A new online marketplace is targeting Australia’s burgeoning outdoor, caravan and camping market, offering more than 2,000 products from 15 vendors at launch.
Powered by Marketplacer, www.everythingcaravancamping.com.au has been designed to meet the demands of a market segment worth an estimated $24 billion annually with more than 800,000 registered caravans in Australia.
Designed and built by lifestyle industry leader Leisure-Tec Australia, CEO Paul Widdis said the new site would become an invaluable resource for people who regularly enjoy the country’s natural wonders.
“We have established the marketplace in collaboration with the popular social media-based group Everything Caravan & Camping which was established back in 2014,” he said. “The group has more than 700,000 members on a number of platforms and has become the go-to destination for those seeking information, tips, and recommendations.”
When it came to selecting an underlying technology platform to power the new marketplace, Widdis said his company had sought a combination of flexibility, scalability, and local support.
“We spoke with a number of existing Marketplacer users and quickly discovered that the platform offered all the features and capabilities that we required. From signing a contract to the site going live, our project was completed in just six months,” he said.
Marketplacer’s platform gives individual vendors the ability to upload details of their product offerings to the site and provide real-time views of stock availability.
Marketplacer executive chair, Jason Wyatt said the Everything Caravan & Camping portal was a fantastic example of how ecommerce was reshaping the way people locate and purchase goods. “It meets the needs of an enthusiastic and active community and will continue to grow during coming years.”
Future plans
Widdis said his company plans to expand the marketplace to incorporate access to service providers and recommendations on everything from equipment maintenance to insurance.
“Currently, it can be a challenge to find appropriate servicing facilities and support for caravans and associated equipment. Through the site, people will be able to access everything they need and ensure their equipment is operating at peak performance at all times,” he said.
The new marketplace also features an Australian-made section to highlight equipment manufactured locally.
“This will help customers who are keen to support domestic businesses but who may not be aware that some exist. It’s all about helping people to find and purchase the products they need to enhance their outdoor experiences,” Widdis said.
“We are planning to quickly ramp up both the number of items offered through the marketplace as well as the number of vendors providing them during 2022 and beyond.”