An update from the NCC - how motorhome and caravan dealers should be preparing to reopen
It’s no secret that over the past year, Auto Trader saw unprecedented levels of demand to our motorhome and caravan platforms, just as the market did. In March, sessions to Auto Trader Motorhomes and Caravans were up 108% compared to last year, and sales leads to retailers up a massive 249%.*
With that increasing demand in mind, it’s more important now than ever to evaluate the current market and consider how you’ll adapt and operate in the new normal.
With 12th April and the reopening of dealerships in England and Wales fast approaching, what should retailers be focusing on over the coming weeks to ensure they’re ready for buyers? We spoke to Jo Chubb from the National Caravan Council (NCC) for their thoughts on how dealers should prepare.
Jo: It could be exceedingly busy through the second half of April so dealerships should develop systems to keep staff and customers safe. This should include:
· appointment only visits or an organised queuing system with marked social distancing areas in showrooms
· ensuring staff and visitors are aware of the requirement to wear face masks inside the vehicles and showroom premises
· maintaining strict social distancing rules, with hand sanitiser freely available and topped up throughout the day
If potential buyers are permitted to touch items, there should be a system of sanitisation afterwards (assuming that dealerships will not want to close up vehicles for an extended period after visitors have looked round).There is lots of Government advice available too, including for people who work in or from vehicles.
Additionally, the Government has announced that it is expanding the workplace testing regime so that businesses with more than 10 staff can order free testing kits for employees to use at home. To get the free tests, you must register interest by 12 April.
Read more about the rapid testing for businesses here.
Do you have any recommendations for retailers to reassure customers that it is safe to visit their site?
Jo: If you have taken measures such as those mentioned above, it is good to communicate this to your potential visitors, e.g. on your website, social media pages, Auto Trader adverts, answerphone messages and when talking to customers.
It has just been announced that retailers (in England) can open for longer hours, so that might ease the pressure on busy forecourts!
Reinforce the message that leisure vehicles are ideal because:
· they help to ensure your ‘bubble’ gets a holiday
· they are ‘socially distanced by design’ and
· there are generous separation distances on parks.
Do you have a sense from what retailers are telling you that there is pent up demand in the marketplace and there will be an influx of buyers through the door during the first week of opening?
Jo: Anecdotal evidence from our member manufacturers and dealers suggests that there has been a lot of interest in touring caravans and motorhomes throughout the recent lockdown period, with many reporting higher than usual levels of web traffic, this reflects Auto Trader’s insights. When dealerships reopened after the first national lockdown last summer, we saw a significant number of ‘new to caravanning/motorhoming’ buyers, and it would seem likely that the same may happen this year. There is also research suggesting that caravanning will be the most popular accommodation choice this summer.
We have another couple of weeks to go before non-essential retail can (hopefully) open in England and Wales. We can be pretty confident leisure vehicles will be highly popular in 2021. All the signs indicate that there’s good year ahead for those businesses that are ready for it.
For more information on NCC membership please click here to send us your enquiry.
*Auto Trader Internal data, March 1st – 29th 2021 Vs 2020