Dan Cartwright has over 12 years of experience in the caravan and motorhome industry. He is a judge for a number of prestigious leisure vehicle awards and regularly heads off in his motorhome with his family. Every week, Dan shares his insights with the community. Here’s what he has to say this week.
Earlier this week, the team and I were at the Bailey of Bristol headquarters working on the live launch of the all-new Phoenix GT75 caravan range. Undoubtedly, many of our readers will have seen the interactive event on YouTube. But for those who missed it, you can view the video below.
The Phoenix range includes six models, with one being completely new. The GT75 has a lot of features worth talking about. To name just a few:
- An entirely redesigned media centre
- Lots of charging points and power sockets
- A 103-litre fridge and a 12-litre freezer
- Some very thoughtfully designed, light and airy interiors
- A vertical-opening front skylight
- A branded, 700W microwave with a non-moving plate
Caravan manufacturers really do consider the little things, such as whether or not parents have a space to relax while the little ones have a place to sleep. After all, it’s situations like that which can completely define whether or not your staycation is successful.
There is a lot of thought put in when it comes to design. Ultimately, a caravan is just a box on wheels, so the interior becomes rather important for happiness and suitability.
The new Phoenix range is incredibly light, with the fixed-bed twin axles coming in at roughly 1,400kg and the twin axles weighing around 1,800 kg.
Why do manufacturers choose live launches?
The world is always changing. Not too long ago, the press and dealers would head to a specific location to see forthcoming leisure vehicles before they were released to the general public.
We now live in a digital age, where brands have to make the most of their social media and online presence. Every business needs to get its message across and show where its leisure vehicles are made to connect with customers on a deeper level.
The Bailey of Bristol live launch event took place on-site at the factory. Members of the press were in attendance, alongside industry influencers, YouTubers, competition winners and other people that have engaged with Bailey over the years.
They wanted the general public to understand the Phoenix GT75 range from every possible perspective, not just the way the press decide to report it.
Live launches are almost democratising the way caravans and leisure vehicles are unveiled. Overall, they’re fantastic and always great to be a part of.
Will all caravan launches end up being this way? Well, there are so many niche publications and influencers for different areas of caravanning. It’s good to gain a broad approach by being open, honest and displaying the launch for free to anyone interested.
My verdict? Live launches are very positive for the leisure vehicle industry and I’m hoping that we’ll get to see plenty more in the future.
