Happy campers Caravan centre still thriving in staycation boom
THE run-up to a May bank holiday weekend has always been a busy time for the staff at Kingswood Caravan and Camping Centre.
But Richard Evans has owned the Bristol area’s largest used caravan centre since 1988, so he knows exactly what his customers will be after.
“Toilet fluid and toilet paper for their caravans and gas, that’s what they’ll be stocking up with,” laughs Richard, who actually started working at the shop four years before he bought the business from the owner.
The shop originally opened in 1977, when it was mostly just selling tent equipment during what was a heyday for camping.
“It was basically a camping shop with a tent display to start with, and then I came here in 1984 selling caravans because the tents weren’t doing very well.
“Camping was still very big then, but everybody was selling tents, so it was quite competitive.
“In Bristol, we had places like Casey’s Camping on Stapleton Road but even the Co-op in Fairfax Street sold tents, as did furniture stores like MFI.”
In the yard behind the Kingswood Caravan and Camping Centre shop on High Street, there are around 40 caravans for sale.
These days, the caravans are as well-equipped with modern appliances as most homes, but that wasn’t always the case.
Richard says: “When the shop first opened, people were more tolerant of British weather so if they had horrible, rainy weather when they went camping or caravanning, they put up with it.
“As time went on, people wanted a bit more comfort, so they started to buy basic caravans, which at the time were basically a tent with hard walls – you didn’t get much inside apart from a bed and a cooker!
“And then caravans became a lot more sophisticated and, unfortunately, it has almost become a luxury market now. By the time you have bought a caravan, have your car to tow it and paid for the fuel, it all adds up.”
Although traditionally, caravanners have tended to be people in their mid-50s, perhaps those preparing for retirement, there is a younger customer now.
The rise in people having ‘staycations’ in recent years has seen an unexpected boom in business.
Richard said: “During the pandemic, when people had to stay in this country, a lot of families bought caravans and they are really enjoying them.
“They’ll still go abroad for their holidays when they can, but they enjoy the freedom of a caravan and seeing things in this country they might not have seen if they were staying in hotels.
“They are getting a lot of pleasure from a purchase they might not have otherwise made and they are keeping them for weekend breaks. You can often park somewhere in most towns and you don’t have to go to the seaside in a caravan; people are enjoying weekends in all sorts of places around the UK.”
Richard says staying in a caravan or tent is something that appeals to all ages. It’s also a good bonding exercise for families who might not spend so much time together at home.
“I’ve always been of the opinion that those families who do go caravanning and camping are much closer together because a lot of people don’t spend a lot of time with their children anymore.
“When I used to go camping or caravanning with my family, the children would be with you from morning to night.
“Sometimes, my children might protest at going away and leaving their friends during the summer holidays but they used to make friends on the campsites as they were safe environments.
“Holidaying on a caravan or campsite is a good adventure for children instead of staring at their screens and devices all the time.”
With the average secondhand caravan around £10,000 and new ones between £25,000 and £30,000, it’s a serious investment for people.
Richard also says the biggest problem for a small business like his is the fact he sells very few consumable products, apart from gas.
“They are often built to last, which means people don’t come back to buy spare parts that often,” he added.
“I get people who have had the same caravan for years coming in for a rubber pipe for their caravan cooker. You go out and look at it and then see it’s from 1973 and the actual cooker is still going strong.” Another big change over the years has been the improvements in the sites that caravanners and campers visit.
Long gone are the days of muddy fields, seen in comedy films like Carry on Camping – many are modern and well-equipped for people who might normally holiday in fancy hotels.
“There are some sites with proper hot showers like you’d have at home.
“Some of the toilets are so clean and non-smelly that you could probably take your dining table and have your dinner in them!” But it’s gas that has become the biggest seller at Kingswood Caravan and Camping centre. It’s Bristol’s biggest Calor Gas stockist and Richard is proud of the fact that his shop has only run out of one size once in the past two years.
“Gas sales have increased massively for us. It used to be just a winter business but now because of the gas barbecues and patio heaters, there’s more sold here in the summer than the winter.
“The gas market has expanded but the caravan market has reduced. But then you go to caravan sites now and it’s all electric, so fewer caravanners are relying on gas apart from cooking.
“We’re even seeing people using camping stoves at home, presumably to cut down on their fuel bills.
“We’ve even had one or two customers buying caravans for their children who might not be in a position to buy their own place, so they live in the garden.”
As well as Richard, the shop has other long-serving members of staff.
General manager Kay Ralph started out as a Saturday girl in 1985, and her son, Ben, has worked there for 20 years. The shop’s accounts person has been there for 14 years.
“We used to have 14 employees but we’re now down to five,” says Richard.
“The internet has really affected our business because people come in and get the information about caravans, take a photo on their phone and maybe buy it elsewhere.
“Things were very good when we started and they’re all right now. The heyday may have gone but we’re still here making a profit and with a loyal customer base as well as new ones, so we can’t complain.”
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I’ve always been of the opinion that those families who do go caravanning and camping are much closer together
Kingswood Caravan & Camping Centre, 137-145 High Street, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 4AQ. Tel: 0117 9600205.
Richard Evans