Keith Gooden
Welcome along to another Motorhome Matt podcast. I’m Keith Gooden. Thanks for your downloads, which have now put us in the top 10 for worldwide automotive podcasts. In this episode, it’s the second one with Matt roving around the NEC at the February show.
And in this podcast, he speaks to the suppliers of a great new product which alerts you to damp in the motorhome or caravan, an author who has something to say about how we treat our precious countryside, and also a great tip from a listener on how you can save money when you take your pets abroad. But first, Motorhome Matt bumped into a YouTuber friend.
Videoing your travels with the Roaming Radfords
Matt Sims
As an industry, we’ve seen a huge growth in the number of YouTube channels, vlogs and useful content that’s appearing online. We’re here with the Roaming Radfords. You’ve had a busy one, haven’t you? What you’ve been up to?
Lyndsay Radford
Well, we spent December in in Florida and we’re just getting ready to start our plans for the rest of the year now.
Steve Radford
In the show, we’ve been doing our talks on the Camping and Caravanning Club stand and in the Inspiration Theatre as well.
Matt Sims
And you’ve been on AL-KO’s stand as well. Is that right?
Steve Radford
We’re doing a subscriber meet up on the AL-KO stand.
Matt Sims
A subscriber meetup?
Steve Radford
Yeah, absolutely.
Matt Sims
I’m guessing that scratches your itch.
Steve Radford
Subscribers want to come and meet us. They want to come and say hi. They want to have a selfie. They want to grab a sticker.
Matt Sims
So tell us – I’m intrigued by how this all came about for you guys. So for me, I’ve been in the industry a little while, and I wanted to share the nerdy stuff that’s filling my head. But for you it’s a different story, isn’t it? You’ve been motorhoming, you said, since… when did you say?
Steve Radford
2007.
Lyndsay Radford
15 years. I’d have to do the maths.
Steve Radford
2007, I think.
Lyndsay Radford
We’ve had several motorhomes in that time. We even had a caravan for one of the years. At one point we’d left it on a campsite for the whole summer. Steve went into work. The boys and I just stayed on the campsite and had a lovely time.
Steve Radford
It meant I could buy a Range Rover, which was a good thing.
Matt Sims
So you’ve been motoring and caravanning, but how did the channel come about?
Steve Radford
We were at the subscriber meetup with Darran the Urban Motorhome and the other YouTubers. And it was just a good bunch of guys. So I just felt, you know what, I’d like to join the community there and share our travels because we travel a lot throughout Europe right though the summer. And I thought we were going to come from an angle where maybe people will be interested to watch our travels. And they have been.
Lyndsay Radford
We’d actually met a lot of the original YouTubers at rallies the year before, hadn’t we. So we made friends and developed some relationships. And then when we came here, it was really exciting to feel the energy as we were walking around.
Matt Sims
Well, I have to say, last year at this show, and obviously it hadn’t been on for a couple of years, I was amazed how many branded hoodies there were walking around with all these YouTube names on. That was you to start with!
Steve Radford
Yes, a big part of that. We offer embroidery as well through my business.
Matt Sims
It doesn’t stop!
Steve Radford
Stickers, embroidery, all promotional items, so why not make use for us?
Matt Sims
Absolutely. Can you embroider a Joules or a Ralph Lauren check shirt?
Steve Radford
Of course I can. Absolutely.
Matt Sims
But there’s been a huge boom, hasn’t there, in the number of people that are walking around a show and putting their life through a lens and putting out to the public. I don’t really do that. I communicate information and stuff. It’s different for you. But I’m trying to understand why you want to do that.
Steve Radford
We enjoy sharing our lives, as I say. And, in fact, we also have another brand called Camp Creator. I think there are over 250 members in there and the members there are YouTubers that have got at least 100 subscribers on their channel and they’re all in the van life motorhome travel community. So we have a group on Facebook, and if you’ve got 100 subscribers you can join that group and talk YouTube with other fellow YouTubers.
Matt Sims
But my question is why. You say you enjoy sharing your life, but why?
Steve Radford
I guess I’m a big show off, Matt.
Matt Sims
We got there!
Lyndsay Radford
He is a great big show off.
Matt Sims
You’re a great big show off Teddy Bear really, aren’t you?
Steve Radford
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Matt Sims
What about for you, Lyndsay? Did you have a choice?
Lyndsay Radford
No. I was along for the ride. But we have made a lot of friends within the community, and that’s lovely. And then when we do come to these events, we get to meet subscribers. And actually they tell us the impact our videos have had on them.
So the number of people who’ve bought a Kon-Tikis because we have a Kon-Tiki… that helps the dealers and it helps the people who are buying them as well. So that feels quite nice. Everyone here, when they see us, they want to be nice to us. They’re happy to see us. And we’ve got teenagers, so we’ll get that wherever we can, because they’re not that happy to see us very often.
Matt Sims
I can relate to that. I can relate to it very much. Well, you’re right. It’s a really tight knit community, isn’t it? We found that within the podcast community, it’s brilliant. Everyone wants to help each other. It’s exactly the same in the motorhoming and caravanning industry, both in terms of YouTubers but also the industry.
Generally, all the retailers are the same. We’re all good mates here. We have our friends there on the stand. You saw them. That was the MD and sales director of Maypole. They’re just here for a great chat. And it’s a lovely community, isn’t it?
Steve Radford
Absolutely. We’ve feeling a big part of the community for the last couple of years, and we’ve been around networking with everyone in the industry. And we’ve been made very, very welcome. It’s a good community to be part of.
Lyndsay Radford
See, that’s the difference. You network, I make friendships as well.
Matt Sims
He’s just interested in the fame, though. We know that. That’s what it’s all about. Well, can I say on behalf of our industry, if I dare, it’s great to have you. We really appreciate you both.
Steve Radford
Thank you.
Matt Sims
You raise the profile of a lifestyle that many of us love. I think you’re incredibly brave. I take my hat off to you. And you make us all feel like we know and love you. And I know that’s not true. People come up to you and go, “Hi guys!” And you think, “Who are you?”
Steve Radford
Well, we have had a lot of people saying, “We bought a motorhome because of you.” It’s great. And we have people who still follow us who don’t have a motorhome. We’ve had two people meet us today. They’ve got tents, and they aspire to get a motorhome. So if we can inspire people to come into the industry, then that’s great.
Matt Sims
Well, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me, I really appreciate it.
Steve Radford
Any time.
Matt Sims
We’ll talk stickers and embroidery later.
Steve Radford
Let’s do that! And keep up with the podcast. It’s fantastic.
Matt Sims
Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Innovative damp protection with Bengt, Avara
Matt Sims
Now, I love an innovation and a new product launch at any show. And this show is no exception. However, we’re backstage, as it were, on the Grove Products stand. It’s a wholesale stand, so it’s not open to the general public. But Grove has brought to the UK a brand new product. It’s being launched in the UK today. It’s a product called Avara. I’m here with Bengt.
Bengt Heggertveit
I’m the sales and marketing officer in the company.
Matt Sims
Fantastic. So you’re here from Norway where this product was made. I’m going to take the lid off, and there you go. You can’t eat them.
Bengt Heggertveit
No! They are moisture sensors. They are installed in a motorhome or caravan and they will continuously measure for moisture and the temperature inside the construction. So this is a water ingress detection system that is on on all day, every day. Instead of just checking your moisture and the leakages once a year, they will do it every day.
The whole reason to install this is actually to avoid getting large damage, because we know that caravans and motorhomes leak, and we have to have a way of dealing with it. So this is a way to live with it and reduce the amount of damage.
You can do the repairs in the middle of the business season for the dealer, because it’s a small thing when you discover it early. And of course the value of your caravan and motorhome stays higher, because you don’t get those big damages that you don’t want.
Matt Sims
There is a monthly subscription of £7 per month. Is that right?
Bengt Heggertveit
That’s correct. Then that covers all your teller costs and website access and everything you need.
Matt Sims
And this is completely maintenance free as well.
Bengt Heggertveit
Yes, it’s maintenance free. You’re just connected to the 12 volt with the fuse in in the on the wire. And so the interesting part is that when the dealer gets a motorhome with this installed traded in, he can check and really verify that this motorhome is really dry. And that’s one of those conflicts that happens pretty often because you might think you’re buying a dry motorhome and it turns out it’s wet.
Matt Sims
Does it save the history then as well? Can that be logged into and viewed?
Bengt Heggertveit
Yes, we save the history of this for all time. So when you sell a motorhome with a system like this, you do an owner transfer, and we delete all personal information and we keep the moisture information, right? So it can stay there for the length of the life or the motorhome.
Matt Sims
And a new owner just takes over the subscription.
Bengt Heggertveit
Exactly.
Matt Sims
So the installation costs are going to vary based on the dealer’s hourly rate, but if we budget for two hours of that, £7 a month for the subscription. What does the hardware cost? £680 odd?
Bengt Heggertveit
Approximately £656 at suggested retail price. Yes.
Matt Sims
I think it’s a game changer. I think it is a one way of protecting your motorhome from the evil that is damp.
Bengt Heggertveit
Yes. And the evil damp is going to be there. It has come to stay. And I think instead of fighting it and saying it never happens, learn to live with it and have a good communication with your customers because this will reduce the number of complaints and the big damages. Nobody is earning money on big damages.
Matt Sims
No. And are manufacturers engaging with this yet and fitting them in the factories from new?
Bengt Heggertveit
Not yet. We have had this in the market now for a year and a half in the Nordic countries and they’ve been well accepted. And we wanted to do that before we started approaching the manufacturers. Some of them have seen it. They all said we want to test this. But now they’re coming back and saying it works. Please go ahead.
Matt Sims
Bengt, I think it’s brilliant. I think, as I say, it’s a game changer. Good luck with it.
Bengt Heggertveit
Thank you.
Matt Sims
It’s very welcome here in the UK, where we get a lot of rain.
Bengt Heggertveit
I know! I’m from the west coast of Norway. So that’s the other side of it.
“Wild Camping” and conservation with author and eco-journalist, Sarah Roberts
Matt Sims
So I’m here with the host of the inspiration theatre at the February NEC show 2023, Sarah Roberts. So not all of us here would know who you are. But you are prolific in the world of conservation and wildlife. Tell us a bit about your background. It’s fascinating.
Sarah Roberts
I would say the vast majority of people wouldn’t have a clue I am here. But some of them may have seen my books. I’m for one part a children’s author. This is one hat that I have. So I’ve got a series of three books, three picture books, which are used in schools in the UK and in lots of countries abroad. The first one, Somebody Swallowed Stanley, has appeared on CBeebies by somebody much better looking than me reading it out, Tom Hardy!
Matt Sims
Tom Hardy the actor?
Sarah Roberts
Tom Hardy the American actor, yes. The one from Batman. I know. I did joke about like recording the audio of that and then using it as a voicemail, but I didn’t. He did say my name on television. I did appreciate it.
But yes, so I’ve got a bunch of different children’s books which are all tools to educate on environmental issues. So I work closely with schools. I have another series that’s coming out soon, which is all about the world’s wildest jobs, which is a slightly older age group. And I would like to say adults, too, can probably get few ideas from that. I know I did. I probably spent the whole time writing that book interviewing people and thinking, “Am I actually doing the right job?”
One hat that I wear, I guess, is as an author. And the other side is as an eco-journalist. So I spend my time visiting different areas around the world and covering conservation issues and complex environmental topics. Often, all those grey areas that nobody really wants to talk about I find really attractive.
So yes, I’ve covered everything from recreational catch and release shark fishing and how that can be a useful tool in science, to most recently looking at trophy hunting and rewilding of large areas of land in the face of climate change in Africa. So all different things down here on the stage.
Matt Sims
But you mentioned you’re attracted to grey areas. We have a huge topic in our podcast audience around wild camping, which we refer to as parking up in a campervan in an area of outstanding natural beauty, perhaps, or in a beautiful spot. Now, I happen to know that you live not far from us in the southwest of England and you love going off in your campervan and exploring nature. Tell us a little bit about your thoughts on this big topic that we call, incorrectly I know, wild camping.
Sarah Roberts
It’s a bit like wild swimming, isn’t it? Is it really wild? Are you being chased by a crocodile, or is it just swimming? I have a few secret spots that I treasure very, very dearly and to get away to those places and wake up in a field or on the edge of a cliff and get the surfboard out and go straight for a surf or get the boots on and go straight for a dog walk and a hike is something that’s so, so, so integral to my happiness about being in this country, especially as somebody that’s travelled all over the shop.
In COVID and in the year after when we couldn’t travel, this was the thing that really saved me, being able to actually appreciate what we’ve got on our own doorstep. I totally, totally empathise with people who have any worries about that being banned or changed in certain areas. But then on the plus side, as somebody with a background in conservation and somebody who has literally seen human impact all over the planet, and in this country, I can also understand why places such as Dartmoor and other places would want to limit the amount of people who come and stay there overnight.
What I will say is there are, just like hunting, responsible and irresponsible ways of doing things. And unfortunately, it’s the irresponsible people that tend to ruin it for everyone because nobody wants to see their favourite area get trashed. Nobody wants to see a pile of rubbish or remnants that are left there. But equally, it’s because of people who have such affinity and such love for those areas that they’re going to be protected for the future too.
So I think there’s probably the C word, compromise! There’s probably some middle ground there where everyone can win. But I think that the overall goal should be to protect ecosystems to protect the future of biodiversity in the UK and respect the nature that’s already there.
But then it’s a catch 22, because camping and just being out in nature is such an important tool for connecting children and adults to these areas and to want to protect them in the first place. And one of the biggest problems that I think humanity has right now is a huge disconnect to the natural world.
Matt Sims
Changes in the law and older rules on Dartmoor which have recently occurred – don’t they just create a barrier for people to go and experience the countryside?
Sarah Roberts
Those that want to go to these areas, those that already see the value and have already experienced the value, we’re going to go no matter what. If we have to pay a bit of extra money we’re probably going to do it, because we’re not going to stop visiting our favourite areas. We’re going to moan about it, we’re going to campaign against it, probably, but we’re still going to go.
Those that have never experienced it – this is where the biggest problem comes. I deal with so many schools around the world. But I’m working really hard right now to create events for inner city schools, particularly because that’s where I see the biggest barrier, the biggest disconnect be that the funds to actually get out from inner city areas to these places.
But then also, because it’s never been necessarily a priority for their culture or their family or the people around them, then children just don’t know what they’re missing. So in that respect, yes, it is a barrier, but then when we’re aware it’s going to be a barrier, what we’re going to do about it?
Matt Sims
Yes, exactly. And how do we change that? Yeah. Do we educate LAs? Is it government? Where do we start?
Sarah Roberts
Well, my biggest barrier for what I do has always been funding. I do as much as I physically can. But I do a lot of work where I don’t get paid. And I spend a lot of time working on proposals working on projects and almost feeling like you’re bashing your head against the wall trying to get them over the line. So I think places that have funding that want to be associated with more causes… or also places that have funding that don’t, but really should need to step up to the plate.
I think there are a lot of creative people in the world. And there are a lot of people in the environmental and the science sector particularly that are horrendously underfunded that also bring great value to help solve a lot of these problems. And there need to be more connections made there between the haves and the have nots.
Matt Sims
Yes, absolutely. So where can we find that more about you and follow what you’re up to as a passionate campaigner and one I think we should support? Where can we find you?
Sarah Roberts
You can find my YouTube channel. My Instagram is the same handle. It’s @sarahsrealjob, because for the last 10 years, my mum’s always been asking when I’m going to get one. It’s been Sarah’s real job by name and by nature. And then you can also find more details of my work and clips of some of the things that I’ve been involved in on my website. So that’s www.sarahrobertsofficial.com.
The family behind Fiamma with Co-Director, Charles Pozzi
Matt Sims
I’m here at the NEC in February 2023 on possibly what is the brightest stand of the show. It’s the Fiamma stand, and I’m here with a very important chap. This is the managing director of Fiamma globally. Charles, how are you?
Charles Pozzi
Very well, very well.
Matt Sims
It’s really good to see you.
Charles Pozzi
I’m actually co-managing director with my cousin as well. I just want to say that! Both of us are the same.
Matt Sims
You’re not going to take all the glory.
Charles Pozzi
I can’t!
Matt Sims
Now, Fiamma is a big household name in the UK. And it’s everywhere, isn’t it? Everyone sees the bike racks and the awnings. How long has Fiamma been going?
Charles Pozzi
So Fiamma was founded in 1945 by my grandfather Arnaldo Pozzi. And when he passed in the ’60s, my grandmother took over. And then my father and my uncle came in as well. And we’ve been in the industry, I will say, since the 1980s. We started doing other products, and then in the ’80s we got into the industry.
Matt Sims
Into motorhomes and caravans. And what’s your best selling product, could you say?
Charles Pozzi
The F45, the winch awning.
Matt Sims
Yes, I’m sure. It’s on everything, isn’t it?
Charles Pozzi
Well, we try!
Matt Sims
It’s in your blood. If we cut you in half, it says Fiamma!
Charles Pozzi
I will bleed red, that’s why – it’s the red colour, of course!
Matt Sims
Fantastic. So you’re here at the show, and how’s it been for you?
Charles Pozzi
Oh, very good. Very good. We love the show. It’s I think it’s a very enthusiastic show. There’s also lots of new innovation, I think, especially with the small vans, the conversions. There’s a lot of a exciting stuff happening.
Matt Sims
And there’s some innovation from Fiamma again this year, isn’t there?
Charles Pozzi
A new bike rack for the Ducato for three bikes, or two e-bikes, which is a new one for us.
Matt Sims
Because the e-bikes are more and more popular, aren’t they?
Charles Pozzi
Yes, and they’re also heavy.
Matt Sims
So it needs a different bike rack.
Charles Pozzi
Exactly.
Matt Sims
Charles, it’s great to see you again.
Charles Pozzi
It’s a pleasure.
Matt Sims
Thanks for coming over and joining us here in the UK. It’s lovely to see you. Have a good rest of the show.
Charles Pozzi
Thank you. Thank you. You too.
A tip for taking pets abroad PassPets with show attendees, Helen and Roger
Matt Sims
So I’m here on our stand at the NEC show in February with Helen and Roger who are visiting the show. Now, you guys were telling me how you’ve just been to Europe with your dog. What was your experience?
Helen
It was very good because we were able to find a young couple of vets based in Portsmouth or near Portsmouth who will do all the paperwork for you for half the price of a normal vet.
Matt Sims
Where do you live, though?
Helen
We live in Gloucestershire.
Matt Sims
Right, so not far from us. We’re only in Bristol. So you say you posted your paperwork off to these vets in Portsmouth. Is that right?
Helen
They’re called PassPets. And they’re down in Havant, Portsmouth, and we found them online, which is only about 15 minutes from the ferry. We found them online, we contacted them. They booked us in to see them the day of the ferry. But they asked us to get our vet and send the paperwork of our dog down by email to them.
Roger
We’re talking about past history. There wasn’t any of the actual paperwork to do. They wanted to make sure that they were properly vaccinated for rabies and all that, and that’s exactly the information that our own vet was able to supply to them.
Matt Sims
So your vet supplied them with all the information and then they filled out the animal health certificate there. And then on arrival in Portsmouth, you popped in. You said you were there for 10 minutes.
Helen
Literally 10 minutes because they saw our dog, they checked the chip, I signed the paperwork and that was it. Easy as that.
Matt Sims
Easy as that. And what did that cost?
Helen
It cost £99.
Matt Sims
That’s amazing. And if you’ve got two dogs it’s even less, isn’t it?
Helen
It’s £150 if you’ve got two dogs, whereas the normal vet in our area would charge about £200 per dog.
Matt Sims
And they’re called…?
Helen
PassPets.
Matt Sims
Well, that’s really useful. Thank you so much for stopping by, both of you, and for sharing your experience. We’ll share that with our audience. Brilliant.
Electric campervan sales with Gary Hayes, CampervanCo
Matt Sims
I’m back on the CampervanCo stand with our good friend Gary. We spoke earlier in the week. You were launching this fantastic all electric zero emission campervan here at the show. How has it gone for your Sunday afternoon? What’s new?
Gary Hayes
We’ve had an amazing show. We’ve had fantastic response, really, to the van. Lots of really positive reactions to it. Lots of questions – people are really interested in what it is. Lots of people are nervous about the new technology. This is not the first time I’ve brought a new idea to the campervan market, so we like people asking sometimes stupid questions. That’s fine. So yes, we are absolutely delighted. We’ve sold quite a few, so we’re doing well.
Matt Sims
So Gary, I just want to know – what is the most stupid question you’ve been asked?
Gary Hayes
There’s been plenty, but I think I think the best one is what type of engine is in it.
Matt Sims
And it’s electric!
Gary Hayes
It’s electric, yes! So it’s quite a nice lead into it. It’s electric. Another one is when they say, “Is it automatic?” Electric vehicles don’t have gearboxes.
Matt Sims
But if you’ve never had one, you wouldn’t know that, would you?
Gary Hayes
You wouldn’t know that, so it’s fine. And these things are great. We’re here for people to ask the silly questions.
Matt Sims
Now, many of the dealers have told me that it’s been a challenging show because there are people here concerned about the price in the windscreen. Prices have gone up and up and up. This is a surprisingly competitive price. And you’ll have to check out the interview with Gary to find out how much it is, because I was surprised. But despite that, you’ve made some sales. How many have you sold?
Gary Hayes
So far, we’ve had eight sales.
Matt Sims
That’s fantastic!
Gary Hayes
And we’ve got loads of people coming back, so we’re absolutely delighted.
Matt Sims
That’s brilliant. Gary, congratulations. I’m really genuinely chuffed for you. I’m really looking forward to our test drive. I will speak to you soon.
Gary Hayes
Great. I’m looking forward to it too. And thank you for your support and thanks for your enthusiasm.
Matt Sims
Our pleasure. Good on you.
Show feedback from our team at That Leisure Shop
Matt Sims
This year, we’ve been really proud to bring That Lesiure Shop to the show with Maypole as well selling a range of security devices, battery chargers, motorhome screen covers, and lots and lots of windbreaks. I’m here with Pat, a member of our team. Pat, how’s the show been for you?
Pat Bushell
It’s been really good for me. It’s the first time I’ve been to the show and it’s a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. We’ve had lots of footfall through here and we’ve had lots of interest especially in our canopy so far. This week been a really, really good week for us.
Matt Sims
Normally, you’re cleaning the motorhomes on our hire fleet. You’re the head of our housekeeping team. Are you looking forward to coming home?
Pat Bushell
I am, without a doubt! I can’t wait to get back in the vans.
Matt Sims
Go home for a little lie down.
Pat Bushell
Yes, my feet are killing me.
Matt Sims
Thank you so much for your help this week. You’ve been brilliant. And loads of people have commented about how friendly the team have been. You and Jordan are the friendly faces on the Maypole stand. It’s been great. Thank you.
Boats at the show with Stephen Blake, Excel Marine
Matt Sims
Now, I bumped into someone who is a friend of a friend of mine and a new exhibitor to the show, Excel Marine – Stephen, hello.
Stephen Blake
Good morning.
Matt Sims
Nice to see you. Now, you’re new to this show. It’s the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show and you’ve got a stand full of inflatable boats. What’s going on?
Stephen Blake
Well, what a phenomenal link you can make! I’m a motorhomer myself. So I’ve got a motorhome, and what is amazing about caravans and motorhomes is getting out on the water experience. Our boats, which are inflatable and collapsible, can go into those units quite easily. This is our first time at this show and we’ve been blown away by the amount of people that come and see us to look at boats while going to a caravan show.
Matt Sims
And just tell me again – you’ve actually made some sales this week. More than a few!
Stephen Blake
Yes, we’ve done very well, as we quite often do.
Matt Sims
How many boats have you sold?
Stephen Blake
15.
Matt Sims
That’s incredible. And the best bit of that is they were all spur of the moment purchases, weren’t they?
Stephen Blake
Absolutely. We love inspiring people to have those adventures and those experiences while using their caravans and motorhomes. And that’s what these boats do.
Matt Sims
That’s fantastic. Do you think we’ll see you again?
Stephen Blake
We’ve already booked for next year.
Matt Sims
And can you get a space at the October show?
Stephen Blake
We’re working on that!
Matt Sims
It’s tough. It’s a busy, full show. Well, it’s great to have you with us. And it’s lovely eyecandy, I have to say. Congratulations on such a great show. You’ve done really well.
Stephen Blake
Thank you, Matt. Pleasure.
Wheelchair access at the show with attendee, David
Matt Sims
So I’m here at the show in February with David. Good afternoon.
David
Hello there. Nice to see you.
Matt Sims
And where have you come from, David?
David
I’ve come from south Wales.
Matt Sims
And you’re a visitor to the show and a listener to the podcast. That’s great. Thank you!
David
That’s fine. And we enjoy the banter between you and your partner in crime.
Matt Sims
Young Keith! He’s not here today, unfortunately. I’m holding the reins. So David, you’re here looking for a specific accessory. Tell me more.
David
Yes, we’re looking for a step that is suitable for my wife who is wheelchair user. She’s able to walk a few steps, but it’s getting into the habitation area as well as getting into the cab door. We need step that is suitable to be located and not having to be moved every time we want to open or close the doors. So it’s a matter of the right height and the right width and that it obviously doesn’t slip etc., etc. So those are the things that we’re really looking out for at the moment.
Matt Sims
Okay, well, I can give you a clue and a pointer on where you might find those in a moment. How has the show been for you so far today?
David
Well, the show is large. There is a lot to see. There’s a lot to take in. Obviously we have come not necessarily for the motorhomes or the large items. We’ve come for the accessories, to look around and see what’s available. Again, because of the disability we are a bit frustrated when you have to go from one hall to the other and then down steps or up steps or go all the way around. So those are the little frustrations. But by and large, the show is fine.
Matt Sims
Yes, there are steps, aren’t there, between halls one and two and four and five. There is a ramp outside in the Piazza. But fighting your way back when you encounter the steps to the exit door is a bit annoying, isn’t it?
David
It is, and when you are registered disabled the last thing you want to do is to make your journey even longer than it has to be. And, okay, for those who are pushing to have to push all that way. But we are there it is what it is, so we have to live with that.
Keep in touch with Matt and Keith
Matt Sims
Thank you again to everyone that came to our stand or stopped me in the aisles to say hi. It really is so encouraging to meet you, our listeners. This week we hit well over 70,000 listens and reentered the top 10 for leisure and automotive podcasts. We are now also officially in the top 5% of podcasts globally – simply amazing.
The highlights for me of the show have been the little damp monitor. It’s an absolutely brilliant little product. It’s quite a high price and that might be something that needs to be reviewed as we go through this year, but it’s a really clever little product. The CampervanCo zero emission camper van was certainly a big highlight for me and made me feel very positive about the future of electric, certainly for campervans. And it’s so encouraging to hear that Gary has sold so many at the show. Just brilliant.
We were also given exclusive permission from the organisers and the NEC venue to film the show with a drone, so watch this space for that footage. It is absolutely incredible. A true bird’s eye view of the show. It is brilliant. And of course, meeting you – our listeners! That has simply been the best bit of this show for me.
Keith Gooden
But there was one other highlight. I went to the loo for a wee and standing next to me was a chap at the urinal who turned to me and said, “Wow, my wife’s going to be so impressed.” I said, “Well, why? What have you done?” He replied, “I have just had a wee next to Motorhome Matt.”
If you’d like to see or hear more of these interviews then just go to YouTube and look up Motorhome Matt.
