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If you’re at the start of your conversion journey you may be wondering what to include in your camper to maximise its popularity. Even if you have a completed conversion you might want to know if there are any additions you can make.
While there are no hard and fast rules, there are some patterns we have observed over the years...
Size
Compacts tend to do well, as do MWB size vehicles. Large vehicles tend to do less well unless they provide significant extra functionality e.g. more than 4 berths and toilet/shower. Vehicles over 3.5t also tend to do less well but again this can be counteracted by having more seats/beds and a toilet/shower.
Location
The campervan pick-up location is important and will have an impact on occupancy.
Right now we are nowhere near meeting demand in the South East or Scotland, so campers in these locations are highly likely to be booked up.
Some customers will go out of their way for the perfect vehicle (particularly if you are the only one left with 5 beds/a shower etc). But of course being the perfect vehicle, where they need it, is always best.
Generally speaking vehicles located in or near large centres of population do better than those in remote or rural areas. However if you are based close to a major transport connection that will work in your favour even if you are quite rural. Locations close to a motorway junction, large airport, mainline train station or major ferry port, will pick up custom from people traveling from further afield. For most of us our location is not something we can change but it is still worth being aware of what impact your location might have on the popularity of our campervan.
Functionality
Heating - will make a significant difference to the number of off-season bookings you get. Winters will always be quieter but the occasional long bookings come through of a month or more and having heating will mean you’re in the running to get it.
Couples often appreciate the romance of a woodburner but families with young kids can be a bit nervous of them. Depending on who your camper is targeted at, that may affect the heating option you choose.
Read our blog on heating options here.
Toilet/shower - while the majority of our campers don't have a toilet or shower, the ones that do tend to be popular. If you don't do so well on the other criteria (location, berths) then consider including.
Berths - quite simply the more people your campervan can seat and sleep, the more bookings you will open yourself up to. We get a lot of enquiries from families and groups of friends. You'll do even better if you can provide flexibility with flip-down seats and removable bunks so that they don't take up space for customers who don't need them.
Do bear in mind that if you want to accommodate more people you will need to put even more focus on your weight allowance. There is no point having a camper that sleeps 5 with a payload of 150kg. Our blog on weight is a must read.
Style
It is of course the ‘quirky’ style which sets our website apart from any other campervan hire agency. Hopefully you’ve gathered by now that if your camper looks like any old factory-fit conversion, it’s not for us. Apart from that it's up to you, the more creative the better! We would however recommend thinking through a coherent look for the whole conversion and choosing just a handful of colours that are then carried throughout - from any painted elements, to the fabrics to the appliances.
You can find lots more tips in our blog 7 Tips for Quirkifying Your Campervan.
Exterior
It is essential to keep on top of rust and scratches/dents. When customers have paid hundreds of pounds to hire your van they expect it to look shiny and new (even if it's an old van). Historically our coloured vans tend to be more popular than white vans. However the ones with very creative exteriors tend to do less well.
Photos
Photos are vital to your success! Quality photos have been a key part of the Quirky Campers brand from the beginning. We have since been privy to data from a huge agency in the US who studied their 40,000 listings and discovered that the biggest single indicator for success was photo quality.
Don't cut corners on this one - hire a professional. There's no point spending thousands on your conversion then scrimping on the photos. A single week-long booking will more than cover the cost. We have a list of excellent tried and tested photographers you can access here.
If you are commissioning a photographer not on this list, ensure you do the following:
- Check that you like their work
- Ask them to look at the vans on the Quirky Campers website
- Ensure they have read the Photography Specification in advance
- Have a look at some of the shots on their camera as you go
In addition to the above, when working with any photographer:
- Make sure everything is clean and shiny
- Choose the setting carefully, it's well worth traveling to a beautiful location
- Take along props such as beautiful cases and bags, plus food and drink
Top performers
These have been our top performers over the past 12 months and our best guess for why they are so popular. See what you think!
Mo - stylish conversion, up to 5 berths, toilet, fantastic photos
Maggie - clear target market (outdoor sportspeople) and good photos
Hamish - unique conversion in a great location (Scotland), responsive owners
Angel - top end conversion with all mod cons in the South East
Emma - great photos and great location (Lake District)
As always, if you have any questions, just hit reply.
David
P.s. In the next email we'll be addressing the question of how to choose the right rental agency for you.
P.p.s. If you don't want to receive more useful tips like this, just update your preferences using the link below.
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