Family-run Midlands’ motorhome hire company welcomes nine new vehicles to meet increased demand from holidaymakers
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 10 June 2022
Leicestershire-based Hey Campers increases turnover by 76% after less than two years, thanks to primetime TV appearances, celebrity endorsements and five-star customer reviews.
Launching its operations with just one vehicle during the first wave of the pandemic in August 2020, Leicestershire-based motorhome hire company Hey Campers now has 15 vehicles on its books and has helped more than 1,200 people to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime, despite the challenging last few years.
Husband and wife, Adam and Trudi Lilley, decided to turn their passion for camping into a business in the summer of 2020, after witnessing the increased demand for staycations caused by COVID-19. Since then, the duo opened their first showroom in Coalville in late 2020 before relocating to premises three times the size this spring, to accommodate their growing fleet and workforce.
In less than two years, Hey Campers has seen a 76% increase in turnover, staff headcount double and its vehicle stock value grow from around £50,000 to now almost £1million.
Trudi and Adam attribute part of the company’s success to their guest roles on the popular Channel 5 series Million Pound Motorhomes, which originally aired in September 2021 and repeated again in May 2022. Both shows resulted in record visits to heycampers.co.uk and a partnership with Coronation Street actor Will Mellor, who hosted his extended family for Christmas in one of the company’s motorhomes and then hit the road for a UK trip with Ralph Little, during the Four Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps tour in early 2022.
Hey Campers co-founder Trudi says:
“The pandemic really reignited the UK’s passion for camping. We found that many of the holidaymakers who booked through us, wanted the extra security of a motorhome for their travels, so that they could use the on-board bathroom and kitchenette, without the need for using shared facilities on a campsite.
“Although airports are back open and COVID restrictions have eased, we’re still finding many holidaymakers are opting for a motorhome holiday this year. The reported chaos across UK airports is very off-putting for many of our customers who have really relished a traditional, hassle-free camping holiday for the past few seasons, and we expect many more of them will choose to jump on a ferry and tour Europe on wheels, rather than flying.”
A family business at heart, the Hey Campers team includes Trudi’s children Sarah and Matt, who provide hands-on support alongside their studies. They work with a trainee manager, customer service advisor, a maintenance/repair operator and team of cleaners, who thoroughly valet each motorhome during change-over.
Together the team are committed to five-star customer service and work hard to offer customers an experience to remember, with all the finishing touches covered.
“We’re finding people are time-starved and while they fancy the idea of a motorhome holiday, they don’t know where to start with the planning,” adds Trudi. “That’s why we’ve introduced an escorted tours option where Adam and I will accompany the holidaymakers and organise the itinerary. People can choose to join us for activities during the day if they want to, and in the evenings, we’ll usually find a restaurant or cook a camp-fire meal and again, people can choose whether to participate – it’s completely up to them.”
With something to suit all budgets and tastes, Hey Campers has 14 motorhomes and one campervan to choose from. These include Beni – a popular choice accommodating up to four adults, Bentley – which provides ‘A class’ luxury and Woody the campervan which comes complete with a built-in bathroom and kitchen.
This June, Hey Campers has launched its ‘taster breaks’. Priced at just £499, this hassle-free package includes everything for a hassle-free holiday including a three-night luxury motorhome hire, camping pitch with electric hook up, luxury bedding and towels, dinner for two, two bikes included and much more. To view the offer, please go to https://tinyurl.com/mv6m2d5k for more information.
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