Winter is nigh...

Summer seems well and truly over, with just a hint of sunshine now and then, and that the sort of sunshine you can see rather than feel... Summer was a good one this year, and it was great to see a lot of new faces in the shop, as well as familiar ones. If we could be as busy as it has been over summer all year round, then it would be very good thing indeed, however that is not the case and the task of finding stuff to sell over winter begins.

The first task is getting people in the shop in the first place, you can't sell stuff to non existent customers (well you can but it's weird). We will be supplying heat logs for open fires and wood burners again this year courtesy of Calor, as well as this we may be having kindling too but this is not enough to keep us going! So what is to be done? Well advertising some Christmas presents will be a start, but one major consideration is opening a fully operational workshop for caravan and Motor homes. This won't happen in the next few weeks, but it should give a boost for next winter.

The sledges, snow shovels and other wintery products have arrived in stock, just need the snow to come along. Another thing that has come along is the Kendal Camping Kangoo, our new van will be jazzed up with logos and information any time now and can be seen round about the local area and on caravan sites when we get call outs! The van will be another shop front for our customers on sites to see, and will carry a few essentials should you need them when we are doing work on a van. Pictures will appear very soon....
There is more potentially exciting news for us, but that will be kept under wraps until we get confirmation!

Family Camping

As the school holidays come to an end, the family campers go back in to hibernation to make way for the retired couples in motor homes, and the guys without young children. These people will keep us busy until around October when only the hardy campers stick it out! But this September launches me personally into the family camping world as our first child arrives...any time from now really.

So for years I have sold family camping equipment, but rarely used it, sticking more to the lightweight side of things, but you be assured that I will be giving most our kit a good old testing in the years to come! Family camping instantly gives the image of a large camp site, perhaps a tad rowdy, in a huge tent and every starage device available! But some friends of mine actually do wild family camping in the lakes, and that appeals to me... They will take three young children hiking and camp up in the mountains for a few nights, and they love it! Yes they will carry some extra kit, but how much stuff will a child really need? An extra spork and a tiny sleeping bag is surely most of it?

I think hiking and camping with young children can only be great fun, I know I loved it when I was a nipper, though I think I'll hold back on popping a child seat on the mountain bike, that can never end well.

Repel the mozzies not the ladies

Just a short post about a little impromptu experiment I conducted a little while ago in the depths of the Honduras rainforests. A few years ago I found my self in the jungle, it was a planned trip rather than a predator style situation, and I was prepared with my mozzy repellent and Avon skin so soft. I wasn't too keen on using a product with 'soft' and 'skin' on the bottle but this would be a one off use so I bit the bullet. It seemed to work for a couple of days, but then me being daft I forgot to put any on, both the proper repellent and the questionable cream that is. However what I didn't forget was the Lynx Africa roll on, we need to smell fresh in the jungle. Not a single bite at the end of the day, so I decided to give it ago the next day on purpose, same again. With the other stuff applied I got a couple of bites, but the Lynx not only made me irresistible to ladies, but kept me bite, and therefore itch, free! I repeated this test for nearly two weeks with what can only be described as positive results. So a top tip there, can't find your midgey stuff or soft stuff, pop and grab some lynx.

Fire balls

Summer seems to have arrived in the Lake District, this is obvious from the slower pace on our roads due to the scenic nature of our A and B roads that tourists want to take in (though I am grateful for these tourists too, as a lot will hopefully spend money), and the appearance of the glorious sun! The sun, the thing that we all want to arrive, but then immediately complain about when it does. I think we forget what the sun actually is, because if we knew that it was a big, 27 million degrees, fiery ball of madness, then we wouldn't complain that it's 25 degrees out and would love a bit of rest bite. But on the brighter side, people do like going camping, caravanning and motor homing a bit more than if it was tipping down, all good news for me! The problem is, I have a shop full of top notch equipment, and no time to use it my self! Or very little time...
I am planning on using the nice new smart tent   some time this summer, and when I do I will let you know how I get on! Along with trying to camp some where, this summer is action packed with house moving, baby having, van restoring, holiday going and shop running. Fun for the whole family.

This summer really should be better than last, and weather wise it is already, and that should develop in to more sales and less time for me to write this sort of thing! So what ever you are doing this summer, get out side, don't complain about it being too hot and make sure you keep buying local! An advantage to buying local in summer is that you are outside more, so will get more vitamin D from the sun, so will therefore get stronger bones and other good body stuff. So there we have it, buying local leads to a healthy body AND economy. Cracking.

Summer...maybe

Nearly a month since my last post here, must have been busy! May seems to have been a good month for us, even with slightly questionable weather...like snow. But, it seems people have decided to risk it and get out the house to embrace what the Lake District has to throw at them, which, at the time of writing, is a lot of water. The bank holiday weekend was a good one, good for me because I took lots of money, but good for you guys due to the cloudless sky's and (relatively) high temperatures.

Now the rain is back, though I think only for a couple of days, but we still seem to have a steady stream of customers. Could be tricky when a nice big pallet arrives this week that I have to unload, sort and price, all the time making sure the customers get top service! With more deliveries due, I am hoping that this isn't all the summer we are getting, because if it is, then we will have a some what large end of season sale. Another reason I am hoping the sun will make another prolonged appearance, aside from the obvious joy it brings, is that we have finally got someone to take on the job of camper van welding and painting. Something which has been in the pipeline for nearly two years! And with a baby on the way, it will be handy income! Keep watching for the updates of this progress here.

One of my favourite new products, though not as exciting as the sit mat, is the 12 volt coffee maker, ideal for getting a fresh brew on move! Though I wouldn't want to attempt it on the M6 with out some assistance. Everyone likes a nice brew, so this machine (only £24.99) means that where ever you are, you can have a taste of the good stuff and get perked up for your day ahead. Smashing.

One of my favourite bits of kit...

So having access to a lot of top quality equipment means I am never short of the right stuff for most situations. I can also see which ones actually benefit me the most, and yes there is always place for my Jet Boil, sometimes I'll take the humble Uno stove for a brew up in car park, or for a week away it's the double burner and grill. Three sleeping bags at home plus a whole raft of bags to choose from depending on the temperature and how lightweight I want to go. Tents? Yep, got that covered, 1 man, 2 man, 4 man, and 6 man, choosing based on how friendly feel at the time. Comfy chairs, bright lights, nice knives, got em all but none of these is my favourite, and not one of these things gets taken on every trip. My favourite item comes with me on every trip, one is in the car and left there so it's always with me, it has a whole range of uses but it's main purpose is in the name. The sit-mat. Yes a piece of foam costing no more than £2 is one of my top pieces of outdoor equipment, I love it! Going for a hike? Get the sit mat on the outside of the bag, always somewhere comfy and dry to sit. Camping? Always have it handy for kneeling on when lighting the BBQ or fire on the ground. Ground too rough to safely use your lightweight stove? Pop it on a sit mat! Need to check out a weird noise under your car on the way to a wedding? Kneel on a sit mat, save your best suit for only £2! It will always be useful, and it shows that the simplest things are usually the best. The design can't be improved, technology can't make it perform better, faster or stronger, it's just a piece of high density foam that is there to improve your life. So get one. Get three if you want, just have it ready for your next time outside!

One year down...

So last month was our first year end, and all I have to say so far is that we are still here, and that can only be good. With the way we are running the business, if there is money in the bank and stock in the shop, then we must have made some sort of profit! How much I don't know yet, and it certainly won't be an amount put us on par with Sir Richard Branson or Lord Sugar! But my theory is if we can get through a bad year (as last year was as far as our industry is concerned) then we can make it through a good year (which I am hoping this will be!).

The weather certainly seems promising, as the holidays were quite dry compared to the last couple of months, if not as warm as 2012. If the weather can hold up a favourable dry to wet ratio, then all should be well! People in shop seem quite positive, though some are quite unnerved by the strong winds we are getting, I have heard of someone on the coast actually strapping the motor home to the ground this weekend! We have sold a number of storm straps and repair kits...

It was great to get a week away last week with a wedding in Aberystwyth followed by a cracking few days at New Word Alive at Prestatyn. A lot of people may say I'm mad for leaving the shop for a week in holiday season, and I had my reservations, but with willing friends to volunteer I was able to have a worry free week away! This is vitally important for any business owner who want's to make sure that the business does not become their life, you may end up with a great business and a great bank account, but you need to decide on what you are willing to sacrifice. Don't get me wrong, it is a commitment, and you will work more than a normal job, at least in the early stages, and no one has ever made a business work without a bit of graft!

My hope for this year is that people will support local businesses even more! I am very grateful to my regular customers, and I am well aware that some items are cheaper on line (not always though), but they still come here to show support. So I encourage anyone to try to find a local supplier of goods you may other wise get on line, it may cost you a couple of quid more, but you will generally get a better service, and help the economy! If we all shopped on line with big multi nationals, the shops will keep closing, jobs will be lost and our towns will be full of hair dressers and charity shops. Obviously there will always be things that we have to buy on line, and sometimes we can't resist a good bargain! But give your local shop a bell and see what they offer, you may be surprised at how cheap we can offer particular items!

The Camper Project

So I have had a 1983 VW T25 camper sat around for a while now, it was bought just over a year ago now as a full camper with the intention of striping it and renovating it for hire. We got as far as stripping the interior before it had to go on pause when my Dad's shop closed down. We are now back on with it, new panels have been bought, awaiting the body shop to look at it for a tidy up and respray, and once they have done the exterior we can crack on with the inside! In my head it is very straight forward, which usually means it will be a bit complicated, but we are quite experienced with the internals so shouldn't be too bad. It will get a modernized interior, with a rock and roll bed, all LED lighting, a nice looking gas cooker and sink, flip down TV, solar panels, fridge as well as other goodies along the way! From the outside it will be kept classic looking, but with a new engine it will be as reliable as a modern van, only much cooler! Look out for more updates on the progress of the green machine!

Good Saturday

This entry comes at the end of what has been the busiest day so far, which blows all the negativity from the last post! It seems a lot of people have decided just to get on with it and head out, the weather is beautiful, if a little on the chilly side, and with a fair few sales of warm sleeping bags to go along with it! I myself managed to get out for an afternoon drive and wander yesterday in the sun, heading out towards Elterwater, over to Grassmere and walking up to a cracking (relatively unknown) viewpoint giving views of the Langdales, Grassmere, Rydal and Loughrigg, amazing views with the snow still quite heavy higher up.

A good start to the season is always a good thing, and it also coincides with Easter, which happened to give us a good start to a new life!

Easter is good for my business, the two weeks or so for schools, and the 4 day weekend most people will get is a good opportunity to get the first trip of the year in. But I love Easter more for the fact that it reminds me of the amazing sacrifice that happened to save my life. That God came as a man, Jesus, to die in my place, for all the wrong I have ever done, and will do, not least ignoring Him and living like He doesn't exist. I deserve to die and go to hell, but Jesus took my punishment so I could have eternal life with Him when I die. To prove He did this, Jesus rose from the dead three days later to show He was more powerful than death. I have nothing to fear if I don't need to fear death, and I have something that will always satisfy, and never waste away like everything else in this world. I won't do this too often, but Easter is the most important time of the year for me, so wanted to take the opportunity to tell you why!

If you have a spare few minutes, check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyYFxp7apl4 .

Not sure when the next post will be, as I have a busy week ahead with my end of year, stock taking and a few deliveries due too! As I'm on my own it may take a while!

Questionable Easter...

So as I sit here, only a day away from the Easter Holidays and what is generally the proper start to the season, I look out the door to see snow falling. Now as I said in the previous Blog, I like the stuff, BUT when it disrupts business it definitely has a bad side. At the moment we can't seem to trust the weather people, it seems if they talk with enough confidence in their voice then all is well. But I don't know what will happen over the Easter holidays, if it's cold and snowy, then surely most potential visitors will stay home or head south, but if it's dry then all will be well! I don't like too much sitting on my own all day, so regular customers are always welcome! But if this weather persists then it's looking likely I will have some more lonely cold days ahead. I do have jobs to do, such as completing a VAT return, Tax return and getting to grips with new software, but distractions are something I welcome.

We are currently expecting deliveries from Blue Diamond and Vango, with more to follow. So keep your eyes and ears open for new products and reviews! Talking of Reviews, I will insert a mini one here!

The Gelert Tryfan 300 sleeping bag is, in my opinion, one the best value bags on the market! If you are wanting to keep your bones safe from the chill all year round for less than thirty quid, then this is ideal. It is an entry level technical bag, ideal for the budding scout, duke of edinburgh-erer, back packer on a budget or the  car campers tight on space. Boasting shoulder baffles to keep the cold out and the heat in, compression straps for a not too shabby pack size, a ridged hood for extra cosyness and a comfort rating down to -1 degrees, this ticks all the boxes for those who's boxes are few and regular in shape.

Snow Business

Snow! That word can bring (generally) one of two reactions, excitement or disgust. Personally I get overly excited, probably too excited for a 25 year old, but I love the stuff! Firstly it makes everywhere look amazing, even the roughest estate, or most run down industrial area once covered in the white stuff instantly looks a bit friendlier. Coming from the Lake District,  the snow here looks fantastic, and to be honest it's the winter months when I prefer to be out walking too. You get the hills to yourself, nearly, and the views are incredible. It does annoy me when the are those who get very upset with the snow, though recently I have seen their side of the story! It slows business down some what, be it that people just won't go camping or caravanning in the snow, or that the roads are so bad that they can't even get to the shop! So yes, it's not all fine and dandy, but I still think we need to make the most if it.

What I noticed a couple of years ago was how snow can suddenly bring us 21st century, techno mad, people to engage in what seems to be a very simple pleasure...sliding down a hill on a tray. Sledging is essentially this, you trudge up a hill, to spend a fraction of the time it took to get up sliding back down on a tray of some sorts. It's brilliant, and it seems that most recognise that it's much more fun than playing on the wiistation 360. People have spent hundreds, if not thousands on entertainment, on games, home movies etc, but get them on a piece of plastic costing under a tenner and they are loving it. So even if you don't really like the snow, and it's an inconvenience, at least it gets you out the house and back to having real fun for a couple of days.

Here is an interesting new product on the market, and one I am considering selling! It's called the Smart Tent, and is basically a very easy to pitch one man tent. Every one wants easy now-a-days, and you can't get any easier than this, even the pop up tents can be tricky to fold down! Being off the ground means it will be kept cleaner, and ideal for those who don't like stooping down. Get a few in a circle round a fire and it's great way to spend a weekend away! Chuck it in the car and go, you can even leave your bedding inside! With a 1500mm hydrostatic head, it will be fine for British summers, though I wouldn't want to be using it in torrential down pours! Pitch it under a tarp for extra protection too, but people who are likely to be using these will no doubt check the weather first! Personally I would love to give  one a try, and wouldn't hesitate to use it year round! At a bargain price of £130 and pitched in 50 seconds it's worth a look!

So this is my first ever attempt at a blog, hopefully I will do more in the future and hopefully they will be of interest! Consisting of business news, opinions on products as well as personal musings on anything I particularly want to share!

A brief explanation of who we are, how we started and what the plans are for the business I feel would be an appropriate start to this blogging malarkey. I used to work for my Dad at Kendal Camping Centre Ltd until it closed down in January/February 2012, as I was looking for a job my wife and I were talking about options and a few people had said about opening a smaller shop. This seemed to make sense as the only down side to my Dads was that the premises was just too big. So after a few long number crunching sessions and chats to suppliers we decided to have a dab at the business owning world.

So we opened the doors on March 1st 2013, with a (very) small loan and enough stock to get going we were away. As it happens we opened in the worst year the camping and caravanning industry has ever had! With bad weather, the Olympics keeping people in front of TV's as well as other factors, it wasn't an amazing year by any stretch, but we managed and we are here for year two. The way we run the business may not conform to the normal way, and if my tutors from university studied how I operate they would think me mad! This is because the business is not the most important thing in my life! It isn't even 2nd place! I do not live to work, but work to bring in enough income to live on. It was the alternative to getting a job, which at the moment would be tricky, so providing myself with work seemed to make sense. We do not open Sundays as it would interfere with going to church, despite pressure to open as we would make more money if we did. Note, I am not against working on a Sunday, but working 7 days a week is not healthy for the body, the mind, the marriage and especially not for my faith.

As a  Christian, there are many things that I do and don't do in the operating of my business that some may see as strange. I try to operate as honestly and as lawfully as I possibly can (not as common place in the business world as we would hope), and don't take huge risks financially ( partly because I don't have huge numbers on my on line banking screen) , though risk taking is part of business so calculated risks are fine by me,

As far as our customers are concerned, we have quite a wide demographic really. From young teens doing D of E and scouts, to families going camping or caravanning, and retired motor homers to people who live in yurts! It's a great job being able to meet so many people (through summer anyway) and chat to them about where they from or what they are doing. Part of why I love to sell stuff is getting to talk to people, we have a few people who even pop in just for a brew! It's great meeting new people, and hopefully by giving the best service I can, they will be inclined to return. In just one year I have met people who are travelling around the world, doing long distance walks, rides and drives, and people from every corner of the globe! Its great to see so many people getting out and about, exploring and enjoying the beautiful creation we live in (the lake district especially!) and being able to assist people in doing that is a pleasure!

I will end my first blog here, I'm sure there will be more to follow!