Taking Caravan Corner on the Road

Last weekend, we attended the Greater Sydney Caravan & Outdoor Leisure Roadshow at Hawkesbury as an exhibitor. As a mainly online store, one of our biggest decisions was what to take and what to leave behind. The weekend gave us an interesting look at how differently people shop in person, with some of our strongest online sellers receiving less attention while other products quickly became show favourites.

Plenty of people came through the Caravan Corner stall. Some walked in knowing exactly what they needed, while others slowly worked their way around every table, picking things up and discovering products they hadn’t seen before.

And what people stopped for wasn’t always what we expected.

The Products That Won

Awning tie-down accessories and parts were easily among the most popular products at the stall. Lightweight food-grade drinking water hoses also did well, along with the Lead ’n Hand Click N Easy.

Steps were another big one. We sold plastic steps, adjustable aluminium steps and ones with glow-in-the-dark strips. One gentleman told us the glow-in-the-dark strip would help him find his way home after a few drinks. We can’t argue with that.

Toilet chemicals were popular too, so we’ll probably bring a bigger range next time. Is that something you’d expect to be able to stock up on at a caravan show?

Dinner sets, 12V kettles and gas monitors also attracted plenty of attention.

Then there were the collapsible products. Collapsible bins, food covers, pots, kettles and dish drainers were all popular. Anything that saves space and weight makes sense!

Some Products Barely Got a Look

Other products didn’t receive anywhere near as much attention.

Fridge stands, tow ball weight scales, doormats, refrigerator bars, hose bags, fans and portable toilets were much quieter.

The novelty products didn’t do much either. Hats, magnetic stubby holders and reusable cups were mostly passed over in favour of practical caravan gear.

That doesn’t necessarily mean people don’t buy those products. They may already have them, prefer to buy them online or simply weren’t thinking about them on the day.

The compression travel socks weren’t a hit, which genuinely surprised us because wearing them certainly saved our legs over the course of the weekend!!

Why Do You Visit Caravan Shows?

Standing in the stall all weekend made us think about what people really want from the accessory section of a caravan show.

Are you there to find something new and different, or do you want to stock up on consumables that you have run out of?

We also noticed that everyone likes to browse differently. Some people wanted a demonstration, some were happy to ask a few questions, and others preferred to be left alone, which was completely fine to.

We loved chatting with everyone throughout the weekend. You gave us plenty of suggestions about products you’d like to see, along with some clever workarounds you’ve come up with for common caravanning problems. We’ve taken those ideas on board for future shows and for the products we stock.

We learnt a lot from our Hawkesbury stall, and it has given us plenty to think about before the next show.

When you visit a caravan show, what makes you stop and browse an accessory stall? Are you looking for new products, everyday essentials, show specials or a chance to see how something works?

Let us know in the comments below or head on over to our Facebook and Instagram.