Thumbs up for first Ipswich caravan festival
More than 300 RVs sold at Australia's first overnight caravan and camp-out expoCaravanning Queensland has given its first Ipswich, Queensland show the thumbs up, after announcing the inaugural Let's Go Ipswich Caravan and RV Expo at Willowbank Raceway attracted 8600 ticketholders through the gates.
Caravanning Queensland boss Jason Plant said exhibitors were also happy with the turn-out, after reporting that more than 315 recreational vehicles worth in excess of $30 million were sold across the three-day event.
All up, more than 16,000 attended the back-to-back Caravanning Queensland shows in August, which including the Let's Go Sunshine Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo in Nambour the previous weekend.
Dubbed Australia's first overnight caravan expo and outdoor festival, the Ipswich event also attracted around 350 onsite caravanners, who got to enjoy live music, food trucks and entertainment under the stars, including a fireworks display.
"When customers can see people actually living the dream, staying onsite in their own RVs, enjoying the music and having a great time, it makes it so much easier for exhibitors to sell that dream to someone new," Plant said.
MDC's Assistant National Sales Manager, Wayne Chevis, said the event's novel format set a new benchmark for the industry.
"Caravanning Queensland's innovative Van Jam concept was, in my opinion, a great success," he said.
"Not only were we able to sell new caravans, but our existing customers could come and see our new product releases and spend time with our team in the campground alongside the expo,” Chevis said.
"Having Ipswich the following weekend after the Let's Go Sunshine Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo made it extremely easy for exhibitors to go from one show straight into the next, without any need for downtime putting vans back on display in their showrooms."
While Australian Caravan Centre's Dealer Principal, Matthew McKinnon described the new festival-style concept as a fantastic way to market caravans to the public.
"The onsite camping, live music and Saturday night entertainment created a great atmosphere, and most importantly, we had really strong caravan sales across the weekend," he said.
“Congratulations to the Caravanning Queensland team on trying something different and making it work. We’ll definitely be back next year, and in a bigger way.”
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