Latest / Off Grid Down Under by MDC / EP 36 — Nearly a Million Caravans on the Road: The State of the Industry

Transcript

EP 36 — Nearly a Million Caravans on the Road: The State of the Industry · Off Grid Down Under by MDC

0:00
SPEAKER_01: If we can look towards more of a diverse offering with our events, we can attract some of those demographics that we're currently not touching and maybe introduce them to caravanning.
0:08
SPEAKER_00: We are all in one industry and we should be striving to make that industry amazing and work together.
0:13
SPEAKER_02: I want to buy a caravan, please.
0:17
SPEAKER_04: We can make it easy.
0:18
SPEAKER_04: Just buy an MTC.
0:20
SPEAKER_04: So simple.
0:21
SPEAKER_01: During COVID he called caravans the cruise ships of the Outback that was distributing COVID through the Outback.
0:26
SPEAKER_01: So it wasn't great then, but but now I that's it's I think it's a great, you know, we are we are the cruise ships of the outback.
0:44
SPEAKER_06: Hi everybody, and welcome to another episode of the Off-Grid Down Under Podcast brought to you by MDC.
0:51
SPEAKER_06: We are joined here with some special guests today.
0:53
SPEAKER_06: Mr.
0:53
SPEAKER_06: Wayne Chevris down at the end of the desk.
0:55
SPEAKER_06: Pleasure to be back, Sam.
0:56
SPEAKER_06: Nice of you to turn up, mate.
0:57
SPEAKER_06: Took a while.
0:58
SPEAKER_06: Vaughan Heinley, Director of MDC.
1:01
SPEAKER_00: Quite the regular now, Sam.
1:03
SPEAKER_00: So thanks for having me back again.
1:04
SPEAKER_06: Mate, always looking fresh.
1:06
SPEAKER_06: I like that.
1:06
SPEAKER_06: And a special guest today, CEO of the Caravan Trade Industries Association of Queensland.
1:11
SPEAKER_06: Well done, you're gonna be able to do that.
1:12
SPEAKER_06: Did I get that right?
1:13
SPEAKER_06: You were close.
1:15
SPEAKER_06: Mr.
1:15
SPEAKER_04: Jason Plant.
1:16
SPEAKER_04: Good to meet you.
1:18
SPEAKER_04: Thanks for joining us.
1:19
SPEAKER_01: Wonderful to be here with these gentlemen as well.
1:21
SPEAKER_06: They're all right.
1:22
SPEAKER_06: It's a privilege.
1:22
SPEAKER_06: They go pretty good.
1:24
SPEAKER_06: So look, thanks for joining us.
1:26
SPEAKER_06: We're going to talk a little bit about the industry and the state of health, I guess, of caravanning in Australia.
1:32
SPEAKER_06: And just get some insights from the governing bodies that are kind of in and around and seeing the industry as a whole.
1:39
SPEAKER_06: We get a very good insight about our business.
1:42
SPEAKER_06: We know how we're tracking and we see trends that are going on, but we don't always see or hear all the stories about other manufacturers or market challenges that perhaps we might not be um aware of, or yeah, as a whole, cost of living is playing a huge role in how people are travelling and spending their money.
2:00
SPEAKER_06: Um so it's good to get your insights as part of that today.
2:03
SPEAKER_06: So Yeah, good.
2:05
SPEAKER_06: Love to hear what you've got to say.
2:06
SPEAKER_06: So can you just give us a bit of background?
2:08
SPEAKER_06: Who who is Jason Plant and and how have you ended up as the CEO of the organization?
2:12
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, look, well, um I've been here how many years?
2:15
SPEAKER_01: 13 years now.
2:16
SPEAKER_01: I've been in this current role since 2020.
2:19
SPEAKER_01: Um took over from the legend that was Ron Chapman.
2:23
SPEAKER_01: I shouldn't say was he still around.
2:25
SPEAKER_01: Um I see him regularly, but yeah, I've I've been in this role since 2020.
2:28
SPEAKER_01: Prior to that I was um Ron's GM and uh learned a lot from him and other members and and other long-term industry stalwarts that that have been on the board.
2:38
SPEAKER_01: Um but um yeah, it's a wonderful industry.
2:40
SPEAKER_01: And um prior to this I was in the boating industry um for another ten years there, but always for the past 20 or so years in and around industry associations.
2:52
SPEAKER_01: So dealing with you know small to medium-sized businesses, family-run businesses, large-scale businesses, but um all around um working for industry associations about um trying to improve um practices for for those hardworking individuals that that run businesses like this.
3:10
SPEAKER_06: So, what's the appeal for you personally?
3:12
SPEAKER_06: What why do you enjoy that industry sort of role?
3:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, look, I just I enjoy the um the camaraderie that comes with with a a group of collective like-minded um industry businesses like this and and working hard to to foster change and work on um work on initiatives and um lobbying government on how we can improve operating um operating circumstances for people like yourself so that people so that um Queenslanders and Australians can enjoy this industry and um and um and that our members can deliver quality products and services to people as well.
3:49
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, nice.
3:49
SPEAKER_06: I might come back to that lobbying government piece because we we had a podcast a couple of weeks ago with uh Tony Crook from Outer Side and he's lobbying and and working on keeping parks and public spaces or public land access open.
4:02
SPEAKER_06: So love to understand sort of your role in that and how you go about it versus you know the challenges that he's facing as well.
4:09
SPEAKER_06: So might come back to that.
4:11
SPEAKER_06: So that's Jason.
4:12
SPEAKER_06: Uh, what does caravan in Queensland do?
4:14
SPEAKER_06: And what's your what's the role of the governing body for all you know dealers and manufacturers in in a queen in Queensland and how does that sit relative to the national body?
4:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, look, we focus on Queensland issues and Queensland regulation and um and uh servicing Queensland-based businesses.
4:30
SPEAKER_01: I touched on it a little bit before, I guess, but we we do a lot of um we we advert we advocate on the on behalf of the industry to governments and um and stakeholders.
4:40
SPEAKER_01: We promote the industry, uh, we work on compliance and standards, we work very close with our national body and the other states as well.
4:48
SPEAKER_01: Hasn't always been that way, that collaborative approach with particularly with with our with our interstate counterparts.
4:54
SPEAKER_01: But I can say now having been here for 13 years that that we've never worked closer as an industry nationally, both both um with Stuart and his team and the other states as well.
5:03
SPEAKER_01: But it's all about working on on initiatives and programs that can benefit businesses like Market Direct and and many of the other members as well.
5:12
SPEAKER_01: Um we're looking at things in the future around training.
5:15
SPEAKER_01: Um we're working on um dealing with the Department of Transport and Main Roads on on initiatives to improve road safety for for your owners and your users.
5:26
SPEAKER_01: We run some programs, some wonderful programs.
5:28
SPEAKER_01: One of them is called Van Safe, which educates consumers on um on how they set up their rigs to be compliant and they can tow more safely.
5:36
SPEAKER_01: And um yeah, that's it.
5:38
SPEAKER_01: We're here for the members really, and um whatever whatever we can do uh to generate benefits or initiatives or programs that can make your life easier and provide a better customer service to your to your customers, that's what we're here for.
5:51
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, cool.
5:52
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and as a young business um back in the day, uh you know, 15-20 years ago, I can vouch for that.
6:00
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, the knowledge of the people within the industry and you know the the availability to go to people in Jason's team and say, Hey, I'm having a problem with this.
6:10
SPEAKER_00: Have you come across it before?
6:12
SPEAKER_00: You know, what should we do?
6:13
SPEAKER_00: And that's part of being um part of that membership.
6:17
SPEAKER_00: And you know, when things change in industry like um electrical standards, gas standards, um the guys at the CTIAQ will put on workshops, bring in experts and say, Hey guys, in a year's time this new standard's coming out and you have to do things a certain way.
6:33
SPEAKER_00: And it's you know, they pass that knowledge on to us to make sure that we're putting a compliant product into the market.
6:39
SPEAKER_06: So why would that not come from a national body, just out of interest?
6:44
SPEAKER_01: So national looks after national, state looks after state.
6:47
SPEAKER_01: Now that's we we all know we're we operate a federated system here in Australia, so there's state legislation that's specific to Queensland that may be different to national and different to Victoria and and you got and and New South Wales and other states.
6:59
SPEAKER_01: So that's why you need that state representation to deal with state-based issues.
7:03
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
7:03
SPEAKER_01: And we're a big country.
7:05
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
7:05
SPEAKER_01: Like to to get around and yes, we we um, you know, we can communicate by a vast array of different means these days, but you still need that face-to-face on-the-ground contact in the state with your local politicians, your local regulators, your the gas inspectorate, the electrical safety office, and and they all have their own interpretations.
7:23
SPEAKER_01: We we operate and build to national standards, but each of the state regulators will have their own interpretation of that.
7:30
SPEAKER_01: Frustrating for for you guys and for who who sell and sell, you know, manufacture and sell products that are designed across those jurisdictional boundaries.
7:39
SPEAKER_01: But that's where we're here, where we can part of the reason we're here is so that we can advocate on your behalf to try and make things easier, trying to negotiate with those regulatory bodies to to come up with interpretations that are standard across those borders.
7:53
SPEAKER_01: But um yeah, you do need that state that individual state representation and an overarching federal body as well.
7:59
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, absolutely.
8:00
SPEAKER_06: So, Wayne, from a sales perspective, and yeah, you're on the ground speaking to customers and at shows and things like that.
8:07
SPEAKER_06: It what's the customer perception of of the industry bodies and and their role?
8:12
SPEAKER_06: Is there are people aware of them and I guess the importance of them or not as much?
8:16
SPEAKER_03: Definitely I I think uh manufacturers obviously a lot more than the than the day-to-day consumer.
8:22
SPEAKER_03: But uh it is it's slowly getting out there, like Van Safe, particularly in Queensland, that's massive at all of your association shows, like the CTIAQ shows.
8:32
SPEAKER_03: Um and it is one of those things where the the Queensland Association is pushing for Jason, you can touch on this one, but he's pushing pretty hard for that that recognition across the industry, and especially from a from a state-based compliance kind of standpoint, as well as pushing, you know, more for parks and you know, c the consumer being safe as well.
8:53
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, absolutely.
8:54
SPEAKER_00: And when you talk about industry shows, because that comes under the particularly in Queensland comes in the CTIAQ, um, these guys are going around looking at the product that's actually at the shows to make sure that it is compliant, and then there is checks and balances and little hoops you need to jump through, Wayne.
9:12
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, definitely.
9:13
SPEAKER_03: Uh it is it is one of those things where every single association show, whether it be Queensland or other state-based, is uh you you see the the auditors come round uh while we're bumping in and you know everyone kind of gets a little bit jumpy about it, but yeah, we we don't have a problem with that.
9:29
SPEAKER_06: They're rollers literally going out and inspecting the vans that are being sold off the floor, right?
9:33
SPEAKER_06: Well that's it.
9:33
SPEAKER_06: To make sure they're the right ones.
9:34
SPEAKER_01: We want um you know, a happy consumer means a happy, satisfied consumer benefits everybody.
9:40
SPEAKER_01: And um and we want to help our members to ensure that the products that you're delivering, you know, manufacturing and delivering are fully compliant.
9:47
SPEAKER_01: And um mistakes can be made.
9:49
SPEAKER_01: These they're recreational vehicles are hand built products.
9:52
SPEAKER_01: We know that um, you know, human error can come in at some point in time.
9:55
SPEAKER_01: There's always a mistake.
9:56
SPEAKER_01: We're here to help guide you to make sure that if there are mistakes made along the way as far as compliance goes, that we can work with you to rectify them so the customer gets that that fully compliant van, they're happy with it and satisfied, and they can um they'll go out there and happily use it, promote it to their friends and and um and have an enjoyable lifetime with that product.
10:16
SPEAKER_06: Um Is it I mean, is it uncommon to come across product that's non-compliant, sort of uh bumping into a trade show, whether it be for you know purposeful or neg what's negligent or you know, just simple miss in that respect.
10:31
SPEAKER_06: Is it uncommon?
10:32
SPEAKER_01: Uh look, it's it's it's it's um it's certainly improved over my time here.
10:37
SPEAKER_01: We're we're seeing there's a lot more effort being placed on on quality checks and um and compliance.
10:44
SPEAKER_01: Um and I wouldn't say it's it's it's common, but but it does occur.
10:48
SPEAKER_01: And and it's not it's not through anyone's fault, it's just human error.
10:52
SPEAKER_01: Um and um they're a complicated product, these recreational vehicles vehicles to put together.
10:59
SPEAKER_01: You've you I think we actually Australian uh manufacturers um need to adhere to the most stringent set of standards in the world.
11:06
SPEAKER_01: Um agreed.
11:07
SPEAKER_01: And it's it's difficult to be across all of those.
11:10
SPEAKER_01: And and that's where an industry body can come in and assist you guys to make sure that and help guide you to make sure you're on the right path, and people like MDC do it well.
11:18
SPEAKER_01: There's many members that do as well.
11:20
SPEAKER_01: Um and um and it it has certainly improved over the years.
11:24
SPEAKER_06: Well, I think that's one of the reasons we employ, I guess, the ISO 9001 quality system.
11:29
SPEAKER_06: It's to have those checks and balances from the point of manufacture wherever that is, right up to the point of delivery.
11:35
SPEAKER_06: It doesn't we you know we have those systems to tick the boxes along the way to make sure we capture it so we kind of capture it before it becomes an issue and comes to market.
11:43
SPEAKER_06: That that's the intent of those systems in place.
11:45
SPEAKER_06: So that's really interesting.
11:47
SPEAKER_06: Wayne, were you gonna touch on something?
11:50
SPEAKER_06: You just had a had a good look in your eye there, just had a moment.
11:53
SPEAKER_01: And look, I I think I think we build the best products in the world.
11:56
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I've seen and I think I think Australian consumers are fortunate that that we have these checks and balances in place and have these strong, stringent standards because the products that we that we pump out through our through our manufacturing facilities that are imported into this country, they have to meet those standards, and the customer gets a a very good product compared to what I see overseas, and you'll attest to this for when you've travelled all over the world.
12:20
SPEAKER_01: I I'll proudly stand up in front of any um association overseas and say we build the best products in the world.
12:29
SPEAKER_00: I agree 100%.
12:30
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely the toughest and the strongest.
12:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
12:33
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, we have seen I guess products come over here from the UK and the US and they don't stand up sort of to our roads sometimes, or customers don't understand that they're a full on-road product and they're taking them off-road, and maybe that's where they get into a little bit of trouble.
12:50
SPEAKER_00: But um absolutely the Australian um designed product is a premium overseas.
12:57
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, we're seeing that we hear that from the guys at ROA and you know, dealers of ours in the US, and they talk about the difference between the MDC product versus some American-made product, and they're just saying the detail that's in ours and the strength and things like that, and you know, their their testaments to that, they're seeing it firsthand as well.
13:14
SPEAKER_06: So talking about the um the governance and things like that around those quality checks, I've talked can you talk a little bit about the R V Map system, which is obviously a a broader sort of compliance system, but just want to elaborate on that a little bit?
13:28
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, look, that's that's um, that's a program that's run by our national body, um Caravan Industry Association of Australia.
13:34
SPEAKER_01: And it's um it's a commitment by that manufacturer or that that business to to produce compliant products.
13:41
SPEAKER_01: It's a it's a great system for educating educating um uh people like Market Direct and and others who use the product to make sure that they're again it's all about guidance and making sure that you are building to those particular standards, the ADRs, the Australian design rules.
13:57
SPEAKER_01: Um, and it's a it's a sign of a commitment to to compliance.
14:03
SPEAKER_01: So it's it's it's something to look out for definitely when you're when you're out there researching.
14:08
SPEAKER_06: How would you describe the current state of the industry, I guess, in Queensland or or yeah, or nationally, however you want to take that?
14:14
SPEAKER_06: It's obviously it's it's big.
14:15
SPEAKER_06: We're seeing a lot of vans, we're attending a lot of shows, there's a lot of foot traffic.
14:19
SPEAKER_06: Um are we sort of on a are we at a peak still or are we on a bit of a decline?
14:23
SPEAKER_01: Or I wouldn't say that.
14:24
SPEAKER_01: I I think we're we're in a period of normalization, I think.
14:28
SPEAKER_01: You know, we've been through that that frantic um period where we were order taking um and there was almost a frenzy out there trying to get into the market.
14:39
SPEAKER_01: I think what we're seeing is a normalization where we're certainly not uh we're we're still ahead of pre-COVID, but um, but we're we're heading into a more um, I guess, steady period of of inquiry and sales.
14:53
SPEAKER_01: I'm I'm actually optimistic.
14:54
SPEAKER_01: I I don't think we're dropping off.
14:56
SPEAKER_01: I think we're we're I think we're heading into a into another positive period, but just without that frenzied, frantic buying that we saw um through COVID.
15:08
SPEAKER_06: I I think looking at the amount of activity we see in the market, not necessarily from a sales or manufacturing point of view, but looking at the amount of influences are out there and the way people's behaviour has changed around travel in terms of how they want to spend their leisure time, like caravan is becoming a bigger beast than it was before COVID, and I think that's becoming infectious, and we're still seeing that flowing effect.
15:31
SPEAKER_06: Are you are you seeing, I guess, more numbers of of vans out on the road now or changing people's holiday and behaviours?
15:39
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, look, we've sent well, we've got there's over 900,000.
15:42
SPEAKER_01: We're heading towards, you know, a million registered vehicles in this in this country.
15:46
SPEAKER_01: Like that that's a lot.
15:47
SPEAKER_01: Queensland, we crossed 250,000 registered vehicles um last year.
15:52
SPEAKER_01: There's a there's a lot of people out on the road in in um in recreational vehicles, and I can only see that increasing.
15:58
SPEAKER_01: We had we had we had that period through COVID where we boomed.
16:02
SPEAKER_01: Um those those people have been have been enjoying their products, and I think that's that's flowing off onto others.
16:08
SPEAKER_01: And it also comes down to where there's such there's such a variety of choice here in in this country for for RV products, which enables a lot of people to get into the market who probably normally couldn't.
16:20
SPEAKER_01: Um we're we're spoiled for choice.
16:22
SPEAKER_01: There's such a vast array of different products available on the market, irrespective of your budget or your lifestyle um situation, there is something for everybody, and I think that's something that we don't see necessarily overseas.
16:36
SPEAKER_01: It's something unique to this country.
16:37
SPEAKER_01: There are so many brands and manufacturers, which is good and bad, but what it does enable it enables a lot of people to get into the market, and we and we've seen that.
16:45
SPEAKER_01: And and I can I'm I'm like I said, I think I'm optimistic about the future.
16:49
SPEAKER_01: I think I think we're gonna see some good things coming as well.
16:52
SPEAKER_06: Wayne, I'm gonna throw this at you, then probably back to Jason.
16:55
SPEAKER_06: Is there is there something that customers are prioritizing right now in their van purchases?
17:00
SPEAKER_06: Is it on-road, off-road?
17:02
SPEAKER_06: Are there certain features or functions that they uh that we're seeing trends around?
17:07
SPEAKER_03: This is uh certainly something that I've picked up, especially with uh the shows that we've been attending.
17:12
SPEAKER_03: Uh we're seeing uh uh just in the last month or so more and more young couples and families.
17:18
SPEAKER_03: And it's that cost of living kind of pinch a little bit where it's you know, rent is X amount, buy a caravan, travel, put it on someone's property, you know.
17:26
SPEAKER_03: Uh just in uh Adelaide what was that two weeks ago.
17:30
SPEAKER_03: I think we had about six uh young younger, like under 30 couples or families that were buying caravans for that express purpose of you know putting them on someone's block or travelling in them.
17:42
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, right.
17:43
SPEAKER_06: Wow.
17:44
SPEAKER_03: Uh so it it is a it's a fairly even split still between the on-road and off-road kind of market.
17:50
SPEAKER_03: But yeah, it's that uh one uh accessibility.
17:53
SPEAKER_03: So, you know, when you when you have stock of caravans, people are gonna come to you for them.
17:58
SPEAKER_03: Um also the the availability of uh you know parts in particular, like people want to make changes to certain things, so you know we can accommodate certain levels of that.
18:09
SPEAKER_03: Uh but yeah, it's definitely one of those things where people want more more in their vans.
18:14
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
18:14
SPEAKER_03: Jason, are you uh I guess what are you seeing?
18:17
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, look, we're certainly seeing that people want value for money and and they they can get that these days.
18:22
SPEAKER_01: You can get a lot more in a smaller package for a for a better price than what you did five, ten years ago.
18:27
SPEAKER_01: Um but people are looking to also for stability and security.
18:31
SPEAKER_01: They want um, you know, good good service networks, they want reliable products and names, and um and they the off-road is is big as well.
18:41
SPEAKER_01: Um it's it's weeding through those people who think they want off-road, but they don't.
18:46
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
18:47
SPEAKER_01: But I I think um but the beauty is that there's so much choice out there for people and and you can get a lot more these days in a for a for a more affordable price than um and and in a smaller package as well.
19:01
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, I think really what we're what we're seeing is reliability, security, and um and just peace of mind when they're looking for products as well.
19:10
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, and that's where things like obviously R V Map come in and the governing body just to be you know somebody there to keep an eye out and look out for the consumer in that respect to make sure they're that what they're buying is actually up to scratch and up to standard.
19:22
SPEAKER_01: They do want to take everything from home too.
19:25
SPEAKER_01: Like these they want to cram everything in that van that they possibly can.
19:29
SPEAKER_01: That's right, yeah, which is where vansafe comes in.
19:31
SPEAKER_01: We've got to keep them on the right path.
19:33
SPEAKER_01: I'm guilty of cramming everything.
19:35
SPEAKER_00: Are you?
19:36
SPEAKER_00: Including the air fryer, the air fryer, the weber, the slushy machine.
19:39
SPEAKER_00: Smoker.
19:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, smoker.
19:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we know.
19:42
SPEAKER_03: Going to refer back to a previous podcast.
19:44
SPEAKER_03: I like to pack light.
19:46
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, we might link to that.
19:49
SPEAKER_03: It's definitely one of those things where people want the convenience.
19:51
SPEAKER_03: So, you know, kitchens, showers, whether they be internal, external, toilets, um, uh fully enclosed annexes, microwaves, even you know, if it's hot and the kids are restless, I want to be able to run the air con.
20:03
SPEAKER_03: So it's a home away from home.
20:05
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
20:06
SPEAKER_01: But it it's um I find it amusing when people that don't know caravans, they have a look for in them for the first time and they think, what really?
20:12
SPEAKER_01: Does it come with this?
20:13
SPEAKER_01: It's got a shower and a toilet.
20:15
SPEAKER_01: And it's like, well, yeah, most of them do.
20:17
SPEAKER_01: But let alone an air fryer and a coffee machine and a slushy machine.
20:22
SPEAKER_01: And a wine fridge.
20:23
SPEAKER_01: Have you got a wine fridge?
20:24
SPEAKER_01: No wine fridge.
20:25
SPEAKER_01: He's got a big fridge yet.
20:26
SPEAKER_01: Not yet.
20:27
SPEAKER_01: A couple of fridges.
20:28
SPEAKER_05: A couple of fridges, yeah.
20:29
SPEAKER_06: It's not just one.
20:30
SPEAKER_06: Look, um, with the the industry itself, have we we're seeing cost of living, and look, right now it's fuel prices, right?
20:37
SPEAKER_06: As of today, we're seeing$2.30 for 91 fuel.
20:41
SPEAKER_06: It's crazy.
20:42
SPEAKER_06: It's it's so expensive.
20:43
SPEAKER_06: Are we seeing uh any kind of immediate slowdown, especially in the last month or so?
20:48
SPEAKER_06: Or are you seeing cost of living having an impact on caravan sales or people's reluctance to spend, or or are people looking at things like insurance with a bit more I don't know, focus that they pay perhaps haven't had in the past?
21:01
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, look, I think cost of living is always it's always there.
21:04
SPEAKER_01: It's a it's it's a concern, I think.
21:06
SPEAKER_01: But our our um our industry is pretty resilient, I think, because we touch on such a wide demographic where I look at interest rates, for example.
21:15
SPEAKER_01: So we had we had a recent interest rate rise, and that impacts a certain percentage of our population, but others are actually out there cheering it on, you know.
21:24
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because they're uh getting a return on sitting in the bank.
21:27
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's right.
21:28
SPEAKER_00: So I think that's whatever, yeah.
21:30
SPEAKER_01: That's why you think it I think our in our industry is it's quite robust and resilient, and we will, while one sector may underperform because of a certain um um issue that's facing facing at the moment, whether it be fuel or cost of living or interest rates, there's another sector that will benefit from that.
21:48
SPEAKER_01: And and um it's it's the beauty about our industry that we are so diverse and resilient and we appeal to such a broad um cross section of of the of the population.
21:58
SPEAKER_01: But but look, there are external factors that.
22:00
SPEAKER_01: That are going to impact us right now on the horizon.
22:04
SPEAKER_01: International travel is probably not as appealing as it was.
22:09
SPEAKER_01: Pushing prices of fuel up, but it's more expensive to travel overseas at the moment.
22:14
SPEAKER_01: So I think we're going to see a lot more people, and this is where my optimism comes in.
22:18
SPEAKER_01: I think we're going to see a lot more people choosing to holiday at home in the near future as well.
22:21
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, while you were looking to travel to Iran in the next couple of weeks, weren't you?
22:25
SPEAKER_06: Just a little trip to the end.
22:27
SPEAKER_06: Change your plan.
22:28
SPEAKER_06: Change your plan.
22:28
SPEAKER_06: Okay, good.
22:29
SPEAKER_06: Test the caravan.
22:32
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I think the I agree.
22:34
SPEAKER_06: I think people are looking at travel a lot differently to what they were.
22:39
SPEAKER_06: Are there other I guess more positives that you're seeing?
22:43
SPEAKER_06: Are we seeing we talked about the age demographic, I think that's really split.
22:48
SPEAKER_06: Like from the marketing perspective, we look at who our audience is, and it is everyone from essentially someone who's gets a job could be looking to get a caravan.
22:55
SPEAKER_06: We can't assume that a new grad or a new tradee doesn't have the money to buy a caravan.
23:01
SPEAKER_06: We're seeing mid-20s people coming and buying decent sized caravans, not just little nine-foot compacts.
23:07
SPEAKER_06: So are you seeing I guess little shining lights in the area around particular size models, budget positions, or I don't know.
23:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, look, I think um there is a look without without mentioning particular brands, but there are there is there's a certain segment of the market that I think that I think is performing well at the moment in in a price bracket, and that's that's appealing to we're starting to see some more families coming through.
23:33
SPEAKER_01: Um and I think it's because um people still need a holiday and they may not choose to holiday overseas because it's expensive, because it's uncertainty, it's uncertain, but they can get into something here, a product here, for quite a reason for almost the cost of an overseas holiday.
23:48
SPEAKER_01: I went to the States two years ago with my family of four, and my God, for what we paid for that, we could have bought a caravan.
23:54
SPEAKER_01: And and you've got the product to use for for years and years and years.
23:58
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
23:58
SPEAKER_01: So I think um the I I keep going back to but I think the shining light for our industry is the diversity.
24:04
SPEAKER_01: Um the d the diversity of product, the the entry level is not as high as it used to be to get into the industry.
24:10
SPEAKER_01: So you can get in and give it a you know, taste, get it, get a taste for the industry for quite uh uh inexpensive entry level.
24:18
SPEAKER_06: Um and um half the price of a jewel cabinet.
24:21
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, in a lot of cases, right?
24:23
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, yeah.
24:24
SPEAKER_01: And um and have a have a wonderful, you know, RV that you can use for for holidays for years.
24:30
SPEAKER_01: But um yeah, look, I'm I'm optimistic.
24:33
SPEAKER_01: I think we're gonna see some more families getting into it at the moment, particularly because of what we're seeing overseas.
24:38
SPEAKER_06: Wayne, are you seeing sort of little yeah shining lights in your travels?
24:45
SPEAKER_03: That's uh that's a pretty open-ended question there, Sam.
24:48
SPEAKER_03: That's why I asked it.
24:50
SPEAKER_03: Uh no, it's definitely like just in the first what are we into now March?
24:56
SPEAKER_03: March.
24:56
SPEAKER_03: Three months.
24:57
SPEAKER_03: The first three months of this year, uh, I've definitely seen a pickup in in our inquiry, especially uh being able to travel around interstate.
25:06
SPEAKER_03: Um, my my neighbour, he's and bringing it back to home a little bit.
25:10
SPEAKER_03: Like he approached me two days ago and went, Hey, can you bring some brochures home for me?
25:14
SPEAKER_03: Because we want to travel.
25:15
SPEAKER_06: We've had we had a um towards the end of last year, we released uh essentially a handbook for people who were interested in off-grid travel.
25:22
SPEAKER_06: Like, what is it?
25:23
SPEAKER_06: Let's just not assume people know.
25:25
SPEAKER_06: So we released that and we ran it as a bit of a free download, and the thousands upon thousands of downloads we got from that was amazing, and it was obviously a testament that people wanted to find out more, they wanted to learn more about off-grid travel, for example.
25:39
SPEAKER_06: Um, that was really interesting.
25:40
SPEAKER_06: It was a really nice insight into people's behaviour and their willingness to learn.
25:45
SPEAKER_06: So watch this space, there's more of that to come.
25:48
SPEAKER_06: But um can we just talk about also before we move on too much?
25:52
SPEAKER_06: We're gonna get into talk about the benefits of shows and events and things like that.
25:56
SPEAKER_06: You've mentioned VanSafe.
25:58
SPEAKER_06: Um we've had Chrissy Murphy on from Murphs in a Pod, who's part of the association, and she's published a book called or an e-book called Tow Like a Girl, which is quite interesting.
26:07
SPEAKER_06: It's a really nice towing guide for not just for girls, but yeah, for anybody that's new to towing and things like that.
26:12
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
26:13
SPEAKER_06: Can you just talk about the VanSafe program a little bit?
26:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, sure.
26:15
SPEAKER_01: Well, VanSafe is uh we're very proud of this, and Chrissy's leading this program, so she's doing a wonderful job.
26:21
SPEAKER_01: It's um it's a it's a initiative we we kicked off, oh gosh, would have been um 10 years ago now, Caravan Safety Check Program, which was an initiative in partnership with the Department of Transport and the police.
26:34
SPEAKER_01: People can um arrive on site in their with their combination and have their product weighed and assessed by uh TMR inspectors.
26:43
SPEAKER_01: No infringement notices are issued, it's a safe place.
26:47
SPEAKER_01: They can come along and find out whether they're overweight.
26:50
SPEAKER_01: And um that's how it started, but it's expanded into more of a we still do the the mar the uh the weighing component of it with TMR, but we run masterclasses as well in conjunction with it, using our industry experts, providing information on how to tow more safely, how to load your caravan so that you're not overweight or you're not you're you're you're not uneven, so which can lead to sway.
27:14
SPEAKER_06: Weight distribution, yeah.
27:14
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, weight distribution.
27:15
SPEAKER_01: So it's it's um it there's a lot of wonderful information that comes through those that program, Van Safe, and it's so popular.
27:23
SPEAKER_01: Chrissy's just uh released uh we're we're running the very first rally up in Townsville, so people at a at a caravan park, it's over a weekend.
27:31
SPEAKER_01: People can stay on site at the caravan park, but it's it's booked, it's completely sold out.
27:36
SPEAKER_01: Um I think it's sold out within a couple of weeks, which just shows you how the hunger people have for information and education and and um and I think they want to consumers want to make sure that they're safe and compliant when they're out there towing, and this is what that program does provides them with the information and the tools to make sure they're on they're on the road, they're safer, they're compliant, and they can get where get to where they're going with incident free.
28:00
SPEAKER_06: Are these a paid course or are they sort of free?
28:03
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
28:03
SPEAKER_06: Yep, yeah.
28:04
SPEAKER_06: And where do people find out information about that?
28:06
SPEAKER_01: Go to our website, caravanqld.com.au.
28:09
SPEAKER_01: We run them across the state.
28:11
SPEAKER_01: We we did receive some state government funding two years ago, and that year we delivered I think it was over 30 masterclasses and and um van safe events across the state.
28:23
SPEAKER_01: And uh everything they're all full.
28:25
SPEAKER_01: They they fill up immediately, they're all free.
28:27
SPEAKER_01: No, it's they're like I said before, they're there's they're a safe place, there's no infringement notices, and it's all about providing people with information that they can use to make sure they're set up more um compliantly.
28:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
28:39
SPEAKER_06: So that's and obviously you guys have demos at the expos and yeah, caravan shows.
28:44
SPEAKER_06: And I guess how important are those caravan shows for keeping interest in the industry and I guess giving people that chance to see what's available on the market.
28:53
SPEAKER_06: And I guess how does how does the customer choose?
28:55
SPEAKER_06: They turn up and besides just buying an MDC.
28:58
SPEAKER_01: It must be overwhelming.
29:00
SPEAKER_01: We can make it easy.
29:01
SPEAKER_06: Just buy an MDC.
29:03
SPEAKER_01: See, um it you walk into one of our events at the show grounds, and I I I think it must be overwhelming for people, particularly those new to the industry, because there are so many products.
29:12
SPEAKER_01: We have over a thousand different individual units on display.
29:16
SPEAKER_01: It's amazing.
29:16
SPEAKER_01: It's the we were the biggest show in Australia, I think, two years ago.
29:19
SPEAKER_01: We'll probably claim that again this year.
29:21
SPEAKER_01: It's just it's it's incredible.
29:23
SPEAKER_01: But shows are really important.
29:24
SPEAKER_01: It's a great way for people to come along and and you know compare and research um multiple different product types in one location.
29:32
SPEAKER_01: You need a couple of days though to do it.
29:35
SPEAKER_06: And um when I first Is that just to pump up ticket sales, mate?
29:38
SPEAKER_06: Of course, yeah.
29:39
SPEAKER_06: To buy a two-day pass.
29:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
29:41
SPEAKER_06: Absolutely.
29:41
SPEAKER_05: The anti-marketer and me, that's fine, yeah, that's good.
29:44
SPEAKER_05: Multipass.
29:45
SPEAKER_05: Multipass.
29:45
SPEAKER_01: But when I first started uh years ago, they um, you know, the talk was that shows were dying.
29:50
SPEAKER_01: There's the you know, shows won't be here in ten years' time, they're stronger than ever.
29:54
SPEAKER_01: We've we've got the June, the June um super show at the at the Echo Grounds in in a couple of months' time.
30:00
SPEAKER_01: And um we'll we're at capacity.
30:03
SPEAKER_01: We'll have a we'll have a waiting list of of exhibitors so people can be guaranteed they're gonna come along to that show and they're gonna see more products than they'll see anywhere else.
30:11
SPEAKER_00: We uh booked in for that one, Wayne.
30:12
SPEAKER_03: Is that confirmed?
30:13
SPEAKER_03: I was just gonna say I shouldn't have favourites, but it is my favourite show of all of the.
30:17
SPEAKER_00: Did you hear that stuff?
30:18
SPEAKER_00: Good job, mate.
30:18
SPEAKER_01: Well this is going across the country, isn't it?
30:20
SPEAKER_01: Did you hear that?
30:23
SPEAKER_00: There are no favorites.
30:24
SPEAKER_00: Is there Jason?
30:28
SPEAKER_01: Vaughan gets it.
30:30
SPEAKER_06: Down the back.
30:32
SPEAKER_06: I think uh the the feedback, I guess, as a from a marketing perspective is we're getting feedback from our sales teams that there's a different intent from a customer that goes to those shows than what there probably was in the past.
30:44
SPEAKER_06: The people are now going to the shows certainly with a lot more of a research focus.
30:48
SPEAKER_06: There probably was a expectation previously they'd kind of go and pick up a deal or something like that.
30:54
SPEAKER_06: Whereas now people are realizing there's a lot more on offer, they're using it as more of a research kind of function.
31:00
SPEAKER_06: Do you have feedback from customers as sort of post-show analysis about really how what what the customers feel about that and what they really get from the events?
31:07
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, look, it it is certainly it's it it's a it's a place, it's it is a place to research.
31:12
SPEAKER_01: So it but it is still a place to do business as well.
31:14
SPEAKER_01: So what what we do find you and you might you probably can attest to this as well, you might even get a a customer that will return to you year after year.
31:22
SPEAKER_01: It might take three years to make that deal, but they're they're they come along, they do their research.
31:27
SPEAKER_01: Oh, we're st we're still looking.
31:28
SPEAKER_01: We're still we'll we'll we'll be back.
31:30
SPEAKER_01: And the same person comes back to the case.
31:31
SPEAKER_01: John with the black hat.
31:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's the one.
31:33
SPEAKER_01: That's it.
31:33
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, um, but they are also a great opportunity for people to come along and and do a deal on site because um you know there are there are always wonderful show special specials available if you when you come along, but um, but the beauty about them is to being able to compare and um and um and have a look at all the vast, you know, the the diverse range of products that we have on display there.
31:55
SPEAKER_00: I can talk about a show experience.
31:58
SPEAKER_00: Um just came uh went down to Tasmania for the coastal caravans event in Hobart, walked on the site, saw this guy, he just looked hungry like he wanted this van.
32:08
SPEAKER_00: It was a XT16 uh HR Island, and he comes up to me and he goes, Oh, you're Vaughn, you're the owner, aren't you?
32:16
SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, uh yeah, okay, here we go.
32:19
SPEAKER_00: He's like, This is going to be my third MDC, I want to buy it now.
32:23
SPEAKER_00: Can you point me in the right direction who I need to talk to?
32:26
SPEAKER_06: And he just pulled it out the square and went, yeah, I'll sort this out.
32:30
SPEAKER_00: I sort of like handballed it on and I'm like, Hey guys, how good am I?
32:33
SPEAKER_00: I've been here two minutes and I've sold a caravan.
32:35
SPEAKER_05: I'm all right.
32:39
SPEAKER_00: I'll leave while I'm ahead.
32:42
SPEAKER_03: Cop that one.
32:42
SPEAKER_03: Now no, well now that Vaughan said that, we're gonna we're gonna do this.
32:48
SPEAKER_03: I've got I've got a couple of things.
32:50
SPEAKER_03: Obviously, you know, we we just spoke about people using the shows for their journey, and I've been doing this for a while now.
32:56
SPEAKER_03: Uh it it started off when I when I first started with MDC, it was all about the journey and the process, and people would go to shows to uh to look at everything.
33:06
SPEAKER_03: Uh and then there was that change of the the frugal buyer, the the you know, the uh dollar conscious kind of consumer, where people would come to the shows for the best deal.
33:17
SPEAKER_03: But in the last 12, 18 months we've seen that shift back again where you know you you have I know we joked about the the multi-day pass thing, but you do have customers, you know.
33:25
SPEAKER_03: We just had one in Adelaide where a customer came back every single day.
33:30
SPEAKER_03: He he bought a five-day pass and he came back every single day.
33:33
SPEAKER_03: And he did he did buy a cabinet.
33:37
SPEAKER_00: There's a uh upsell opportunity for the floor, you know, Jason.
33:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well even if we could have a 30-day show, that would be fantastic.
33:45
SPEAKER_03: Oh no.
33:46
SPEAKER_01: How do you feel about that step 30 days?
33:49
SPEAKER_03: I remember my first my first Sydney one was one of the last was the last 10-day one.
33:53
SPEAKER_03: That was that was a bit rough.
33:55
SPEAKER_03: But let's circle back to uh customers walking on the stand.
33:58
SPEAKER_03: So, Adelaide Show.
34:00
SPEAKER_03: Customer had been on the stand, on again, off again, was talking to everybody, uh, and then came back late in the afternoon and just went, Wayne Chevis.
34:10
SPEAKER_03: And I went, Hello, I guess senior uh Morton Island trip.
34:14
SPEAKER_02: I want to buy a caravan, please.
34:16
SPEAKER_02: I was like, oh, okay, cool.
34:18
SPEAKER_06: Did you tell him that you'd also been on Channel 7 Weather, Channel 9 Weather?
34:22
SPEAKER_00: Channel 10, uh So we'd he'd been there five days and you hadn't spoken to him or qualified him?
34:28
SPEAKER_03: No, no, that that wasn't that customer.
34:31
SPEAKER_03: So you would have got him on the first day.
34:33
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, we would have been like, let's go.
34:35
SPEAKER_00: I didn't make the Morton Island trip.
34:37
SPEAKER_00: That was, you know, I wanted to be on that one, but I didn't make it.
34:40
SPEAKER_00: That's okay, Sam.
34:41
SPEAKER_05: Too wet.
34:42
SPEAKER_05: Too wet.
34:42
SPEAKER_05: You can go next time if you like.
34:44
SPEAKER_05: Go with him, it's sunny and nice.
34:45
SPEAKER_05: So, Jason, what opportunities do you see for manufacturers or dealers uh I guess in the next few years?
34:51
SPEAKER_06: Like, what does the landscape look like?
34:54
SPEAKER_06: You said we're kind of hitting this normalization phase.
34:57
SPEAKER_06: Uh is it I guess I don't know.
35:02
SPEAKER_06: What what do you see?
35:03
SPEAKER_01: I don't want to try and guess or pro look it's hard to hard to pinpoint really, isn't it?
35:08
SPEAKER_01: Um I think I think there's there's an opportunity to hit some demographics that we're not hitting at the moment.
35:13
SPEAKER_01: Like there's we've what have we what do I say we've reached?
35:15
SPEAKER_01: 900 odd thousand registered vehicles.
35:17
SPEAKER_01: There's still a lot of Australians out there without without um without a caravan.
35:22
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, it's still 26 million.
35:23
SPEAKER_01: So I think there's an opportunity to to innovate further, look at look at what's going to appeal to people that that currently don't and we've got to investigate those those demographics that we're not currently touching at the moment and work out why.
35:35
SPEAKER_01: I think there's there's some real opportunities to delve into that.
35:39
SPEAKER_01: Um look at how we can um get people out of out of out of barley and into a caravan.
35:47
SPEAKER_06: We've got an amazing country here and all these WA people flying over to Bali.
35:51
SPEAKER_06: Just go up to the Kimberley for a couple of weeks.
35:53
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
35:54
SPEAKER_06: Beautiful.
35:54
SPEAKER_01: It's uh I I think there's some there's some great opportunities, cruising as well as another one.
35:59
SPEAKER_01: Like I think I think we can um you can vomit in the toilet in the caravan.
36:02
SPEAKER_06: You don't have to do it on a cruise ship.
36:04
SPEAKER_01: David Littleproud, I think, back during COVID he called caravans the cruise ships of the Outback that was distributing COVID through the Outback.
36:11
SPEAKER_01: So it wasn't great then, but but now I that's it's I think it's a great you know, we are we are the cruise ships of the Outback.
36:17
SPEAKER_01: This is a great analogy now, yeah.
36:19
SPEAKER_01: We travel through and we spend all this money.
36:21
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but no, look, I think there's some great I think we there there's some demographics that we need that we've we've got an opportunity to identify and maybe look at how we innovate and and um and to appeal to those to those newcomers to the market.
36:34
SPEAKER_01: Baby boomers are moving on.
36:36
SPEAKER_01: They'll be they'll be letting go of their products soon.
36:38
SPEAKER_01: So that's gonna we we are going to have to look at new markets, I think.
36:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
36:43
SPEAKER_00: Is there any new events that the association's putting on in Queensland that's gonna open up that demographic?
36:50
SPEAKER_01: Yes, there is.
36:52
SPEAKER_01: So we uh we've actually launched a new a new event out at Willowbank at the end of August.
36:57
SPEAKER_01: So it's uh it's it's still a caravan show, but that particular venue enables us to expand what we can offer and we can we can have on-site camping, we can have more interactive um demonstrations and displays.
37:10
SPEAKER_01: We can we can have we've utilised some of the surfaces out there, the drag strip for for entertainment and education and uh Y62 Patrol Drag Racers.
37:20
SPEAKER_01: Can we drag caravans?
37:21
SPEAKER_01: The world record of dragging of dragging a an MDC down there.
37:25
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
37:25
SPEAKER_01: Let's do it.
37:26
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think but no, look, we we are looking at how we can diversify what we offer from a show perspective, because I think we're we're as a as a show organizer, we're competing with with the um discretionary spend of of the consumer as to what what um where do they spend their entertainment dollars.
37:44
SPEAKER_01: And I think if we can if we can look at more diverse uh look towards more of a diverse offering with our events, we can attract some of those demographics that we're currently not touching and maybe introduce them to um to caravanning through, whether it be motorsports or or whether it be hiking or buy or cycling or or music or you know, I think if we expand what we offer and touch on some of those demographics we're not seeing, I think that opens up new markets as well.
38:14
SPEAKER_06: Absolutely.
38:15
SPEAKER_06: The industry's been around obviously for a long time.
38:18
SPEAKER_06: What do you think has made it so resilient?
38:20
SPEAKER_06: Is it that the lifestyle that we have in Australia, is it the quality of products?
38:26
SPEAKER_06: What's your insights into that?
38:28
SPEAKER_01: I I think it comes down to it's it I think it's almost ingrained in Australians that we we we love to travel, we love to we love freedom, we love flexibility, we love to do things on our own time, and I think caravanning enables us to do that.
38:42
SPEAKER_01: You can you can speed up and slow down, you can you can pick and choose where you want to go.
38:47
SPEAKER_01: Um we've got we've got a um we've got a country here that's that provides us with such a diverse um offering as far as landscapes and experiences go.
38:56
SPEAKER_01: And we've been spoilt for choice, really, and and I think it's been ingrained on us.
39:01
SPEAKER_01: I I can remember being, you know, as as a kid growing up with a with a camper trailer driving around Australia, or you'd head to the old the the caravan park up on the Sunshine Coast for Christmas holidays and or you go camping um in the tent.
39:13
SPEAKER_01: I think um it it's just part of our part of the fabric here.
39:17
SPEAKER_01: And but it it also comes down to that freedom, flexibility, and being able to choose your own adventure or choose where you go and how fast you do it and whether you can speed up or slow down.
39:28
SPEAKER_01: I think um it's all about flexibility.
39:31
SPEAKER_06: I agree.
39:32
SPEAKER_06: But Vaughan, from your point of view, someone who's obviously been in the business for 20 years, what are you saying?
39:37
SPEAKER_06: What is there similar insight from your point of view around the resilience of the industry?
39:42
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, I think it's getting um stronger and stronger, and that's a testament to the association itself, but also all the members.
39:50
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, we rub shoulders with um other businesses, and um, you know, we are all in one industry and we should be striving to make that industry amazing and work together.
40:02
SPEAKER_00: And I do find there are other owners out there that they actually have that mission to drive the industry as a whole rather than sort of drive their own prerogative, I guess.
40:16
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I can understand.
40:17
SPEAKER_00: Which seems pretty cool, and it seems to sort of come aro around in the last couple of years, maybe.
40:22
SPEAKER_00: Particularly in our sort of area.
40:25
SPEAKER_06: Wayne, this is for you.
40:27
SPEAKER_06: Oh.
40:27
SPEAKER_06: What would you think about someone who's thinking about getting into caravanning for the first time?
40:31
SPEAKER_06: And I guess uh understanding the role that the industries have behind the scenes, there has been media around, you know, you see every time there's a b an issue with a carav a manufacturer that maybe goes under or something like that, there's been a bit of that lately.
40:44
SPEAKER_06: You know, what what are you sort of telling people out in the market?
40:48
SPEAKER_03: I look, it is one of those things where you know it is you know potentially uh a consumer's second or third biggest purchase that they're ever gonna make in their life, whether it be a caravan, uh camper trailer, or you know, stuff that we don't do.
41:03
SPEAKER_03: Um I always you know try and pull on the heartstrings, you know, share share my own memories uh and experiences as a kid.
41:10
SPEAKER_03: Like, you know, as uh Jason said before, like you can speed up or slow down as much as you want.
41:15
SPEAKER_03: And I remember as a kid we we ducked across the Kimberley and went to Broome.
41:18
SPEAKER_03: You know, we had uh had a track shack camper at uh Queensland based, I believe, back in the day.
41:24
SPEAKER_03: Maybe um yeah, so we we were only meant to be gone for you know the school holidays, Christmas school holidays, and mum went, you know what, we're gonna stay in Broome for six months.
41:35
SPEAKER_03: So yeah, you know, I thought I was gonna get out of school for six months, that didn't happen.
41:39
SPEAKER_03: So all the schoolwork was sent over.
41:41
SPEAKER_03: Um but it is uh certainly one of those things where where the associations and um governing bodies, you know, that they're out there, they're they're putting a lot of effort into awareness and especially uh CTIAQ, like you've got a couple of different branches of of your industry itself.
41:58
SPEAKER_03: So you've got the caravans, you've got parks, you've got I think that's it.
42:02
SPEAKER_03: Yep.
42:02
SPEAKER_03: Yep, cool.
42:03
SPEAKER_03: That's it.
42:04
SPEAKER_03: So we don't need to a couple of caravans and parks.
42:06
SPEAKER_03: But just just with that in itself, like going to those association shows, like there is a lot of awareness at those things, and you you have events and uh you know the the Yep, brain isn't working.
42:21
SPEAKER_03: The little sideshows or no schedule, yeah.
42:23
SPEAKER_03: You've got your thing, your your schedule exhibitors and um you know stuff like that, like your big spills on your stages and stuff.
42:29
SPEAKER_03: So yeah, it's pretty cool.
42:38
SPEAKER_01: And again, we saw that over COVID.
42:40
SPEAKER_01: And with the you know, with um things like Starlink as well, you can you can literally work from anywhere.
42:46
SPEAKER_06: Well most of the guys do when we're out on shoots, they're still on they're they're they're working while we're shooting.
42:51
SPEAKER_06: It doesn't stop.
42:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, your office could be Shark Bay, your office could be.
42:56
SPEAKER_01: Mine was the Morton Island Ferry a couple of a couple of weeks ago.
42:59
SPEAKER_05: Literally crossing the bay.
43:01
SPEAKER_05: I was still yeah, still on the phone.
43:02
SPEAKER_05: It's all good.
43:03
SPEAKER_06: Well, that's great.
43:04
SPEAKER_06: Well, look, I'd like to say thank you for coming and joining us.
43:07
SPEAKER_06: I know you're a pretty busy person and there's always stuff happening.
43:10
SPEAKER_06: So thank you for coming to join us and sharing your insights into what's happening.
43:13
SPEAKER_06: Sort of any final words that you think would be relevant to our audience, you know, consumers and things like that, looking to buy caravans.
43:20
SPEAKER_01: Look, I just think jump on in.
43:22
SPEAKER_01: Like if if you if you're in the industry and you love it, be an advocate for it.
43:27
SPEAKER_01: Um the more people we can get in and enjoying it, the the better it is for um for regional communities.
43:33
SPEAKER_01: One one thing that we do, we we like we sp I think there was fourteen billion dollars in in um um in money spent by recreational vehicles owners in regional Australia uh last year.
43:47
SPEAKER_01: Fifteen for yeah, fourteen billion, fifteen point two million trips.
43:52
SPEAKER_01: And um and that's a lot.
43:54
SPEAKER_01: That's a lot of um investment in regional, regional, and regional Australia.
43:58
SPEAKER_01: So look, I would say Get in the industry, give it a go, you'll enjoy it.
44:03
SPEAKER_01: There's some there's a product to suit every lifestyle choice, and um and it's it's flexible, it's it provides you with the freedom that you don't generally get with other holiday options, and um in doing so you're gonna be helping these regional communities and well, and you'll you'll see something that you're never gonna see on a on a cruise ship or a or a trip overseas.
44:23
SPEAKER_01: I mean, get out there and give it a go.
44:25
SPEAKER_03: Absolutely.
44:26
SPEAKER_03: Great, yeah, jump in feet first and have an adventure.
44:29
SPEAKER_03: Perfect.
44:29
SPEAKER_03: Well, thank you for joining us.
44:30
SPEAKER_01: Thank you for having me.
44:31
SPEAKER_03: It's been a pleasure.
44:32
SPEAKER_06: Thank you, Vaughan, for joining us again.
44:33
SPEAKER_00: Thank you, Sam.
44:34
SPEAKER_06: And thanks, Wayne.
44:35
SPEAKER_03: Thank you, Sam.
44:36
SPEAKER_06: Thanks everyone for watching.
44:37
SPEAKER_06: I hope you've enjoyed this episode.
44:38
SPEAKER_06: If you do like what you see, please like, please subscribe, and check out the links below for more resources relating to the episode.