Wandering Puffin LLC — A well defined niche | Travel Research Online

Image
Image

Wandering Puffin LLC — A well defined niche

My name is Jamison Bachrach and I am the owner of Wandering Puffin LLC. I have been in the travel industry for over 14 years. Before starting my own home based agency, I worked for both an American Express affiliate and AAA, both as an in house travel agent and an independent contractor . At  AAA, it was in their call center doing Triptiks (remember those) and making sure road service was provided to members. I guess one can call that travel. I have also been an elementary and special education teacher, as well as a chef (working stiff, not executive).

Wandering Puffin LLC has been around for a little over 2 years now. The name Wandering Puffin LLC came about as I have a passion for puffins, the little birds with colorful beaks, commonly confused with penguins, the first of which I saw in Alaska over 25 years ago. I have seen them in places such as Iceland, Norway, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Scotland among others. Puffins and penguins are not related but it does seem that they do wander the globe quite a bit and offered the perfect name!

Hence, I have a rather large eclectic collection of puffins from all the places I have traveled. Maybe passion is not the right word, obsession perhaps. The wandering part comes from my passion for exploration. This is how I like to travel, not necessarily on a set path, but to just wander around, and yes, I do get to see all the important sites of a destination, just not necessarily in any particular order. I guess travel has been in my blood since an early age. I have been to over 35 countries and counting, including having lived in France for a year as a teenager. I am conquering Europe in reverse of Attila the Hun, west to east. Having some Hungarian in me, this is most appropriate. I have only a few more countries in Europe to conquer, all in the eastern part of the continent.

I specialize in independent European travel planning, specifically, the countries of central and Eastern Europe, as well as Scandinavia. I have a passion for taking the ideas of my clients, providing my recommendations and creating an amazing adventure for them. For me, the puzzle is the challenge and I live vicariously through each and every adventure I create for my clients. I equate this to finishing the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle, which I have only done once, but always trying. If a situation seems impossible, I will figure out an option that works. If a client wants something to enhance their experience;  as long as it is legal and they are willing to pay for it, I will figure out how to get it done.

My long term goal for Wandering Puffin LLC is to lead small groups over to Europe, specifically the countries of central and Eastern Europe on wine and culinary tours. Although these destinations are becoming better known, they are still a bit exotic for most travelers to Europe with the strange languages and different customs. I know that I can’t compete with the big boys, but I don’t want to. My goal is carve out my own unique niche, the wandering puffin niche.

In expressing my views in the Agent Diaries, I would like to share my experiences, good and bad, with my colleagues, as I believe sharing ideas can be beneficial to those in the industry, especially in these harder economic times. Next time, I would like to discuss having a niche versus being a generalist. Till then, this puffin will just be wandering!

Jamison Bachrach is better known as the Wandering Puffin for the way he likes to travel. Jamison has been in the travel industry for almost 14 years and has been home based for a little more than 2 years and specializes in independent European travel planning, specifically, central and eastern Europe, as well as Scandinavia.

Jamison has traveled to over 35 countries, including most of Europe. Wandering Puffin LLC. Is located in Plymouth, MN. Jamison can be reached by email at jamie@wanderingpuffin.com or by phone at  763-244-0669. www.wanderingpuffin.com.

What do you think? Please leave a comment!

  2 thoughts on “Wandering Puffin LLC — A well defined niche

  1. Nia says:

    Hi Jamison….
    your intro sounds very interesting and I look forward to following your diaries.

    Nia

  2. Nia says:

    Thank you for your response. This diary idea is very much a challenge, but enjoyable, nevertheless.

Share your thoughts on “Wandering Puffin LLC — A well defined niche”

You must be a registered user and be logged in to post a comment.