Caravan sales spike post-lockdown
Buyers return to RV dealers as local camping holidays find favourRV dealers around Australia are reporting a post-lockdown sales spike, as more Australians look to buy a caravan and holiday locally rather than travel overseas.
After RV sales ground to a halt in April and May during the height of the pandemic lockdown, caravan dealers have been reporting a sharp increase in buyer activity from around early-June, after camping restrictions were lifted in many states and territories.
Caravanning Queensland CEO Jason Plant told the ABC that some dealerships and manufacturers were currently making "some of the best sales they've had in years".
"If you had asked those same dealers in April what the results were looking like for the financial year, they would have said disastrous, but just the last month to six weeks, sales and inquiry has just been remarkable," Plant said.
The managing director of Sunshine Coast-based Sunseeker Caravans, Chris Michel said he had been forced to employ more staff to cope with the increase in buyers.
"Sales for May and June are over double what we did in May, June last year, or 40 per cent comparing to the last five years," Michel said.
"We're looking at a 30 per cent increase in staff within a couple of weeks, coming out of COVID, that's really positive."
"It's been phenomenal, bordering on overwhelming … the best sales I've seen since working here."
Caravan dealers in Sydney and Melbourne have also reported a sales spike, with Peter Smith from Roadstar Melbourne telling caravancampingsales that weekly sales had increased from less than one a week during April-May, up to six or seven a week in early-June.
According to the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, up to a third of the spike is coming from young families and newcomers, with New Age Caravans' Melbourne dealer recently selling a large bunk caravan to a family that were forced to cancel their expensive overseas trip.
A recent consumer survey conducted by caravancampingsales showed that 67 per cent of people were more likely to consider buying a caravan as a result of the pandemic.
Around two thirds of those surveyed planned to go on an RV holiday within the next two to three months while 29.9 per cent were planning to travel in the next month,
Despite the easing of restrictions in various states, hygiene remains a primary concern with 38.8 per cent respondents suggesting travel flexibility and owning a caravan is more appealing post COVID-19.
Related:
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
