Disney adventures and experiences. She proudly commits her own time and resources to be the most knowledgeable expert out there on all of the Disney attractions, events and secrets.
Her steadfast commitment to serving and delighting her customers has paid off as she has built a strong list of repeat customers who continue to come to her year over year (often more than once a year!) to help them make the most of their vacation.
In this episode, we will talk about building a business around fandom, how knowing your customer intimately is crucial to your success, how to manage a business during an industry-crushing crisis, and creating personal and business resilience in uncertain times.
I was so delighted to have this conversation with Sandy, and I can’t wait for you to hear it too!
Skip to Topic:
3:09 The benefits of deep immersion in your work
3:30 Making the transition from conference and events to Disney travel
6:00 Creating a unique advantage around your clients
7:32 Building a strong referral base
11:20 Leveraging fan-based communities for creating exposure
13:10Why no-pressure selling actually works better
17:20How high-touch customer service benefits your revenue
21:33Breaking in to a saturated market
22:09Managing a solely commission-based business
25:25Leveraging a partner-driven ecosystem
27:27The importance of selling with integrity
28:12Managing a business crisis during COVID lockdowns
37:40How to ensure your business (and people) are resilient through uncertainty
41:22Planning for the business and planning for yourself together
46:03Establishing yourself as an expert in your field, on your terms
50:12The truth about being a travel business owner vs. what everyone thinks
