Matt Sims
Hi, it’s me, Motorhome Matt, Matt Sims, the motorhome nerd himself! I’m here at the caravan, campervan and motorhome show at the NEC in Birmingham. It’s February 2022 and this is a welcome return of a show, after two years of being absent. It’s a hugely popular show, one of two that run in the calendar of the year. This is the February version which is a bit smaller than the one that takes place in October. The show is completely sold out. You need a ticket to come in which you must have pre purchased before coming today. If you’re thinking of coming to the show, and you don’t have a ticket, don’t come – they won’t let you in! It’s going to be a busy show. Let’s take a look.
Candy Evans, Test Editor at The Camping and Caravanning Club
Matt Sims
Well, we’re here in Hall Four and right at the back of the hall behind the static homes, you’ll find a feature called The Great British Seaside which includes a real sandy beach, a helter skelter and a crabbing pier as well. It’s fun for the whole family and somewhere where you can park the kids for half an hour while you chill out on a picnic bench with an ice cream and a hot drink. There’s even a double decker bus selling fish and chips. Absolutely brilliant. I’m here with Candy Evans, test editor from the Camping and Caravanning club, the magazine and the club itself. Hi, Candy. How are you?
Candy Evans
I’m very well. Thank you.
Matt Sims
It’s great to see you. It’s been a while. It’s been a couple of years since we were at a show together.
Candy Evans
Literally a couple of years, yeah!
Matt Sims
So Candy, what’s your take on the show? It’s a welcome return – what are your first impressions?
Candy Evans
I love it, because there’s obviously a really good buzz – there are so many people here already. We’ve been out here an hour and a half and I’ve already seen at least four brand new things. Normally, we don’t get that much. Snow Peak is here. They are a really beautiful tent manufacturer. They’re from Japan, and we’re talking about quite pricey stuff. Absolutely beautiful. They haven’t been here before. There’s quite a lot of interesting stuff.
Matt Sims
I’m told that 85% of the audience this year have never attended a show like this before. That’s incredible, isn’t it?
Candy Evans
It is. I will be interested to see how many people actually buy things. There is also the problem that already some of the people I’ve spoken to haven’t got anything to sell. It’s a case of coming, having a good look and finding out what you really want and putting your order in because some of the lead times are going to be very long this year.
Matt Sims
Perhaps that will help people make a more considered decision and buy the right thing first, you never know. It’s lovely to see you. Have a great show.
Candy Evans
And you!
Chris Apperley, Managing Director at World of Motorhomes and Caravans
Matt Sims
I’m here with my very good friend Chris Apperley of World of Motorhomes and Caravans fame. Hello, Chris.
Chris Apperley
Hello!
Matt Sims
What a show! We’re back!
Chris Apperley
I’m going to say Happy New Year for last year and Happy Christmas and everything else. But we’re here. It’s great to be back.
Matt Sims
Isn’t it just? First impressions of the show, Chris – what’s great about it for you this year?
Chris Apperley
It’s lively, full of people and there’s a positive atmosphere. There are a few traders missing, but there’s lots of innovations.
Matt Sims
I have to say that I’ve never seen a show with so many new products that have been launched at the show, and some innovations as well, particularly in the campervan market. That’s really grown, hasn’t it?
Chris Apperley
It certainly has. There are hundreds of manufacturers of campervans, not just VW. There’s the Fords and others on there as well. I’ve also seen a lot of four by four type innovations, cross country type vans from Mercedes and VW and so on, which is nice to see.
Matt Sims
What’s really encouraging is the amount of footfall. I’m told 85% of the people here who have bought tickets to come have never been to a motorhome or caravan show before. That’s just incredible, isn’t it?
Chris Apperley
That is incredible. There’s been a lot of newbies in the market for the last couple of years. This is the first opportunity they’ve had to actually see a show like this. Well, a lot of people haven’t realised it’s been all ticketed. I must say, on our website, we’ve had inquiries and emails constantly over the last week or two about how to get tickets. I’m afraid there isn’t any way – it’s pre booked. If you haven’t got a ticket, you haven’t got a ticket, I’m sorry to say.
Matt Sims
You did say to me, ‘please don’t message me through the website asking for tickets! I haven’t got any.’
Chris Apperley
I’m afraid my email inbox is full of requests for tickets, saying ‘please help.’ Sorry, I can’t do it this time.
Matt Sims
It’s completely sold out, isn’t it? It’s just amazing. It’s encouraging. Hopefully there’ll be an October show, which is always much bigger than this one. It will be interesting to see what appears that one, won’t it? Will you be at that show?
Chris Apperley
Yes, we will. We’ve actually been at the shows now for 18 years. The October one has always been the bigger of the two, but this is pretty big, so October looks quite exciting.
Matt Sims
If people are planning to come later in the week – we’re planning to get this podcast out tomorrow, which will be Wednesday, so day two of the show – what should they do in terms of gearing up for what to look at and preparing to come to the show? Is there any key advice you could give them, given your million years of experience of coming to the show?
Chris Apperley
If they have a motorhome ordered and booked, it’s probably worth spending a lot of time looking at the accessories which are generally around the edges of all the halls, because there’s lots and lots of gadgets and gizmos that you can get. If you already have a motorhome or have already got it on order, you can be wasting your time looking at the same thing, but look at the accessories or come along to World of Motorhomes and have a look at what we have got here!
Matt Sims
This show is big. Doing it all in a day is a tall order, isn’t it?
Chris Apperley
It certainly is. I myself have been here since the first thing this morning and have only covered two halls so far. Two days would be worth it, but three days would be even better.
Matt Sims
And you’re quite nimble on your feet still!
Chris Apperley
Thank you! If you’re coming initially to look for motorhomes, one thing to note is that everything on the stands here is brand new. Delivery dates are generally going to be a long way out, probably next year in most cases. If you get the idea of the layout and the sort of style and the size you want, then it’s worth looking for that on the second hand market.
This gives you a chance to look at different layouts and styles, what suits your needs, your family, your circumstances. Don’t really come here expecting to get a delivery before Easter, because that’s not going to happen.
Matt Sims
On this point, Chris, I’ve had a number of off mic conversations with dealers who, quite frankly, would rather not be here, and would rather be at their own showroom where they have got more stock than is on display here at the show. They’re here out of a sense of commitment to the brands they represent, and a commitment to the show and to some degree to the audience.
What’s your take on that? If you want to order a new motorhome, we know you’ll need to wait for it. Why is that, do you think?
Chris Apperley
Really the expansion in the market over the last couple of COVID years has been absolutely incredible. I can’t think of the numbers off the top of my head, but it’s enormous.
We have a far, far bigger market, and that has combined with supply problems which are easing a bit now. There’s high demand and short supply which is causing a short term, not crisis, but difficulty. I think by next year everything will have settled down. Perhaps this is the year to look at a new order for next year and buy a secondhand one in the meantime to get used to the whole lifestyle.
Matt Sims
That’s great advice, because here as you say there’s only new ones, but there are shows all year round all over the country where people can see second hand motorhomes. They can find out more about that on your website.
Chris Apperley
Certainly, yes. On the headline of our website, you’ll see a red box that says Shows and Events. Click on there and you’ll get a full show goer’s guide right up until the middle of 2023.
There are shows all around the country from Scotland down to Devon, where there’ll be a selection of local dealers with new and used but mainly used. They’ll have all the accessories again and maybe some of the accessories you’ve seen here. You can go and buy locally from somebody that’s in your region.
Matt Sims
Just remind us of the website where people can see all of that info Chris.
Chris Apperley
It’s www.worldofmotorhomes.com or www.worldofcampervans.com or www.worldofcaravans.com
Matt Sims
Chris has got it all going on! Thank you so much, Chris, for having a chat with us. It’s been great to see you. Have a lovely show, and we’ll see you later in the week.
Chris Apperley
Thank you very much!
Martin Dorey, writer, presenter and campaigner
Matt Sims
So here we are with Martin Dorey, campervan owner, writer and environmentalist. That’s a long business card, Martin. How are you?
Martin Dorey
Yeah, I’m alright. Thanks very much. Nice to see you!
Matt Sims
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. So we’re back at a show. What’s it been like for you? It’s the first day for all of us – how have you found it?
Martin Dorey
This is my third day, actually, because I’ve been here for setup. I’m one of the judges for the Caravan and Motorhome Club Motorhome Design Awards, so I’ve been here since Sunday, looking through the vans that are in the competition and doing the judging.
By the time it opens, I kind of feel like I’ve been here for a week. It’s amazing today. It’s so busy. There are so many people. There’s a lot of really great vans this year. It’s been really nice to come back because the last time I was here was two years ago, in 2020. Obviously everything shut down after that.
It’s really nice to see old friends, spend some time with people, be in a room with them and see some good stuff!
Matt Sims
I hear book sales for you are going exceptionally well! We certainly see them flying off the shelves in our shop. You’ve got some new books coming out – tell us what’s happening. What’s in Martin Dorey’s world these days?
Martin Dorey
Book sales have been great. I think over the last two years people haven’t been able to go abroad and they haven’t been able to travel and, as we know, motorhome travel has just gone ballistic, hasn’t it? The market has been buoyant, for want of a better word.
People have been wanting to go on adventures with their vans and go up to Scotland. The book about Scotland has done really, really well. The book about England and Wales has done really well as well because people are wanting to stay closer to home. People seem to really love it, so that’s wonderful!
As for what’s going on in my world at the moment – I’m just about to start writing Take the Slow Road Spain and Portugal, which I’ve been waiting to do since I think August 2020 I was supposed to start it. Once I finished France, I was supposed to go straight to Spain. Obviously things being what they were, we couldn’t travel, we couldn’t go anywhere.
Like the way that TV personalities have been walking Cornwall’s Coast path during lockdowns, I wrote a book about getting off the beaten track in England and Wales. It was kind of a follow on to Take the Slow Road, but I was trying to get to places that weren’t so busy. I live in Cornwall, as you know, and it was really rammed. All the campsites were busy – the whole place was busy. I think a lot of Britain’s hotspots were quite oversubscribed.
I went and tried to find places that were quiet and tried to see things from a different point of view. I went to the least popular side of the lakes. I went into West Wales, and avoided places like Snowden and Windermere and I just had a really great year! So that’s coming out next year.
Matt Sims
And what’s it called?
Martin Dorey
Off the Beaten Track. It’s carrying on from the Take the Slow Road series, but it’s just a little bit different.
Matt Sims
While you were away, we did a whole podcast episode on wild camping and some of the misconceptions about what that means and what it is. Were you on campsites?
Martin Dorey
We wild camped in Dartmoor, but that was in a tent, because we left the van in Barnstable. We got the train down to Plymouth and then cycled back, which was just brilliant. It’s an off road cycle route, so we were only on roads for about two miles out of it. Then we camped on an area of Dartmoor where you can actually wild camp and you have permission.
We wild camped occasionally in places where it’s tolerated, but in England and Wales, it’s actually not legal to wild camp. We would stay a lot on campsites. I don’t want to recommend somewhere that people can’t stay at. There’s no point in me saying, ‘go into the field round the back of Sainsbury’s and park up there,’ because it’s not legal and I can’t recommend it. It’s pointless. I want to recommend places and campsites that are really good for people.
I stayed on a lot of Caravan Club sites, a lot of camping and caravan sites and a lot of indie sites. I tried to find a really great place to stay, and they’re often really great places to stay!
Matt Sims
Are these places all in the book? I assume they are.
Martin Dorey
Yes, everywhere I stayed goes in the book, unless I thought it was terrible, in which case I wouldn’t put it in the book, but generally they’re great.
Dave Wharmby, Chairman at Adria Owners Club
Matt Sims
I’m here with Dave from the Adria Owners Club. We’re here on the Adria stand. Dave, it’s great to see you.
Dave Wharmby
It’s nice to be back here, and nice to see you Matt.
Matt Sims
It’s been too long, hasn’t it?
Dave Wharmby
Very long, yes.
Matt Sims
Part of your role on the stand, as you were just telling me then, is that you’re COVID caring for all the products on the stand every two hours. What do you have to do?
Dave Wharmby
Yes, we decided that every two hours, we’ll close the vehicle down and clean all the touch points so we start afresh. We do a five minute hygiene routine, cleaning all the handles, work surfaces and tidying up, and then it’s open again for business.
Matt Sims
That’s brilliant. You’re doing that voluntarily as the Adria Owners Club.
Dave Wharmby
Yes, along with the staff from Adria UK.
Matt Sims
You’ve got a stand on the Adria manufacturer’s stand, which is quite unusual for a manufacturer to put the owner’s club on their stand. They’ve done that for years of course. Can people join the club when they’re at the show?
Dave Wharmby
Yes, they certainly can, and they even get a discount. It’s 15 pounds for joint membership. Benefits include newsletters and you can join the Facebook page, which is a closed Facebook page. We’ve also got international tours. Every third year we go on a Slovenian tour, which again is this year, we obviously pop in and see the factory!
Matt Sims
Which of course is where Adrias are built!
Dave Wharmby
Exactly! It’s tremendous – it’s the most impressive factory in Europe.
Matt Sims
It is amazing. It’s several football pitches big, isn’t it?
Dave Wharmby
It is massive!
Matt Sims
Have a great show! I hope you sign up lots of new Adria owners. I’m sure you will this year.
Dave Wharmby
Nice to see you, Matt!
Pete from Burnham-on-Sea
Matt Sims
I’m just outside the show now with Pete. Pete is a visitor to the show. Pete’s traveled up from Burnham-on-Sea!
Pete
That’s right, Burnham-on-Sea, or just outside of!
Matt Sims
Close to me in North Somerset. Have you been to the show before, Pete?
Pete
Several times before, but not for a few years. It’s great to be back and I’m really enjoying myself. It’s a great occasion.
Matt Sims
Brilliant. Are you a motorhomer or caravanner?
Pete
Actually, I’m both. I’ve got a motorhome and I’ve had one since 2012. I’ve now got a caravan, a large Buccaneer Barracuda, which I actually live in at the moment.
Matt Sims
What is it that brought you to the show today?
Pete
I just like the camping scene. I like the motorhome scene, I like the caravan scene and I like to see all the new innovations, what’s going on and keeping up with the current trends.
Matt Sims
Brilliant! Is there anything that has taken your fancy?
Pete
I’m still looking, but I just like looking! To me it’s just a great day out.
Matt Sims
There’s so much to see, isn’t there? Of course, this is a smaller show than the one that would normally take place (and hopefully will take place) in October. Is there anything you think you’ll home with that you didn’t come with today? I don’t mean the girl on the reception desk!
Pete
I’ve spotted some outdoor clothing which I like. I might buy a couple of items. I’m looking at mattresses, but I can’t find anybody that sells mattresses yet. I’m also looking at a new awning for my motorhome.
Matt Sims
Lots of shopping to do, then! Well, thank you so much for talking to us, Pete. Have a great rest of the day and a safe journey back to Somerset.
Pete
Thanks very much!
Peter Dabell, Business Development Manager at Globecar UK
Matt Sims
The perfect face for radio, this man! I’m here with Pete on the Globecar stand. It’s great to see you, Pete.
Peter Dabell
Thanks!
Matt Sims
It’s good to be back at a show!
Peter Dabell
It really is! Two years waiting, almost to the week.
Matt Sims
Tell us a bit about Globecar. They primarily do campervan conversions, is that right?
Peter Dabell
That’s right, yes. It’s part of the Pössl Group of companies. It’s one of their brands, and arguably the largest van conversion manufacturer.
Matt Sims
Made in Germany?
Peter Dabell
Yes, in Germany! We manufacture around 14,000 to 15,000 units a year and are growing, just purely panel van conversions. It’s a big company! It’s a great name, has a great manufacturing heritage, and it’s a quality brand!
Matt Sims
Of course, the trend for campervan conversions has never been more rife, has it? With so many new people wanting a motorhome, this is a great alternative to a coachbuilt motorhome, isn’t it?
Peter Dabell
Yes! The astonishing figures from the attendance numbers for this event are an example. We sold out throughout the week, which is fantastic news for us, as a dealer and a distributor who put an investment into this event every year. It’s a substantial investment.
The really encouraging thing is that a high proportion of people attending today are new to our industry. The groundwork that’s been done over the last two years to bring new people into the caravan, motorhome and camping industry has been great.
There’s been lots of advertising, lots of different ways of reaching out to people and bringing a lot of new people into our world, if you like! We’re making a lot of new friends this week, which is fantastic.
Matt Sims
I must say, I’ve never seen a Tuesday so busy at this show. It’s incredible.
Peter Dabell
It was 10,000 people, something like that?
Matt Sims
13,000, I think – well, there’s lots of numbers bandied around! We’ll find out in the morning.
Peter Dabell
We will, yeah!
Matt Sims
Well, Pete, have a great show. It’s lovely to see you. If you’re coming to the show, make sure you head over to the Globecar stand and come and look at some beautiful camper van conversions. Have fun!
Peter Dabell
Thanks Matt. Great to see you again!
Matt Sims
As well as products to see and enjoy, there’s lots of theatres with cooking demonstrations and product reviews. Don’t forget the Campervan Advice Centre which is a stand with a presentation theatre which I will be based on throughout the week, giving a presentation each day at quarter to four. You can come and get advice and hints and tips and ask those questions which you were perhaps too afraid to ask before.
Sarah Wigmore, Approved Workshop Scheme Manager at National Caravan Council
Matt Sims
I’m here with Sarah from the Approved Workshop Scheme. It’s been a couple of years of no shows, Sarah. Now, I know you’ve done these shows for years, but can you tell us, what is the AWS or the Approved Workshop Scheme?
Sarah Wigmore
It’s a nationwide network of caravan and motorhome service engineers!
Matt Sims
Perfect! So, if people have got a leisure vehicle, a motorhome caravan or a campervan, they can come to you to find the guy that can look after their vehicle for them and service it.
Sarah Wigmore
There are 540 nationwide. All of them are independently inspected annually. They’ve all got the right tools, the right qualifications and the right insurances. We’re supported by all of the major manufacturers like Swift, Bailey, Elddis and Coachman – all the big players in the industry.
Matt Sims
Under warranty, they would require an AWS approved engineer to service that vehicle. Is that right?
Sarah Wigmore
Either one of their dealers, yes, or an AWS engineer.
Peter Dabell
Great! So how does it feel to be back at a show?
Sarah Wigmore
It’s really exciting! I do love doing these shows. It’s great to be able to talk to people and give them an informed decision about servicing.
Matt Sims
Yes, and making sure their vehicles looked after properly! How do people find you at the show and after the show?
Sarah Wigmore
At the show, we’re on stand 3022 in Hall Three. Afterwards, it’s www.approvedworkshops.co.uk.
Matt Sims
Well, that about wraps up the show for February 2022! I’m heading back to the car. It’s been a brilliant day. It’s been great to catch up with old friends and new and to speak to many old customers as well. If you were one of them, it was great to see you! We are now heading to Wetherspoons for a quick liquid refreshment before heading back home. See you soon.
Keith Gooden
Thanks for listening to the Motorhome Matt podcast. Remember to check back here for more episodes full of hints and tips and helpful advice. We’ll see you soon for another Motorhome Matt podcast brought to you with www.thatleisureshop.com.
