Hydratech’s new Safeguard antifreeze range helps park operators save money
Hydratech winterisation fluids are used by holiday park operators of all sizes throughout the UK. Their non-toxic, fully inhibited antifreeze solutions are trusted by service engineers and maintenance teams to ensure the smooth running of their operations, avoiding costly frost damage and unplanned maintenance. Safeguard, Hydratech’s latest non-toxic antifreeze range has been especially formulated to provide superior winter protection for caravan, motorhome and marine craft wastewater and hydronic heating systems – at a very competitive price. Giving peace of mind during winter storage, the Safeguard Wastewater product protects toilets and water systems, including tanks, fittings, valves, pumps and drinking water systems. Offering freeze protection down to -46°C and burst protection down to -73°C, the antifreeze formulation is safe for aluminium, copper, brass, and standard system plastics. Suitable for winterising hydronic heating systems in static caravans, touring caravans, motorhomes and marine craft, Safeguard Heating antifreeze delivers comprehensive protection against freezing and corrosion. Providing protection down to -40°C, Safeguard Heating’slong-life high temperature rated formulation contains synergistic corrosion inhibitors, that exceed ASTM D1384 standards. The product also contains broad-spectrum biological inhibitors and polyacrylates to prevent scale precipitation. Safe for associated system metals and plastics, Safeguard Heating will not damage standard rubber, hose or gasket materials. As well as being non-toxic, the Safeguard range is readily biodegradable (90% over ten days) and will not remain in the environment or bio-accumulate, making it safer for the application and local environment. Developed to protect systems and save money Due to raw material availability and logistical chaos, the leisure and facilities industry has seen antifreeze prices rise considerably over the last few years. Hydratech have developed Safeguard antifreeze to deliver significant cost savings when compared to other products on the market – without compromising on protection and performance. Tried and tested by many of the UK’s leading park operators, including Park Holidays and Pure Leisure, Safeguard is available to buy direct from Hydratech (bulk trade discounts and distributor pricing available) and many leading suppliers including Travis Perkins and Huws Gray. Celebrating 25 years of fluid engineering success Since 1998, Hydratech have been providing the leisure and facilities industry with superior antifreeze solutions, expert technical advice, and unrivalled customer support. Utilizing over 100 years combined experience in all aspects of wastewater and hydronic heating system protection, Hydratech’s commitment to undertake extensive product development and establish technical partnerships within the leisure industry, has helped them grow from a small family run business to a global operation, with an enviable list of blue-chip customers throughout the caravan and park home sector. Buy direct from Hydratech and receive further benefits including: Bulk trade discounts Unrivalled technical and logistical support Next day delivery from a UK manufacturer Distributor pricing in 1, 4, 5, 25, 205 & 1000 litre containers ‘Always in time’ approach to stockholding and logistics For more information on the Safeguard range and the savings your business can make, call Hydratech on 01792 586800 or email: sales@hydratech.co.uk www.hydratech.co.uk/safeguard-antifreeze
Dekboard unveils its new hot tub range
DekBoard, the specialist manufacturer of sustainable PVC decking for holiday homes, has now added hot tubs to its already extensive product range. This new addition enables DekBoard to offer its customers a greater depth of products – everything they need to create a luxurious outside space, from all decking options to hot tubs. Mark Cartwright, Commercial Director at DekBoard, explains why DekBoard decided to include hot tubs in its offering: “Here at DekBoard we work hard to support our customers by guaranteeing the highest quality and most up to date product range. One way of successfully achieving this is by monitoring market trends and pre-empting the needs of our customers, to ensure our offering reflects these. The addition of hot tubs to our range is one such example. “The popularity of hot tubs has risen exponentially over the past few years, with many holiday makers choosing park-based accommodation with this feature. As a result many park owners and their residents are upgrading their holiday homes to take advantage of this increased interest. However, it is important to remember that hot tubs require regular maintenance and must adhere to the correct compliances to keep them safe and enjoyable.” Correct compliance for peace of mind In 2017, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its HSG282 guidance on the control of legionella and other infectious agents in spa-pool systems. This guidance has since been updated and now contains specific advice on domestic-type hot tubs used as part of a business activity, for example in holiday-park rentals. This helps holiday park owners and their residents meet the necessary requirements when it comes to the installation and maintenance of hot tubs. “If you are a caravan or holiday home park owner who has rental accommodation with hot tubs, you need to ensure these are HSG282 compliant,” continues Mark. “Our goal is to provide park owners with the ultimate peace of mind. This is why our hot tubs have been carefully designed to not only provide style, comfort and relaxation to users, but also to comply with the Health and Safety Executive’s legislation.” “It is worth bearing in mind that non-rental accommodation with hot tubs, is not subject to the same compliance rules. However, as a park owner, it is always pertinent to have a conversation with the owner to determine if the hot tub is being correctly maintained to ensure site safety”. Safety and style – the perfect combination As part of the HSG282 compliance features, DekBoard hot tubs are self-dosing, removing the reliance on the doser remaining in the tub, have tamper proof controls for peace of mind, and feature a fast water release, reducing the time it takes to change the water. Overall, DekBoard hots tubs provide maximum impact with minimum effort, giving park owners a truly distinctive unique selling point. PVC perfection – creating the perfect outdoor space By adding hot tubs to its range, DekBoard can now offer holiday park owners everything they need to create the perfect outdoor space for their residents. Its PVC decking beautifully emulates real wood but requires no treatments to protect it from the elements. It is also extremely durable, very easy to maintain, and is slip resistant, which when installed around a hot tub makes for a safe and comfortable underfoot experience. Alongside its decking, the DekBoard range also features coordinating balustrades, skirting, privacy panels, steps, ramps, and gates, and practical yet tasteful lighting solutions. Combined, the DekBoard range enables park owners to produce beautifully styled – and safe – holiday homes that will attract holiday makers year after year. Understanding the industry “We have supplied the holiday park market for many years and understand the needs and wants of their owners. When it comes to PVC decking, we know price is one of the most important considerations, together with style and quality of product. We believe our decking and accessories range combines all of these essential qualities and we plan to continue this same philosophy and commitment through to our new hot tub range,” concludes Mark. Further information about DekBoard’s new hot tub range, as well as its core decking solutions collection can be found at www.dekboard.co.uk or by calling 01724 848500.
Countdown on for UK’s biggest outdoor holiday home show
Great British Bake Off star and motorhome fan Karen Wright will join renowned Yorkshire chef Steph Moon on the Great Holiday Home Show Cookery Stage this September. The countdown is now on for the Great Holiday Home Show which will be held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate from Friday 8 September to Sunday 10 September for the first time. Karen, from Wakefield, was one of 12 contestants on the Great British Bake Off in 2018 and says she loves baking while she’s away on holiday. She will be giving her top tips for baking in a caravan and demonstrating recipes from her new book ‘Meals on the Move’, and personally signed copies will be on sale at the show. Karen said: “Anything can and does happen in caravans and motorhomes. My caravan now doubles as my prep kitchen when I work at food festivals. It’s fantastic, as I have everything I need and get all the benefits of campsite life. Fresh air, changes of scenery, companionship, solitude, we all have our own reasons why we enjoy living our dreams, and for me the list is long – I look forward to sharing my top tips at the Great Holiday Home Show next month.” Multi award winning consultant chef Steph Moon will host the cookery theatre throughout the three days of the Great Holiday Home Show. Steph said: “I am really looking forward to this brand-new show having stayed in many holiday homes and now owning my own camper van, I am a huge fan of this lifestyle. Cooking in a confined space has its challenges, Karen and I look forward to showing you how tasty, easy and fun this can be.” Alongside the cookery theatre, there will be the Great Holiday Home Stage hosted by TV Presenter Christine Talbot. There will be a show on stage every hour, to inspire and entertain. Special guests include Matt Baker MBE, adventurer Andy Torbet, YouTube motorhome family the Roaming Radfords and Peter Wright from Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet. The show will include the latest models of holiday homes, caravans and motorhomes and all aspects of life exploring the great outdoors. It is the biggest outdoor show of its type in the UK with a phenomenal 227 holiday homes and 140 caravans/ motorhomes on display; giving you a unique opportunity to experience the widest possible range. Tickets are on sale now for the show with Andy Torbet appearing on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th September, along with Peter Wright. The Roaming Radfords will be on all three days, TV presenter Matt Baker MBE will be on stage on Sunday 10th September. Hall 1 of the Yorkshire Event Centre will feature an e-bike testing arena with brands such as Shark Ebikes, MiRider and Estarli. Visitors will have the opportunity to try out the latest models. Also in Hall 1 are a variety of holiday parks, companies who specialise in pet products and food and drink stands too. Hall 2 will be become the Leisure World Shopping Village with trade stands from some of the industry’s biggest brands such as Isabella, Sunncamp, Bradcot, Groves and Crespo. The shopping village is the perfect place for anyone looking to purchase a new accessory or upgrade to the latest industry technology. The Great Holiday Home Show also has some fabulous bands playing and great options for food and drink from Mexican burritos to artisan Cheese toastie. Tickets are £12.50 per person, children under 16 go free with an accompanying paying adult. To book, go to: https://thegreatholidayhomeshow.seetickets.com/
Life Is Colourful With Us
Great Little Rewards offers a range of vibrant, on-trend, engaging cuddly toys, collectible stationery and bricks at value for money prices. Great Little Rewards offer an ever-changing range of on-trend, cuddly toys and stationery items, featuring brands your young guests will love. From Pokemon and Minecraft to Squishmallows we have something for everyone and offer value for money prices. We offer the most current ‘must have’ collections that children really want in a range of unique styles. Our stationery range of bright, great quality collectible erasers, pencils, pens and more have proven very popular with our Clients and fly off their shelves , whilst our toy brick range is a big hit with young creatives and keeps them busy, giving their parents a bit of time to themselves. Our ranges are also a perfect gift to take home after a lovely holiday. Email: sales@greatlittlerewards.co.uk and we will be delighted to send you a copy of our trade catalogue
Saniflo’s Sanibest Pro provides robust service for guest house
Managing Director of Leisure at DF Capital
As DF Capital’s managing director of leisure, Ian Martin ensures DF Capital plays a vital role in supporting businesses to make the most of current commercial opportunities. He understands portfolio management, credit oversight and retailer and manufacturer relationships and has three decades of experience in leisure finance, crucially including manufacturing relationships and sales management roles How is the caravan and park homes market faring at the moment Ian? We had a good 2022 in terms of sales but that seems to have fallen off this year. Should we remain positive despite all of this? Yes, that’s right, things have started to slow a little. After a period of booming sales, many manufacturers are now having to put the brakes on slightly in terms of production to give the parks chance to clear some of the stock they are holding. Parks are being more proactive in encouraging buyers with special offers and deals. I’ve seen free site fees and free gas and electric for a year– which are nice incentives for the right customers. Nonetheless, at a recent park and leisure homes show, manufacturers and parks said they were pleased with the footfall and enquiries in general. Anecdotally, I’ve also heard that holiday bookings at certain parks are holding up well, especially as they too are offering money off deals. So, whilst it’s a more difficult market than it was 12 months ago, there is still interest in the sector and I expect this to continue. That is where DF Capital comes in. Can you tell me a bit more about DF Capital? DF Capital is a specialist savings and commercial lending bank, providing personal savings products to retail customers and award-winning inventory finance solutions to dealer and manufacturing businesses across the country. DF Capital works closely with manufacturers and parks in the leisure industry and provides flexible working capital solutions – Floorplan Finance, Unit Stocking and Rental Finance – throughout the unit distribution cycle. Can you explain what these are in more detail? DF Capital supports park home and lodge manufacturers and distributors with capital funding throughout their distribution cycles. This is done by providing credit facilities, known as Floorplan Finance, across the distribution network which can help to grow sales, improve cash flow and free up working capital. Holiday parks are also supported by credit facilities so they can purchase and supply units to their customers when needed without having to pay for them upfront. This is called Unit Stocking and this brings cash flow and working capital benefits to distributors. DF Capital also provides holiday parks with flexible funding to enable them to purchase more units so they can hire them out to customers, spreading the cost over time whilst earning rental income. By providing this flexibility, park operators can decide whether to sell or continue to rent out the unit at the end of the term. This is known as Rental Finance. How is DF Capital helping parks and manufacturers in the lodge and park home sector to keep things moving and grow their businesses in the current market? Our funding can help both parks and manufacturers to grow their sales, protect cashflow and support working capital. If we don’t already work with a manufacturer, we can offer parks a direct funding facility, whereby we provide the funding to the parks and they pay the manufacturer for the units received. For manufacturers who have a programme with us, we pay them upon delivery of the homes, with the parks then repaying us upon final sale to their customer. It’s a streamlined process that makes selling products easier for both manufacturers and the parks. We’ve grown the number of manufacturers we work with over the last few years and now support more parks than ever before. We are all about helping grow sales for manufacturers and parks alike. The facilities we offer are tailored to individual needs and we offer facility limits – according to our customer’s affordability – to unlock growing sales. We also have flexible limits to support a park or manufacturer. Does DF Capital offer hire fleet funding? Yes, DF Capital offers a rental and hire fleet facility to parks. Manufacturers offer units on fleet terms and we typically finance them over a four year period, up to a maximum of 90 days per rental contract. Is consumer finance on the cards for holiday home purchases? We are exploring options to widen the lending products we offer and this could include consumer finance in the future for a number of our sectors When did the Floorplan Finance scheme start, what has onboarding been like, and do you see a time when this will be the default way of doing business? DF Capital has been offering Floorplan Finance since it was founded in 2016. Floorplan financing is well established and, in some areas – such as tourers and motorhomes – the vast majority of manufactured units are funded via a floorplan scheme. We are continuing to see growing interest for similar finance in the lodges and holiday homes market, so expect to see more units across the entire sector to be funded by floorplan over time. Tell me about something that makes DF Capital stand out in the industry We are quite unusual in this industry as our charges are fixed at the point a home arrives at the park, until we are repaid. This gives parks and manufacturers certainty as to the cost of having an unsold home on the park but also provides important protection against increasing interest rates on the assets that have already been funded by us. For those interested in finding out more, what should they do next? Visit dfcapital.bank/commercial and take a look at our product information. We even have videos on our website to help explain how we can help. You can also contact me on imartin@dfcapital.bank and we can discuss ways in which DF Capital can support both
Caravan Guard crowned top motorhome insurance provider
Motorhome insurance specialists, Caravan Guard, have once again been crowned as winners of What Motorhome’s magazine’s insurance provider of the Year 2023. Already the chosen insurance partner of hundreds of motorhome and campervan dealers,judges chose Caravan Guard as “a clear winner” for its “keen pricing and feature-laden policy”. What Motorhome surveyed 11 motorhome insurance specialists and analysed the features and benefits of their motorhome insurance policies against the cost of their premiums. When choosing Caravan Guard as the winner, What Motorhome said its policy was “one of the cheapest around”. Editors also highlighted that the Yorkshire-based company was one of the only providers to offer UK breakdown as standard, and that “most rivals are more costly, even though they generally don’t include vehicle recovery”. They also highlighted Caravan Guard’s generous claims limits, with its excess starting at £150* Other cover benefits include unlimited windscreen cover, a £1,000 limit for replacement locks, high personal injury benefits of £15,000, plus legal cover. “We’re extremely proud to be named What Motorhome’s insurance provider of the year for 2023,” said Caravan Guard’s Partnership Director Neil Menzies. “It’s a very competitive market and we’ve worked really hard with our underwriters, RSA, to offer market-leading insurance cover so customers can trust us to insure their freedom. “Over the last 12 months, we’ve seen good growth in our motorhome insurance scheme and we’re insuring more motorhome owners than ever. They’re clearly impressed with our brilliant customer service, extensive cover benefits, and big savings for claim-free driving, security and safety.” It’s the third time Caravan Guard has won this annual survey, having been highly commended many times before, and scooping the title in 2020 and 2021. The insurance specialist was also voted as Best Motorhome Insurance Provider by customers in the Insurance Choice Awards 2022. To introduce your dealer customers to Caravan Guard’s award-winning policies, with great value premiums, excellent service and extensive cover for your customers, plus healthy levels of commission for your business, contact our friendly team: development@caravanguard.co.uk.
The Weirdest Sights You’ll See in a Caravan Park
The Weirdest Sights You’ll See in a Caravan Park We all love a staycation and with the cost-of-living crisis set to continue, more than a fifth of us are looking to avoid costly flights in favour of a UK-based trip. And we’re looking beyond hotel stays to caravan and camping holidays. In 2022, the market size of the caravan and camping site industry in the UK rose by a third as people in the UK took 16.7 million caravanning and camping trips. With an estimated 755,000 caravans and motorhomes and 365,000 caravan holiday homes in regular use across the UK, many are buying into this kind of staycation. If you’re ready to join the caravanning trend, you need to prepare yourself to see some strange sights that are unique to the caravan holiday! Pure Leisure, which offers Lake District lodges for sale, has spoken to caravanners and campers to find out about some of the weirdest sights people have seen during their holidays. Parking palavers and new neighbours Reversing your caravan onto your pitch requires a certain level of driving skill and spatial awareness. Unfortunately, not everyone can expertly position their caravan exactly where they need it to be. If this is your first time parking a caravan, get ready for your new neighbours to stop what they’re doing to critique your technique! You can expect an audience of happy campers ready to offer advice about how best to align your caravan with your plot and tips on proper mirror usage. Difficulty reversing can lead to holiday-makers parking their caravans in weird places, nowhere near the agreed plot, looking as though they’ve been abandoned! Watch out for lacking driving skills amongst your new neighbours and prepare yourself for spirited discussions about wheel placement, tow bar securing and whether they’ve left enough space for the fold-out deckchairs. Once your neighbours have finished trading parking stories, the discussion might switch to ‘the noisy ones’. There’s usually one group of caravanners who are louder than the rest – if you haven’t met them, it might be you! Instead of complaining about potentially loud music, late-night conversations or happily screaming kids, why not join in? Chatty neighbours can make for great company and many of the people we spoke to have made lifelong friendships through their static and touring caravan holidays! Crazy caravans When deciding on which caravan to buy, we have plenty of considerations – do we want a static caravan in one location or a touring option? Many of us will also choose the most spacious option available. But the QT Van takes this idea and does the opposite! Standing at just 2.39m in length and 1.53m in height, this is one tiny caravan. Named the world’s smallest caravan by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2014, the QTvan features a full-sized single bed, TV, bookshelves and even a minibar! The tiny trailer can be pulled by a bike or mobility scooter, making it a brilliant sight if one arrives in your caravan park. If you’re the proud owner of a QTvan, you’re sure to encounter more questions from your nosy neighbours, so be prepared! Tent rope trippers If you’re parked up on a site that also allows tents, the likelihood is you’ll see someone trip over a guy line before your holiday is over. From small missteps to full-blown faceplants, these ropes that hold a tent upright are a common camping site hazard. To make matters worse, they’re even harder to see at night, especially if you’ve forgotten your torch. Watch out as fellow caravanners and campers go flying across the site after getting caught out by one of these ropes! The ‘catavan’ With 53% of travellers choosing to bring their pets on holiday, it’s no surprise to see canine or feline campers. What is a strange sight however is a furry friend with their very own caravan. When a stray cat wandered onto a caravan dealership in Staffordshire, the park employees decided she needed her own mobile home. They developed a bespoke caravan, perfectly sized for the cat, even fitted with its own tow bar and set of wheels! Look out for other pampered pets travelling with their owners at your next caravan site. A ruined first kiss Many caravan sites feature picturesque views and sweeping lakes. On the surface, these make for the perfect romantic setting. But as one couple we spoke to found out, they can also be fraught with accidents! After spending a lovely day together exploring the caravan park and the stunning views, the couple shared their first kiss at the edge of a large lake…only to both fall into the water! The freezing lake put a bit of a dampener on the moment. It all worked out eventually though, as the pair are now happily married! Canine capers If you don’t see a pampered cat with its own personal caravan on your holiday, you might see a sports-loving dog. One caravanner remembers walking past a fellow holidaymaker playing table tennis. Nothing too unusual there, except for the fact that their opponent was a dog! The crafty canine was holding the table tennis bat in his mouth, hitting the ball back towards his owner. If only there were a video of such a brilliant sight! Goldilocks and the three caravanners The popularity of certain models of caravan can sometimes lead to embarrassing mix-ups, with people trying to unlock the wrong caravan or knocking on the wrong door. Things went one step further for one family when they returned to their caravan to find someone else in their bed! The couple had been fishing all day and returned to what they believed was their caravan for some well-earned rest. The two caravans were the same model and colour and the couple didn’t realise they were in the wrong one until the family woke them up! Caravanning and camping holidays certainly throw up some interesting, quirky and downright silly scenarios – and that’s part of their
The Sanibest Pro transforms Art Deco building
The Sanibest Pro – a heavy-duty macerator suitable for heavy usage public or commercial environments – from Saniflo UK is helping the residents of Eastbourne provide valuable services to people in need out of a large, four-storey Art Deco building in the centre of the town. As temporary custodians of the building, the Living Life Eastbourne charity provides a community hub, including an affordable café, which required a new, accessible WC, basin and baby-changing unit. Access to mains drainage would have required digging up a solid concrete floor, creating an expensive, time-consuming inconvenience. The solution was a powerful Sanibest Pro – a robust unit that caters to the demands of public space – installed behind the WC. The pipework runs behind a false wall and goes up and across the ceiling of a corridor behind the newly created bathroom, dropping down into a gravity-fed drainage pipe and drain that connects to a street-level sewer. Living Life Eastbourne was designated as a warm space during the winter, which helped local residents who couldn’t afford to heat their homes, and it’s also recently been designated as a safe space for the Eastbourne Carnival. It’s a meeting space for community groups and offers a friendly, welcoming space for the homeless and those who live alone. The Sanibest Pro from Saniflo is a heavy-duty macerator suitable for heavy usage public or commercial environments. It can pump up to 7m vertically or 110m horizontally. In the Living Life café in Eastbourne, it combines both; lifting the waste 3m and pumping it across approximately 10m where the waste falls into a soil stack.
