It's nearly Christmas, but all I can think about is next year’s summer holiday.
Following much deliberation and cogitation, I think I've decided that I quite fancy holidaying in the UK in 2007.
After all we did have a fantastic summer this year, and what with all the added security at the airports... I just want a reasonably-priced hassle-free break.
I mentioned this to friends who came round for dinner on Saturday, and they suggested something I've always (perhaps wrongly) dismissed as being somewhat naff... caravanning!
£500,000 for a tin on wheels
After a little research I discovered that caravanning accounts for 17% of all holidays taken in Britain.
Not only that, the Caravan Club has a staggering 936,000 members!
Who are all these people?
Some are more well known than others...
Kate Moss, Jensen Button and Jamie Oliver, are all proud owners of caravans.
Bear in mind some of these little beauties can top out at a cool £500,000. And I'll bet my bottom dollar these guys won’t be roughing it in a tin can on wheels!
There's even a website called caravannersreunited.co.uk launched in response to the outdoor pursuit enjoying its biggest resurgence in popularity in over 20 years.
It's already received more than 15,000 hits.
A MASSIVE market worth your attention
It seems to me there's an ever-increasing revival in the caravan experience. More and more people are taking to it each year. Sales are up across the board.
Perfect for those small cap companies capitalising on the trend.
Later that afternoon, I spotted an interesting piece of news...
Discover Leisure - a consolidator of the UK caravan sales sector - reported maiden profits just last week.
And it's not hard to see why...
The UK is officially the largest touring caravan market in Europe, with about 30,000 units sold each year.
Then there's the sale of UK motor homes to be added into the equation too - it's the second fastest growing market in Europe. Sales hit 9000 in the year to May 2006.
And Discover Leisure is extremely well placed to take advantage of these massive markets.
Looking set to expand - watch this space
The UK caravan, motor home and camping equipment sector alone is valued at more than £1.6billion per annum. Not to mention the director’s estimates for the UK outdoor clothing and equipment sector - valued at £1.2billion per year.
As you might expect Discover Leisure is a seasonal business, and most of the profit is generated from April to September.
The Directors state that they are encouraged by the level of caravan and motor home orders in the first two months of the current financial year, particularly the 133 orders at the show at the NEC.
They're focused on continuing to improve sales, stock turn and margins across the group and remain quietly confident that the measures they are taking will result in an improved future performance as they expand both organically and through further acquisitions.
Things seem to be progressing nicely for them, following the acquisition of Leisure World. And as a group they currently have annualised sales of around £30 million, with five outlets in Cheshire, Hampshire, Kent, South Wales and Tyneside.
You never know, you may bump into Helen Mirren or Jarvis Cocker trundling along in their caravans.
Kind regards,
Melissa Carroll
for The Penny Sleuth
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