Grand plans for Grandcruiser

Earning an income while travelling around Australia is nothing new. But now NSW-based Grandcruiser Caravans has come up with an innovative twist for grey nomads wanting to stretch their travel dollars.

"Grandcruiser is inviting retirees, semi-retired or those people who simply want to purchase a unique lifestyle business to acquire marketing agent licences to promote the Grandcruiser brand and their innovative product, and enjoy holidaying as they do," explained Grandcruiser's business development manager, Tony Huxley.

In order to become a Grandcruiser agent, a 21ft Grandcruiser caravan must be purchased for $99,500 (normally $69,000).

In return for paying the $30,500 "three year, renewable, marketing licence" fee, and taking possession of a brand new caravan displaying Grandcruiser advertising "every few months", agents will receive a weekly income of $700 while on the road (or $350 when the caravan is parked at home).

Agents will also be obliged to 'work' a minimum number of days each year at various RV shows around the country.

As well as travelling with their "mobile billboards", agents will be able to earn additional income (up to $1000) for every 'lead' to a potential buyer that results in the sale of a Grandcruiser van.

Huxley said the idea of a marketing licence is a 'first' for the Australian RV industry.

"As far as we can ascertain it's never been done before in Australia," he said. "We were trying to work out a way to exploit the barbeque-side dialogue that takes place around the country at caravan parks... 
 
"(The agents are) not salespeople... it's simply about being brand advocates or brand champions on the street and in caravan parks.

"They're paid to have the brand constantly out there, no differently to any other brand in the world pays to have mobile billboards travelling around..."

While the program will not be officially launched until later this month, Huxley said seven people have so far expressed interest in being agents. The total number of agents would be capped to help ensure the scheme would be successful.

"Apart from travelling the country in style in a brand new Australian-made and luxurious 21ft Grandcruiser caravan... this approach also raises the prospect of potentially making retirement holidaying tax deductible," he said.

Huxley said the scheme was one of a number of "game changing" marketing initiatives planned by Grandcruiser over the coming two years, including the introduction of some "quirky" limited-edition models.

"We've got some product in development that pays homage to things like Airstream and... that are a fairly radical advancement on the aerodynamic shape of some of the existing models, to just challenge the envelope a bit," he said. 

Described as "funky" and "edgy", the limited release models will be for the purpose of “brand building (rather) than profitability... it's kind of like what Holden did with the Monaro..."

After previously manufacturing its range of vans in China, Grandcruiser has now moved all production to Australia and plans to open a new facility in Newcastle later this year which will allow the company to produce up to 1500 RVs per annum.

For more information visit the Grandcruiser website.