by Tom Leaning
The Shropshire-based motorhome company Travelworld is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week with three generations of its founding family still driving the business forward.
Travelworld Motorhomes was founded by Bob Edwards in 1977 with just three staff at a small premises in Wolverhampton.
Today it is one of the largest motorhome dealerships in Europe, with 48 staff at its 4.5 acre site in Halesfield, Telford.
They are keeping it in the family with Mr Edward’s son Ross as managing director and grandson Jake Macquarie is a new addition to the sales team.
Bob Edwards said the motorhome business was “booming”.
“It has been wonderful to see the growth that the business has achieved over these past five years in particular and we believe that being centrally located in Shropshire has been fundamental to that,” he said.
“Our customers travel from all over the country and will always take the time to visit Severn Gorge or Shrewsbury whilst they are visiting us,” Mr Edwards added.
The company is an exclusive Erwin Hymer Group dealer which means all their motorhomes are
imported from Germany. Ross Edwards said Brexit has been of deep concern to the family business.
But they have seen sales double over the last five years and believe that the rising popularity of ‘staycations’ will keep their market on an even keel, he said.
Ross Edwards said: “We believe that sales will continue to grow over the next two years even with Brexit uncertainty, UK tourism is booming and investment into campsite grounds in the UK has never been higher, plus the caravan and motorhome industry has never been stronger.”
Mr Macquarie said he had “loved” joining the family business.
“Every day is different, I talk to people from all walks of life and all areas of Great Britain,” he said. “If you are not familiar with the motorhome industry the HYMER brand name may not mean anything, but this really is the Rolls Royce of motorhomes and they are a joy to sell!” he said.
