Swift Group beat economic gloom with major increase in tourer sales at NEC Show
Swift Group, Britain’s largest touring caravan, holiday home and motorhome manufacturers, received a major boost by announcing sales of their market leading touring caravans were substantially up on last year at the Industries leading national show at the NEC Birmingham.
The show, which finished on Sunday, saw strong interest in all the company’s products and an overall sales performance of £21 million, marginally ahead of last year’s figures.
Star performers were the new ranges of touring products which provide holiday makers with lighter, better specified and more competitively priced caravans. “Our strategy of providing people with more product for their money while reducing weights to suit a wider range of cars gave people a real reason to change and saw us not only increase sales but also our market share to well over 40%” Nick Page, Swift Group Commercial Director commented.
Top of the sales chart was the new lighter but highly specified Challenger and Eccles SE ranges, closely followed by the outstanding value for money Sprite models designed to be towed by small family cars, but with layouts to suit most families.
On the motorhome front, it was also the more price sensitive models that performed well with the Escape range of coachbuilt models, in their new all white exterior with modern sporty graphics that attracted most buyers.
The company’s market leading range of Autocruise van conversions also sold well highlighting an increasing move by the over 50’s to the smaller and more car like motorhome. With some models now offering improved sleeping and washroom facilities within their compact design they have become a genuine option to the larger coachbuilt models. Overall sales of motorhomes topped £9 million.
Swift also had examples of their trend setting holiday homes on display and with orders from both the public and major site operators this three pronged attack on the market produced the highest level of sales achieved by the company at the show for many years.
“The NEC Show is normally a good indicator as to how the rest of the season will go. Despite the tough climate we proved that with the right overall package of the right product at the right price people can still be persuaded to buy large ticket items like caravans and we are confident that the 2013 season will see sales stabilise and hopefully slightly grow,” Mr Page said.
