20% increase in people buying their first caravans
- 10% increase in customers aged 40 and under
- First-time caravan buyers are buying at the high-end of the market spending on average over £30,000
Investment holding company MBH Corporation is reporting that its portfolio company Robinsons Caravans has seen strong growth this year, as the trend for people to holiday in their home country’s as ‘staycation’ – gathers pace.
Caravan trader Robinsons Caravans, which has been operating in the industry for over 54 years, says its sales of new caravans is up around 47% year to date (up to 4th June 2021), when compared to same period in 2020. The corresponding figure for used caravans is around 65%.
Growth is partly being fuelled by a dramatic increase in people buying caravans for the first time. This year, Robinsons Caravans estimates that it has seen a rise of around 20% in customers who are new to the caravan market, and they now account for around 35% of sales. It has also seen a 10% rise in customers who are aged under 40, and this age group now accounts for around 25% of sales.
Callum Laing, CEO of MBH Corporation plc said: “We have 25 companies in our portfolio, and they are all enjoying strong growth this year. Robinsons Caravans is seeing some of the strongest growth, as they take advantage of the growing trend for people to holiday in the UK and not travel abroad. Research (1) we conducted earlier this year revealed nearly one in 10 people (9%) planned to take a caravan holiday in the UK for the first time this year as tourists worry about potential COVID-19 risks.
“That is three times the number who took a UK caravan holiday for the first-time last year and points to a boom year for caravans.”
Jarrod Clay, Managing Director, Robinsons Caravans said: “We are enjoying record growth, and it is very encouraging to see so many people buying caravans for the first time. Our industry’s largest customer group is those people aged 55 and over – they are at a time in their lives where the children have grown up and they have more disposable income available. Whilst this still remains the largest age group, we are seeing a huge increase in people aged under 40 buying their first caravans, and many have entered at the top end of the market spending over £30,000 on their first purchase.”
MBH Corporation has 25 companies in its group. Profitable small businesses join the group in order to benefit from the advantages of being part of a larger PLC. Company owners retain their autonomy and become co-owners of the listed vehicle.
Stock plans incentivise the companies to accelerate their growth trajectory using the resources of the plc including expertise, skill transfer of best- in- class practices, cross-selling to other group companies and where appropriate, zero cost funding for new growth projects.
