Caravan Market Update – Vacuum of Stock 2020/2021
It would be an understatement to say that 2020 has been tough in view of the Covid-19 global pandemic. With the UK in lockdown for the three months of March, April & May, this has had a significant impact on the leisure industry as a whole. Key periods including Easter and the spring bank holidays were lost as a result.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel as since the easing of regulations on 1st June, there has been an unprecedented demand for leisure products, new and used, across the board. This we believe to be as the public are nervous of going abroad for their holidays at present and the staycation definitely provides a sensible alternative.
With UK hotels and B&B’s remaining closed for large periods and people likely to be anxious of staying in them anyway, this further enhances the idea of a touring caravan to fill the “holiday” gap.
Since 1st June, here at Ryedale, we have witnessed a huge increase of newcomers entering the market, especially younger families and current tent owners progressing up to a touring caravan. Some previous caravan owners are also looking to come back into the industry, while others are looking to upgrade to higher specifications with superior washrooms due to concern that site facilities could remain closed. Consequently, all this activity has boosted demand across the board for both new and used units.
The down side to all this new growth and demand is that good stock is becoming increasingly difficult to find. The UK caravan factories have been closed up until the beginning of September so consequently much fewer 2020 models have been produced and the 2021 models have also been compromised. Furthermore, the factories are stating they will be producing far fewer models than normal for the 2021 season, which will inevitably lead to a national shortage of all models through the dealer network.
What does all this mean?? Well, on the one side, we are faced with an unprecedented demand from new customers coming into the industry for the first time or previous caravanners returning. Whilst on the other, a lack of part exchanges and much fewer new models being made. This will inevitably lead to a huge vacuum of stock available for the coming season.
Our advice therefore, if thinking of a touring caravan for your holidays next season, is to act as early as possible, so as to take advantage of what stock is currently on offer and be able to guarantee next years’ holiday.
Please refer to our website for our latest stock availability or contact us via e mail on sales@ryedaleleisure.com with any enquiries
Dave Steer
