A FLEDGLING business in New South Wales is connecting campers with the
owners of rarely used caravans and other RVs.
Camplify ‒ a finalist in the Best Regional Startup category of the 2015
StartupSmart Awards ‒ allows owners of caravans, camper trailers and
motorhomes to list their RVs for hire for a set booking fee.
Chief executive of the Newcastle-based company Justin Hales told
Caravanning News that owners could chat and choose potential renters
they felt comfortable with.
"Owners get to set their own prices and rules and we match them with
holidaymakers who want to hire from them," he said. "Control is all with
the caravan owners and we make sure we provide them with the right
people."
It is 35-year-old Mr Hales' first venture into caravanning as an adult.
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Mr Hales (second from left)
and his
Camplify team |
He said his family had always been interested in caravan holidays.
"When I was a kid living in Port Macquarie we would go to the local
caravan park every school holiday. But on one of those trips we got run
off the road while returning home and after that my parents decided to
sell our caravan," Mr Hales said.
"We never had a caravan holiday again. I was about seven at the time."
But as an adult, he has decided he would like to get back into caravans.
"I looked at buying a caravan and the investment, then decided it was not
the right decision for me. I thought I would hire one but just couldn't
find viable options," he explained.
Mr Hales described how he saw caravans in his neighbourhood parked for
most of the year at the side of the road or in someone's driveway.
"I thought it be good if I could find someone to hire them," he said.
"They would make a bit of money and I would get to relive that great
experience I had as a kid."
More than 190 people registered with Camplify at a recent major caravan
and camping show.
"I think it's about a shift in people's ideals," he said.
"There are many sharing companies starting up and caravans are a great
thing to share because it's not like hiring a car which you will probably
only use only every second day.
"We say hire them out for maybe 20 days and make a bit of money. It pays
for your registration and insurance and you get a bit of a return out of
it."
Mr Hales said the average hire charge was about $80 nightly and this
covered everything such as insurance and booking fees.
"We have had amazing feedback from people excited to be taking their next
holiday with us and from owners," he said.
"We are really focused on taking this nationally so we can provide a
service to everybody."
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