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Upload more pictures to your stock listings on Caravan Selecta

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Caravan Selecta just keeps getting better and better. We are now offering dealers the chance to upload even more photos of their stock to their listings.

Previously you could only add up to six photos of your caravans and motorhomes, whereas now you will be able to upload 10!

But how will this benefit dealers and users?

Benefits to users
Anyone searching for caravans or motorhomes on our site will now be able to look at plenty more pictures before they make their mind up on a certain model. This is important as the more pictures you see the more of the caravan you see. It’s that simple.

When you are searching for a caravan online you will want to be able to look at the exterior, obviously, and as much of the interior as possible. And now you can.

Benefits to dealers
Dealers benefit too! If you have more pictures accompanying your ads then you are almost guaranteed a better response from users. It really is that simple. The more areas of your stock you can photograph the better.

Again, this is because the more pictures a user sees the more confident they can be that your stock is what they are after.

So there you have it, rather than having to look at a couple of picture of your desired caravan you can now see pictures of the outside, the bedroom, the washroom, the kitchen and close ups of anything in particular that the dealer sees necessary to show you. Everyone’s a winner!

Photo by dareppi

April 25, 2012 · Tagged with , , , ,

News

Caravan Selecta sees meteoric rise in traffic

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On 3 April 2012 we moved Caravan Selecta over to new domains called ‘Caravans for Sale’ and ‘Motorhomes for Sale’ – you’ll be pleased to hear this has resulted in impressive traffic growth.

Since the migration we have seen a 64% increase in visitors which is nearly 25,000 extra visits every week, and we have also seen a whopping 110% increase in page views.

This increase in people heading to the site means that dealers who are selling with us will notice a far greater response to their ads.

This new change has meant that we are now indisputably the market leader for Caravans and Motorhomes on the web. We are number one in the Hitwise rankings, where it is clear we have moved well ahead of our competitors, and we also rank in the number one spot for the search terms ‘caravans for sale’ and ‘motorhomes for sale’ in Google, ahead of rivals such as Autotrader and Caravan Finder, which brings us thousands of extra visits to the site.

These search terms are now bringing in thousands of new visitors to the site each week, compared to the hundreds we were seeing before the site’s domains changed. In a competitive market ranking so high for these two search phrases really helps us deliver quality traffic to dealers’ ads. Below is the Hitwise graph that demonstrates our position for the week ending 21 April 2012.

Caravan Selecta sees fantastic increase in traffic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

** You might notice that for week ending 07/04 and the 14/04 we were in third (we were actually 1st these weeks too but our new domains weren’t being tracking properly).

 

So all of this new traffic means that more and more people are looking at your stock on Caravan Selecta than ever before!

April 25, 2012 · Tagged with , , , , ,

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Highbridge Caravan Centre launches new online shop

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Highbridge Caravan Centre launches new online shopHighbridge Caravan Centre is one of the country’s largest outdoor leisure companies and has been a family run business for close to 50 years.

The company has been founded upon excellent customer service and vast amounts of experience in the industry.

They have now launched a brand new online shop where you can browse through a huge selection of products including caravan and motorhome accessories, tents, camping equipment and outdoor leisure accessories.

So here are five fantastic reasons to head on over to www.shop.highbridgecaravans.co.uk now:

1. There are 1000+ of products with 100s more being added every month

2. They have a 100% secure Sagepay Secure Checkout

3. You get free UK delivery on all orders over £100

4. Items have comprehensive info including descriptions, specifications, images and videos

5. Satisfaction guarantee – if you are not 100% satisfied then simply return the item.

And if that wasn’t good enough, they’ve extended their introductory offer so you can now enjoy up to 10% off your order until the end of April!*

Simply add the following code to your basket: HCCORDER

*Terms and Conditions Apply – See website for details

April 19, 2012 · Tagged with , , ,

Caravan News, News

Peak District Park Gets Winter Green Light Extension

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A caravan park in the Peak District is celebrating after it was given the go-ahead to make improvements to the site and also extend its opening dates.

The Bakewell Camping and Caravanning Club Site on Hopping Lane in Derbyshire will now be able to open for an extra three months each year. This is on the condition though that the permitted number of caravans in the winter is reduced.

Permission has also been granted by the Peak District National Park Authority for the Caravan Club to carry out upgrades on the site. These include the resurfacing of 22 of its existing pitches and building a new service point for motorhomes on site.

The Youlgrave site is another site that has planning permission to alter its track and construct a new caravan storage facility.

John Herbert, chair of the planning committee, told the Buxton Advertiser: “In approving the application we have put in place conditions that address some of the concerns of local people.”

“We have been able to advise the applicant on appropriate improvements that benefit people and the environment.”

Mr Herbert added that the improvements will create a less visually intrusive site.

Under the regulations imposed by the Park Authority, the Club has to begin the work within three years, while no caravan or tent is allowed to be occupied for more than four consecutive weeks.

November 24, 2011 · Tagged with , , ,

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Real Richness Report shows camping and caravanning linked to well being

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The Real Richness report compiled by leading academics in the field of outdoor education at Liverpool John Moores University for The Camping and Caravanning Club has indicated that outdoor activities such as camping have a marked difference on a person’s well being.

The academics also gathered information from an online survey amongst 1,000 adults and 500 children aged seven to 11 who have experience of camping or caravanning and 1,000 adults and 500 children aged 7-11 who have never camped to holidayed in a caravan.

The research took place in February this year and revealed that 93 per cent of people were made happier by camping and caravanning. The club said there was growing evidence that simply spending time outdoors surrounded by nature is linked to improved psychological wellbeing.

Dr Kaye Richards, from Liverpool John Moores University, noted: “Camping and caravanning allows us to get away from the routines – and relative comforts – of our day to day lives. Even though camping and caravanning today is a much more comfortable experience thanks to modern equipment and facilities, the simple fact that we have taken ourselves out of our normal environment and into a different one, surrounded by nature, means we act, think and even communicate differently with each other.”

50% of the adults interviewed said they felt happiest when they were spending time with family and friends, whilst 96% of children said they felt happy when playing with their friends outdoors. 85% of adults thought camping and caravanning can make you healthier and nearly half though it should be prescribed on the NHS!

The idea that spending time in nature is ‘good for our physical health and mental wellbeing’ is by no meansa a new one. The World Health Organisation estimates that depression and illnesses related to it will become the greatest source of ill health by 2020. Predictions like these are putting pressure on Governments to encourage people to spend more time with nature.

In the United States, ‘therapeutic camping’ has a long tradition, going back to the early 1900s and the emergence of ‘tent therapy’.

Tony Bywater, chairman of Salop Leisure who has been involved in the caravan industry for 45 years, is a firm believer in the therapeutic benefits of caravanning.

“I sincerely believe that doctors ought to prescribe caravan holidays to people with serious health problems to aid their recovery,” he said. “We have many examples of touring caravans, static holiday homes and motorhomes giving people a new lease of life.

“Business owners and managers who spend a relaxing weekend in their caravan are able to return to work refreshed on a Monday and they tell us that they are able to do their job a lot better.”

November 18, 2011 · Tagged with , , ,

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Caravan couple gets wedding album back – 17 years later

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Nigel and Gillian Stewart had thought their wedding photos were gone for ever. 17 years ago their caravan was stolen and the wedding album was inside. Despite appeals through the media for the return of the album, nothing showed up. Although things changed on Tuesday when they found somebody had left the album in a plastic bag outside the gates of their home.

“I thought I was seeing things” said Gillian. “I was absolutely stunned and speechless. Its lovely for the children – they only know their dad with grey hair”. The unexpected return of the photo album was especially poignant for the couple seeing as they recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Gillian was pregnant with their son at the wedding and it is the first time he has seen the photos.

Gillian said she was extremely grateful to whoever it was that returned the photos. Nobody knows whether the person who returned them was the same person who stole the caravan but the family believe that someone finally had their conscience pricked. Even if the person who returned the photos was responsible for stealing the caravam Gillian said “all was forgiven and there’s no need to be afraid to come forward to me, because I bear no grudges. That was the past and the future’s the future”.

“I would just love whoever it was to come forward, so i could thank them in person” she added.

November 10, 2011 · Tagged with , ,

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Motorists aren’t properly preparing for winter

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We all know that Britain as a whole is woefully under prepared for the snow we seem to be getting more frequently in winter but motorists are risking the need of costly breakdown recovery by not preparing enough for winter according to research from Mannheim Auctions.

A lot of drivers aren’t carrying essential items such as jumps leads, warm clothing and a shovel. This is especially true in the snow. However, it seems motorists are properly stocking up on some things as 89% say they ensure their screen wash is full and 80% carry an ice scraper. It’s important to ensure that levels of anti freeze and water are as they should be. Many of us caravanners don’t see winter as an obstacle to getting out in our caravans so it’s something we should remember too.

De-Icer can come in very handy too. Just remember not to make the same mistake as me and keep it inside the car when the locks freeze up…

Whilst nobody’s suggesting we’re going to be getting the same sorts of winters they get in North America or Scandinavia, it’s important to be prepared for the possibility of being stuck in traffic or snow for prolonged periods.

This article was provided by The Caravan Club

November 8, 2011 · Tagged with , , ,

Caravan News, News

Caravan Industry Holds Firm

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The economic climate might be tough for a lot of people but it seems that the caravan industry is getting through it according to this article from The Caravan Club. Salop leisure in Shropshire have been seeing an exceptional year in terms of caravan and motorhome sales.

Salop chairman, Tony Bywater, has said “Sales have held up beyond our expectations in the difficult economic climate. We have seen more first time buyers, including many young families, looking to invest in holidays in the UK for the next ten to 15 years.”

Market research they have carried out indicates that a larger proportion of the British public are looking to have their holidays closer to home. This idea is backed up by the latest figures from VisitScotland who found that in the first half of 2011, they had 5.9million visitors which is a significant increase on 2010.

Mr Bywater noted that one of the main reasons behind their success this year could be the number of shows and exhibitions they’ve attended; a fact which Lunar caravans seem to back up as they reported £6.7million in sales on the back of the 2011 Motorhome & Caravan Show.

Lunar brought 27 models to the show and demo’d four brand new ones, the Lexon 520, the Lexon 420, the Delta FB and the Quasar 494. Mark Henderson, sales and marketing director for Lunar said “This event really has exceeded our expectations. There was a great buzz of excitement throughout the whole show proving that the UK caravanning industry is still standing resilient through these difficult economic times.”

November 2, 2011 · Tagged with , ,

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Nigel Mansell joins campsite’s 55th birthday celebrations

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Former Formula 1 World Champion and all round motor racing legend Nigel Mansell joined in the 55th birthday celebrations of one of this favourite campsites last week, Islawrffordd Caravan Park at Talybont.

Nigel has been having holidays at the site since he was four years old and is close friends of the owner Gwynfor and his sons, Dylan and Geraint. The birthday wasn’t the only celebration though as the campsite has recently completed a £300,000 upgrade to the entertainment complex, bar, takeaway, restaurant and touring caravan facilities.

The park (which sits in 25 acres) now has 75 hard standing pitches for motorhomes and caravans that are fully serviced to go alongside their existing 30 camping plots and 201 static caravans.

The new developments take the family’s investment in the park, which boasts five stars from Visit Wales and five pennants from the AA, to £2.1 million over the last eight years.

Nigel Mansell officially opened the park’s reception suite, enhanced swimming pool complex with a jacuzzi, sauna and seating area six years ago and since then the Evans family have invested a further £400,000 on a new luxury toilet block.

The new fully serviced pitches have also been a huge hit with touring caravan and motorhome owners this summer and the park has received record advance bookings for 2012.

September 27, 2011 · Tagged with , , ,

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Caravan Club Tow Car Of The Year 2012 Named

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The Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0TDI DSG won its class and also the overall award for the twenty-ninth Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Competition. A panel of 11 judges applauded its suave design, its practicality as a caravanning family car and its great performance when towing in a variety of situations.

The competition attracted 38 entries that were judged, as always, at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire. The Škoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 DSG; the Volkswagen Touareg Escape 3.0 V6 TDI and the Volvo V60 D5 AWD Volvo Ocean Race all won their respective classes.

From these Class winners the sleek, stylish and very capable Volkswagen Jetta Sport emerged as the overall victor. The results of the competition were announced at The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Awards ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club in London on 21 September. Ex Formula One driver Johnny Herbert presented the prizes and also attended the testing process of the entrants.

Johnny Herbert says, “It was a real eye-opener being at Millbrook seeing all the cars being put through their paces, they really are put to the towing test.”

Grenville Chamberlain, Caravan Club Chairman, commented, “The Club extends its congratulations to all the winners in this Competition. Special plaudits go to the terrific Volkswagen Jetta, it really is a great vehicle and it proved itself time and time again with the judges during testing.”

This year 30 cars were divided into three price Classes and two All-Wheel Drive categories (under 1800kg and over 1800kg); on the basis that anyone thinking about buying a new car will first consider their budget. The Millbrook Proving ground is widely regarded as the best car testing facility in the UK.

Manufacturers were invited to submit for testing any cars that were new launched in the period 1 August 2010 to 30 September 2011, or existing models that had been substantially modified (eg new engine, different transmission etc). The Caravan Club also invites the previous year’s overall winner to submit its car for re-testing – in this instance, the Škoda Superb Estate Elegance.

The cars that were entered were carefully scrutineered to ensure they match the documentation supplied. Track tests were carried out by six expert drivers, each of which assess each car’s towing ability as well as acceleration, braking and the ability to cope with demanding hill starts.

Another team of four judges test the ‘caravanability’ aspects of each car in terms of everyday caravanning. For instance, will it carry a set of awning poles, or do you have to get on your hands and knees to connect the caravan electrics?

All the caravans used during the testing of the tow cars were supplied by Bailey of Bristol and loaded to 85% of the relevant car’s kerbweight. Noseweights were set at the car manufacturer’s recommended limit which is 5-7% of the caravan’s running weight or the maximum stipulated weight for the caravan coupling head, whichever is lowest.

September 23, 2011 · Tagged with , , ,

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