Vinyl Solutions partnership with Composite Prime goes from strength to strength
Last year it was announced that Vinyl Solutions, supplier of premium quality decking and fencing for the UK holiday park industry became the exclusive distributor to the sector for Composite Prime, one of the fastest growing UK producers of composite wood plastic decking. Six months in, the partnership is going from strength to strength as the industry continues to see the quality and benefits of the exciting range of composite wood plastic products. Since the start of the year, Vinyl Solutions has been the exclusive distributor for Composite Prime in the holiday home sector – adding a range of composite wood plastic decking products to their product range and more and more customers are seeing the benefits of the range of Composite Prime products. Longer-lasting and low maintenance alternative to timber The Composite Prime decking products are already taking the UK holiday park industry by storm with a number of customers and holiday parks seeing the true benefits and premium quality of the Composite Prime HD Deck® Dual and HD Deck® XS products. Fighting the war on plastics Not only are consumers seeing the quality of the product but are also realising the environmental benefits of the Composite Prime products. Thanks to retailers responding to consumers’ aversion to plastic waste, Composite Prime is saving the equivalent of ten million plastic bottles every six months going to landfill or adding to the plastic waste pouring into the world’s oceans, across their whole product range. The environmental impact of the product is something that both Composite Prime and Vinyl Solutions take very seriously – and customers are realising this. combine FSC® 100% certified hardwood timber with recycled plastic, offering the traditional look and feel of timber, with the attractive benefits the inclusion of plastic has to offer – making it longer-lasting and a low maintenance alternative to timber. Customers are impressed In March, Vinyl Solutions fitted the largest new composite decking solution on a holiday park yet – at Weymouth Bay Holiday Park – with 1000 sq. feet installed surrounding the Park’s outdoor pool areas. The new decking at Weymouth Bay Holiday Park was very well received by the customer, proving the versatility of the Composite Prime composite board. With its slip and stain resistant surface, it is perfect for what is a very popular outdoor area at the Park, particularly during the summer months. Ben Hart, Managing Director from Vinyl Solutions said: “We’re delighted to see that the Composite Prime products are being well received by our holiday park customers. “We have already had some great feedback from customers about the quality and versatility of the new composite decking board and we’re looking to install it for many more customers in the coming months.” Dom Harrison, Managing Director from Composite Prime said: “We are really pleased to hear that Vinyl Solutions’ customers are so impressed by the HD Deck®Dual and HD Deck® XS products. The feedback received so far has been fantastic. “We look forward to continuing our flourishing partnership with Vinyl Solutions and hope that more and more of their customers will continue to see the real quality and benefits that our composite decking products provide, to give the finishing touch to their holiday homes and lodges.”
Top 3 ride-on lawnmowers
Green spaces are key to any holiday park, but keeping those blades short over acres of land is no easy task! Here, we look at three top-reviewed ride-on lawnmowers which you might like to take a closer look at… 1. Lawnflite RN145 Lawn Tractor (105cm cut) (£2,040 inc VAT) A tight turning circle of just 46cm means this MTD offering is great for getting around holiday homes and other obstacles. Ease of use is another draw: the tractor’s transmatic transmission allows you to pre-select a gear and use one speed control pedal rather than continually having to change gears. Power: 8.9kW Engine: 500cc Weight: 198kg Cutting width:105cm 2. Toro TimeCutter SW5000 Zero-Turn Tractor Ride-On Lawnmower (£4,400 inc VAT) With seven different cutting positions, a precise cut is guaranteed with the larger Toro. Its zero-turn function means saving up to 50% on mowing time – as as we all know, time is money! Power: 18.27kW Engine: 708cc Weight 50+kg Cutting width: 127cm 3. McCulloch M145-97T 97cm 500cc Ride on Lawnmower (£1,799 inc VAT) An optional mulching kit and collection box can be fitted to this McCulloch, and the cutting deck is equipped with anti-scalp wheels which reduces the risk of scalping whilst cutting uneven lawns. A smaller model for medium-sized areas, it’s a popular choice. Power: 8.5kW Engine: 500cc Weight: 207kg Cutting width: 97cm
It’s no fun in this sun if your cooling systems fail
Hottest day of the year results in 85% increase in commercial air conditioning and refrigeration emergency callouts for failing cooling systems. With forecasters predicting record Summer temperatures of up to 40 degrees this year, the UK could be looking forward to a glorious summer. This is great news for holiday parks and those holidaymakers who choose to staycation this year. But, some holiday parks are about to enter the season of failing cooling systems and refrigeration systems, with this, potentially suffer frustrated guests, damaged reputation, spoiled food and drink stock and profit losses as a result. As we’ve seen over the weekend, the mercury can rise rapidly causing ambient air temperatures to increase beyond comfortable levels. This puts extreme pressure on air conditioning units and refrigeration systems which, if they haven’t been serviced and maintained, can result in unexpected failures, and unpredictable costs. Unfortunately, when this occurs to one business, it often happens to many others simultaneously. “On 26 July last year, temperatures reached their seasonal peak at 35.5 degrees in the UK,” comments Tod Harrison, CEO at Flowrite Services Ltd. “On this day alone, we received 379 emergency callouts to repair broken air conditioning units and refrigeration systems. This marked an 85% increase compared to the same day the week before.” Flowrite runs a 24/7 helpdesk, directing a mobile service team of over 100 engineers across the UK, so help is never far away. “Despite this, and although our engineers always want to help ASAP, the reality is there can be a waiting period during the Summer months when demand is incredibly high,” continues Harrison. With air conditioning now regarded more as a necessity than a luxury, and walk-in fridges/freezers, cellar cooling systems and ice machines being crucial to any restaurants you have on site, any unexpected equipment downtime can cause frustration of sweltering customers, damage to reputation, unhappy staff, spoiled stock and, ultimately, loss of revenue. “If they are well maintained, commercial air conditioning units and refrigeration systems rarely fail,” Harrison continues. “The question holiday park managers need to ask themselves is what is the cost to their business when equipment does fail unexpectedly. We are advising our customers to book a Summer Check-Up before things really heat up, as the cost of an emergency callout and resultant repair works – in addition to the potential cost to their business – is always more than any planned maintenance works.” In addition to preparing for Summer, holiday park managers also need to be aware of the F-Gas regulations and how it will affect their business. Many air conditioning and refrigeration systems use HFC refrigerants, for example R-404A, which have a very high global warming impact if released into the atmosphere. As of 1 January 2020, of most impact to holiday parks will be the ban on using these in the servicing of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. During a Summer Check-Up, Flowrite can review existing equipment and advise what businesses need to do to be compliant with the F-Gas regulations. “Many holiday parks still have outdated cooling systems in operation, which use gasses that are soon to be banned,” adds Harrison. “Come January, servicing older equipment which use these banned gasses will not be possible. If this is the last Summer your outdated air con units and refrigeration systems are going to be operational and legal, it’s a sensible business decision to update them now to avoid potential emergency callouts and repairs over the Summer on equipment which will have to be replaced in January regardless. Newer equipment is also far more energy efficient, so will actually save you money on running costs too.” Flowrite can help holiday parks be ready for what lies ahead with a Summer Check-Up. The service ensures that air conditioning and refrigeration systems are in optimum condition and will withstand the increased demands put on them during the peak Summer months. For more information or to book a Summer Check-Up, please contact the Flowrite team on 0845 603 4040 enquiries@flowriteservices.co.uk or visit www.flowriteservicesltd.co.uk.
The Mayfield Group celebrates 30 years of transforming holiday homes
2019 was an exciting year for The Mayfield Group. This year, we celebrated 30 years of service to the holiday home and decking industry. Holiday homes come in all shapes and sizes and we are experts in creating the perfect sundeck solution for each holiday home across the UK. From design to installation, The Mayfield Group will work with you and your park operators every step of the way to help you realise your dream decking. Established in 1989, The Mayfield Group is the manufacturer of the popular Focus Decking and the luxurious Hampton Decking. The skilled Mayfield team can supply and fit custom made sundecks for your holiday home. From Seamist Green to Cornish Cream, we have a wide range of colours available for your new Hampton decking. Our stylish and modern decking can help you transform the look of your static caravan. In the last 30 years we have shown a continued commitment to creating new, outdoor spaces for your whole family to enjoy. Our team can install the latest accessories, including ClearView balustrades, Integrated LED handrails, Silverback steps or even Volcano Hot Tubs! Your local Mayfield expert can also incorporate slopes, rails and gates into your decking design to make sure your new outdoor space is easily accessible for all. Where did it all begin? 30 years ago, Debbie spotted a gap in the market when working at a holiday park selling holiday homes. Debbie helped alleviate access issues for an elderly resident and realised that parks operators could offer accessible sundecks and decking to truly enhance their static caravans. Soon the offering expanded to include ramps, rails, lighting, gates and a whole range of sundeck accessories. Since the early days of The Mayfield Group, Debbie has loved attending some of the biggest holiday homes shows in the UK. When first attending these shows, there were no sundecks or access ramps on displays and Debbie saw this as an opportunity to showcase Mayfield’s selection of holiday home accessories. This step has since transformed the holiday home accessory industry and solidified The Mayfield Group as one of the most trustworthy brands. What’s next for The Mayfield Group? As we look forward to our next 30 years, we hope to continue innovating the holiday home industry and providing caravan owners with the decking of their dreams. The Mayfield Group use the latest technology to develop new products and we have lined up several exciting projects coming up during our landmark year. Cleaning and maintaining your decking has never been easier. We’ve developed high-quality uPVC decking with a longer life expectancy. The new decking combines durability and weather-resistance with a professional finish. Our uPVC sundecks are available in all of our popular colours, including, Dolphin Grey, Brownsea Brown and Kimmeridge Bay Grey. uPVC decking does not absorb any water to guarantee long-lasting decking with no staining or decay. We also continue to diversify our offering by introducing new sundeck accessories as well as improving our existing offering. In particular, we are really proud of our fresh, energy-efficient adaptation to the popular Windsor Lights for your posts. Our Windsor Lights provide a traditional alternative to the Integrated LED handrail, and both can truly enhance your outdoor space once the sun goes down. We have made sure that getting a fast, accurate and perfectly-tailored quote is easier than ever. Our new online Sundeck designed programme, Deck Me, has been created to help you design the perfect custom decking with the size and location of your holiday home in mind. Our reimagined mission With all the new and exciting Mayfield products available, we wanted to provide our customers with a trustworthy and effective cleaning solution that would still be good for the planet. We developed the cost-effective Wash Bomb, a biodegradable and solvent-free decking cleaner which can tackle staining on all surfaces. The Wash Bomb is now available from our online After Care store. The Mayfield Group are always developing new ways to contribute towards sustaining the environment. Our uPVC Hampton Decking is made from recycled materials and are also 100% recyclable. We want to help reduce the production of new plastics and other new materials. As a business, we hope to continue growing and we have recently refreshed our brand image to better reflect our dynamic, forward-thinking product offering and our company ethos and vision. Our new logo represents the progression we have made throughout 30 years of business. The new website exhibits the minimalist and luxury feel from the new branding and further shows the development of our business. This year we will also launch a new loyalty scheme for our long-standing trade customers. As a thank you, we will be offering loyalty card holders access to a wide range of benefits. Please call the team for more details. Where can you see us? The Mayfield Group have enjoyed exhibiting at some of the most popular Holiday Home shows in the UK. This year we will be attending The Caravan Extravaganza (3rd-8th June) in Hull and the Holiday Caravan and Residential Park Homes show (26th-29th September) in Beaulieu. We’ve already been to the Ideal Home SECC this year and our new decking and accessories have been displayed by our partners, Pathfinder, Prestige and Tingdene at the Park and Leisure Homes Show (7th-9th June) at Stoneleigh. If you are at any of these upcoming shows makes sure you pay a visit to our friendly team and take a look at our latest products. For further information and your free, custom-built quote contact The Mayfield Group or visit our new website.
How Club Campers Celebrated 100 Years Of The Caravan
From coffee mornings to colouring competitions – how Club campers celebrated 100 years of the caravan during National Camping and Caravanning Week Inspired by Julia Bradbury’s night on the first floating campsite on the Thames in central London last month, and a party she hosted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the start of caravan manufacturing in the UK, Camping and Caravanning Club sites across the UK undertook their own celebrations during National Camping and Caravanning Week (27 May to 2 June). The most creative activity was by the staff at the ‘Alton, the Star’ Camping and Caravanning Club site in Staffordshire who made a replica Eccles caravan from 1919 – the year commercial production of caravans started in the UK. They also hosted a party with caravan-themed bunting decorated by families staying on the site during half-term. In Crowborough, East Sussex, the managers at the Club site organised a children’s colouring competition. Each child completed an outline drawing of a caravan holiday scene, and the best six from different age categories won a WHSmith voucher. And in the Midlands, the Club’s Clent Hills site near Birmingham organised a ‘100 years of caravanning’ coffee morning and raised money for the local air ambulance charity. At the same time, The Camping and Caravanning Club also encouraged campers to share photos of their caravan holidays on social media using the hashtag #lovemycaravan and to enter a competition to win an awning package worth over £1,100. These, and many other activities at other Club sites across the UK, show how caravans have become such an important part of so many people’s lives, and the UK’s economy, and why The Camping and Caravanning Club celebrates National Camping and Caravanning Week each year. “National Camping and Caravanning Week is all about inspiring the nation to get outdoors whether that’s through caravanning, motorhoming or traditional tent camping. And we’re all more aware than ever that getting into the great outdoors is good for our mental health and well as being great fun,” said Julia Bradbury, TV presenter and President of The Camping and Caravanning Club. Paul Jones, the Marketing and Communications Director at The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “It is brilliant that so many of our Club sites joined the celebration of 100 years of the caravan during this year’s National Camping and Caravanning Week. We’re really grateful that our President, Julia Bradbury, launched National Camping and Caravanning Week 2019 in such a fun way and brought the 100th anniversary of the caravan to the attention of the whole country.”
KC Solutions Help Caravan, Lodge & Holiday Park Operators Grow
KC Solutions help caravan, lodge and holiday parks become more profitable through the visibility and sharing of data. Having the right data available at the right time makes more informed business decisions easier and removes the guess work. Understanding the unique issues faced by businesses in this ever-changing industry, KC Solutions develop and implement a range of solutions from sales to stock management to finance which are built around the core business driver of data visibility and integration. Removing human error, automating key processes and providing clear concise reports immediately allow you to make more money, remove frustrations and increase your customers’ experience. From site office management, to site-fee processing with owners, to weekender rentals, to cafes, to bars, to restaurants, to stock rooms and warehouse management, to finance and account handling, to loyalty and increasing customer spend – KC Solutions’ products and services can help you streamline and automate your processes at every touch point, where your customers or staff are involved. Designed to provide a common platform between your sales, stock and finances, their expertise allows KC Solutions to take a reassuring approach to tackle your particular issues and provide technological solutions that fit. Understanding that there is no out-of-the-box solution for you caravan, lodge or holiday park, and having strong and prosperous relationships with large and influential businesses in the industry KC Solutions have the knowledge to support and help you grow. With over 30 years of experience in working with business software, data and integrations, KC Solutions are in a prime position to help your business achieve its goal. With 99% customer retention, and 98% positive customer feedback, our award-winning team offer the best value for money support services anywhere in the UK. KC Solutions’ customers include Lyons Holiday Parks in North Wales, Blue Anchor Leisure in Lincolnshire and more – all of which will testify to the trusted products and services on offer. Don’t take our word for it, here are their testimonies for how we helped them: Lyons Holiday Parks: https://kcpos.co.uk/case-studies/lyons-holiday-park/ Blue Anchor Leisure: https://kcpos.co.uk/case-studies/blue-anchor-leisure-holiday-caravan-and-lodge-park-operator-in-lincolnshire/ Give us a call today on 01482 423 907 Kcpos.co.uk
The power of deep aeration for glamping
Lack of rainfall over long periods followed by heavy downpours on compacted grass can leave standing water, rendering large areas unusable. Glamping venues, amenity areas, sports pitches, parks and golf courses are all victims of compaction and panning. The action of foot traffic, erection and use of tents and pods, use of machines and even normal aeration can result in poor drainage, depriving grass roots of oxygen and nutrients. Terrain Aeration has been providing a long-term solution to this for over twenty-five years and has wide experience in treating glamping venues such as Warwick Castle and amenities like London’s Hyde Park after the Winter Wonderland event. One-metre deep penetration using the Terrain Aeration Terralift machine not only relieves compaction, it is also the vehicle for injecting dried seaweed. The whole process has a beneficial effect that lasts many years. It works like this. The Terralift hammers a hollow probe one metre into the soil using a JCB road breaker gun (this is because the ground is usually so compact at depth that it needs this hammer to break through). Once the probe has reached one metre depth, compressed air is released up to a maximum of 20Bar (280psi), the Terralift being the only machine using such high air pressure, which is needed to fracture and fissure the soil. On the tail end of the air blast, dried seaweed is injected which sticks to the walls of the fractures and fissures and, over time, expands and contracts with the moisture content in the soil – similar to “breathing” underground. The 1½” probe holes created by the Terralift machine are backfilled with aggregate to provide a semi permanent aeration/ventilation shaft, helping to keep the whole aeration process working. The top 1″ should be topped with the usual top dressing to encourage grass growth over the probe holes. The probe is withdrawn and the process repeated using two-metre centre spacings on a staggered grid pattern – this means that each shot interconnects with the previous ones. The Terrain Aeration process is ecologically sound, there is minimum disruption to the area treated and no mess. Which means business as usual without interruption. Terrain Aeration 01449 673783 www.terrainaeration.co.uk
Bespoke Canopy Offerings From Fordingbridge
The offering for Park Owners looking to increase the opportunities for their guests is now even greater, thanks to the standard and bespoke canopy offering from Fordingbridge. The West Sussex based specialist have a long history in helping businesses expand their offering of year round shelter for dining, sports and recreation. Designing and manufacturing their canopies in-house, this has always resulted in high quality products with excellent costings. “We understand the changing landscape of the UK holiday industry and we know that while the opportunity is certainly there, both holiday makers and park-home owners are looking for facilities that will allow them to maximise use of their investment,” explains Adam Collier, the company’s leisure specialist. “Fordingbridge offers a truly consultative approach. We fully discuss your ideas and vision for the park so that we understand the direction you wish to take in the longer term. Our products are designed to last for decades, so it’s important it will fit with your long term plans. If you would like us to visit your site, we will happily do so, so as to provide you with a proposal fully designed around you.” While the firms’ approach is a more tailored experience with regards to customer service, Fordingbridge also offer a range of standardised products in their canopy offering. “As we have been trading for so long, over 50 years in fact, we have built a solid portfolio of past projects. We are able to provide costings for both regular shapes and the weird and wonderful!” Adam explains. “Our design team is in-house, as are our engineers. This means we can quickly translate your ideas into a functional canopy to protect your guests.” The innovation and design capabilities are apparent throughout the firm, having developed their own roofing specifically for their products. Opal 60 was custom developed to provide a canopy roof material which remains 100% waterproof and reduces harmful UV. The uniqueness of the Fordingbridge offering is that the material still allows a generous amount of natural light to pass through, hence reducing the claustrophobic sensation of competitor fabric products. “Opal 60 is a fantastic product,” he comments. “It provides rain protection when necessary and gives opportunity for protection from the suns UV without casting a shadow over the site. The protection is there, but so is the light, and that is just as important. Our work covers so many different sectors, including healthcare and education and the level of detail in a canopy specification really means these factors can’t be overlooked. The days of shade sails are waning, not only due to the lack of rain protection but also the lack of proper UV shelter. The Fordingbridge offering is broad. With products ranging from timber canopies adjacent to buildings for increased seated dining, to full MUGA coverings to allow promotion of your parks’ sports facilities throughout the year, Fordingbridge have the skills and experience necessary to translate your requirements into a practical, long lasting and aesthetic enhancement to your facility. Able to add value to your site through innovative techniques and more than five decades experience, a Fordingbridge canopy is an investment that is sure to enhance your guest experience from the outset.
The Holiday & Leisure Park Development Forum
The Holiday & Leisure Park Development Forum Whittlebury Hall Hotel, Northamptonshire • 3rd – 4th October Attend as a complimentary project delegate. This event has been specifically developed to help you stay ahead of the game and deliver holiday and leisure parks that attract today’s sophisticated staycationer. Organised by Stable Events, you can hear industry experts speaking on important topics and organise short 1:2:1 meetings with suppliers. Speakers include Jamie Christon, COO of Chester Zoo, and Matt Cartwright, architect, who will speak on “Creating a destination”. See hlpd-forum.co.uk for more details #hlpd
