A new phone app designed by a Torquay company is attracting rave reviews just days after its launch.
Farm and Cottage Holidays who offer holiday properties all over the south west, commissioned award winning web and app design company Createanet to come up with a phone app that would give their clients a quick an easy booking solution.
Within days, the app was attracting five star reviews with customers praising its ease of use and speed. Farm and Cottage Holidays’ online director James Garnett said his company invited three companies to pitch for the work.
‘We wanted to deal with local and honest people who deliver exactly what they say on the tin,’ said Mr Garnett. ‘I have to say that we have been blown away by the work that Createanet have done and the speed with which they have delivered and made necessary changes. And we’re absolutely delighted with the result.’
Kevin King, director of Createanet based on Torquay’s harbourside, said the phone app division of the company is very busy working with companies like Farm and Cottage Holidays who have realised that an app is becoming an essential tool in their marketing armoury.
‘The Cottages app is designed to be fast and simple, said Mr King. ‘It opens with a simple search page that then takes clients straight to available properties. It’s a booking solution at your fingertips, wherever you are.’
Mr Garnett said the company decided to go ahead with a phone app to keep ahead of the competition and provide a less formal alternative for their customers. The company began in 1979 as a family run business based in Bideford. From 50 or so properties, it has grown to around 1400 high quality apartments in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset on the books.
‘We see phone apps as a huge growth area and we wanted to be out there and earn our space as early as possible,’ said Mr Garnett. ‘It’s great timing for the phone app because we are expecting a bumper year this year with people opting to stay in Britain. Last week we smashed our own record for the number of bookings taken in a week. And now with the app, people can make a last minute booking while they’re on the move.’