No-show shocks for two well-known caravan brands

Two more established Australian RV brands have hit the wall, as slowing sales and increased imports accelerate a significant transformation of the local RV industry.

Eight-year old Maverick Campers & Caravans is being wound up, while 11-year old Essential Caravans is shutting its Somerton, Victoria factory, as part of a consolidation of the owners' other RV businesses.

Maverick Campers went into liquidation last week, leaving 72 customers in limbo after a dispute flared up over a $500,000 debt with its financier.

In an online video Maverick Campers CEO Matthew Winen said he had "no prior warning" when the financier told him last week that Maverick's entire fleet of 138 Chinese-built 'vans, located at four outlets around Australia and valued at $6.5million, was being repossessed.

Winen said Maverick had a $5million order book, and had taken $480,000 in deposits from customers still waiting for 'vans. However, he said suppliers, staff, landlords and the tax office were not owed any money.

"We had no choice but to go into liquidation" Winen said, referring to the situation of Maverick Campers' parent company, Fetch Business Solutions.

He said Maverick's recent financial difficulties were exacerbated by the acceptance of smaller customer deposits, some as low as $1000, which made it more difficult to pay staff, rent, local fit-out, freight costs and other expenses.

"We took all the burden and risk of trying to run a business on $1000 deposits," Winen said.

"The other retailers in the industry must be nervous because they're all going through financial stress and strain and then they see a financier do this..."

Essential Caravans owner Jamie Johnson said that the Melbourne factory is closing down and it's moving its operations to the Pakenham, Victoria factory where Design RV (another business Johnson owns) is located.

"As part of a broader business restructuring to ensure long-term sustainability and adapt to evolving market conditions, we’ve made the difficult decision to close Essential Caravans’ manufacturing plant in Somerton, Victoria, and transfer its operations to our consolidated facility in Pakenham, Victoria," Johnson said in a statement on the Essential Caravans website.

"Like much of the caravan industry, we are facing challenging market conditions, and consolidating our manufacturing on one site is necessary to safeguard our business, protect skilled Australian manufacturing jobs at Pakenham, and create a sustainable path forward," he continued.

"Essential Caravans will comply with its obligations under the Fair Work Act 2009. A factory closure date will be announced following the formal consultation process with staff and workplace representatives.

"Existing Essential Caravan customer orders, vehicle warranties, spare parts availability, and national dealership service support remain 100% locally backed in Australia and are completely unaffected by this operational transition."

The behind-the-scenes turmoil played out in public, with both the Essential Caravans and Maverick Campers' exhibitor display areas at last week's Melbourne Leisurefest left empty, after the last-minute removal of display 'vans.

It's believed the Essential Caravans' empty stand was due to the arrival of some new imported 'vans that had not been officially approved by Caravan Industry Victoria, the show's organiser.

"Caravan Industry Victoria applies participation, compliance and operational requirements to all exhibitors at its consumer events," the CIV said in a statement.

"Our priority remains the successful delivery of the Melbourne Caravan & Camping Leisurefest and ensuring consumers can engage with participating businesses and products with confidence."

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