Chester-based digital marketing company Out There announces £180k investment

Digital marketing company Perfect Getaways Limited has invested £180k in creating an app and expanding its franchise network.

The Chester-based company’s six-figure project will include more than doubling its franchise count and developing a new app that enables customers to send instant offer notifications, create loyalty schemes and deliver real-time promotions.

Perfect Getaways, which trades as Out There, is predominantly aimed at customers across the retail, lifestyle and leisure sectors.

Out There offers a website, email marketing platform and mobile app to promote firms to both locals and visitors.

The £180k investment includes a loan of £50k from the Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF), provided through the Regional Growth Fund (RGF),

Out There’s co-founder and director, Nicola Palmer, said: “The Perfect Getaways business was set up in 2007 originally as a holiday rental company which we grew from a back bedroom business to one of the UK’s leading villa rental companies with over 7,000 holiday homes advertised.

“We decided to change the main core of the business to develop My Travel Pal – an app which promoted local businesses to tourists. The villa rental side was sold to a competitor and we began trading under the My Travel Pal name which later became Out There.”

The firm currently operates across a UK-wide network of 21 franchises, but Nicola expects that number to reach 45 over the coming 12 months.

She continued: “The app will launch in the New Year. The technology in the app will allow businesses to send out instant notifications to consumers who have downloaded the app.

“It will help bring customers directly through the door by showing offers and promotions that are newly available and don’t run for long periods.”

Discussing the MSIF backing, Nicola added: “MSIF were a great support. As well providing their own funding they also helped get a bank on board to provide additional investment.”

Andy Jones, investment manager at MSIF, commented: “Unlike other alternatives to this type of offering, subscribing businesses remain fully in control of their offers to consumers. There is no forcing down of price or heavy discounts and no payments on profits.

“Out There currently has around 600 clients across the UK and this number continues to grow as new franchises open in other areas.”

He continued: “It’s a fantastic business model and we’re very pleased to be supporting Out There through this period of rapid growth.”

Out There was established by husband and wife team David and Nicola Palmer and today employs a 11 people at its Chester HQ.