Camplify UK launch: peer-to-peer RV sharing platform

Australia’s largest caravan hire and RV sharing community Camplify has continued its period of astounding growth by announcing its expansion into the UK!

We have successfully appointed Christopher Laxen, who has head up the UK operations from 3 July 2017. Laxen, who ran the UK’s biggest park network, is looking forward to the new role, saying: “I am very excited to see where we can take Camplify in the next six months. The response from other industry leaders has been really positive, so watch this space.”

Our founder and CEO Justin Hales, believes the UK and European markets are ready for Camplify and will offer another great opportunity for travel. The National Caravan Council(NCC) revealed earlier this year that the UK’s caravan and motorhome industry sits at an estimated 550,000 touring caravans, 330,000 caravan holiday homes, and 205,000 motorhomes. With numbers growing quickly, vans are contributing more than £6bn per annum to the UK economy, with this figure continuing to grow.

Justin says, “With so many people embracing Camplify’s RV sharing community in Australia, this move seemed a natural fit. We’re excited to be expanding into the UK marketplace, with European destinations also looking probable later on.”

Recent industry overhauls have seen UK holiday parks transform into holiday resorts with more on-site facilities such as restaurants, outdoor barbecues, swimming pools, coin-operated laundries, and entertainment lounges with games and playrooms. These features have facilitated longer stays and higher consumer satisfaction and greater repeat customers.

With the average UK caravanning holiday between four nights to two weeks, that leaves 351- 361 days/year that these caravans are not being used – and the potential for UK RV owners to earn a tidy additional income.

In fact, when combined, this opens a potential market of more than one million recreational vehicles available to hire for around 90% of the year. With registrations of new motorhomes also increasing by 20.4% in March 2016 this adds even more potential value to this market.

So, who is going camping in the UK? The NCC reports that 68% of campers are between 30 and 49, with an astonishing 20% of campers being newbies (who have only taken up this way of holidaying in the last five years), showing just how quickly this trend is growing.

It was also reported that in 2014, Great Britain residents spent 56 million holiday ‘bed’ nights in static caravans, tents and motorhomes. With the average trip length in 2014 at 4.2 nights, this has grown to between four nights and two weeks by 2016.

The glamping trend that targeted the 25-34 age bracket has also seen this market grow over the last five years, with these consumers tending to have more disposable income, and therefore able to afford more holidays. Add the US’s recent ‘road-tripping’ or multi-destination trends into the mix and this could mean a similar trend in the UK.

With the relatively new Camplify looking to partner with motoring organisations in the UK and Europe, we’re happy to say that Camplify HQ will stay put in sunny Newcastle.

Australian-based holidaymakers and RV owners can visit www.camplify.com.au and join the thriving Camplify community today. Then who knows, by the time you’re planning your next overseas adventure you may be choosing your van from Camplify’s UK or European market!

Do you own an RV? Interested in learning how Camplify can help you turn your caravan, camper or motorhome into $5000 - $35,000 per year? Learn more about how Camplify works for owners here