Teen Entrepreneur Opens CruiseOne Franchise
by Andrew Sheivachman /For 18-year-old Mubeen Walimomim, senior year of high school has been the perfect opportunity to plan his future as a college business major – and launch a travel agency in his spare time.
The ambitious Sugarland, Texas, student opened a CruiseOne franchise with his mother in February, looking to combine his interest in business with a passion for travel gleaned from family vacations.
“I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve been to multiple places all over the Caribbean,” said Walimomim. “I’ve been working ever since I was 15 in the family business, and now I’m trying to run my own business.”
Spotted an opportunity
A self-professed “computer person,” Walimomim said that at first it did not occur to him to enter the travel industry.
“I was planning on buying a business, and ran into CruiseOne on [Entrepreneur Magazine’s] top 500 franchises list,” said Walimomim. “I was surprised to see it, but thought it could be a good opportunity.”
CruiseOne’s training was more challenging than he expected, due to the wide range of topics covered, said Walimomim, who plans to attend the University of Houston in the fall to pursue a degree in business administration.
Learning along the way
He attended sessions with his mother, Razia, beginning in December 2013, and was impressed with how much there was to learn.
His franchise officially opened on Feb. 14.
“It is more difficult than I imagined, and I’m learning as I’m going,” said Walimomim. “But there is ongoing training, so I’m trying my best, and I feel like I’ll get it all down with a little more time.”
His love of the Caribbean destinations he visited on family vacations has led him to research more islands.
Future goals
Walimomim’s first clients have been family and friends, many of whom learned about his business on Facebook.
“I’m trying to focus on cruising, particularly seven nights and above, for groups, whether for a wedding or affinity group,” said Walimomim.
He has set a few goals, to give himself milestones as he grows his new business. For instance, he’s aiming for 100 Facebook likes on his page by June 1.
“I’m not really focused on selling right now, as much as marketing and letting people know I’m out there,” said Walimomim. “Social media is a big piece today.”
Friends are impressed
While becoming a travel agent may be an uncommon choice for millennials, Walimomim said his friends warmed up quickly to his aspirations to succeed as a retail travel professional.
“At first my friends said I was crazy, but after I went to training and showed them my business card, they couldn’t really believe it,” said Walimomim. “I’ve been getting good feedback from them ever since.”
Once they saw the kinds of complex trips he can plan, his friends were quick to ask him to help with their own vacations.
“Prom is coming up, and they’re asking me to get them a beach house,” said Walimomim. He declined, but the point still stands, he said.
“They think I can do anything for them.”