Glamping Business Magazine issue 7 by Glamping Business Magazine

l ping m ÂG international

Business

Issue 7 May 2017

Create a

Dream Destination Destination

plus: Crowdfunding, Outdoor Projects and Eco-products, Business Plans, Planning, Social Media and more

Profiles: Escape Nomade Nomadic Resorts Cabanon

Inspiration and Information for Glamping Operators

Hello & Welcome

Welcome to

l mping G international

Business

Cover photograph: With thanks to Escape Nomade

International Glamping Business is published by: Maggie Media Ltd 01423 263219 Registered Business: Unit 2, Wyevale Business Park, Wyevale Way, Hereford HR4 7BS Other Publications: Holiday Parks Management www.holidayparksmanagement.com Publishers: Maggie Media Ltd Nina Blanchard e: nina.blanch@maggiemedia.co.uk Editor: Steph Curtis-Raleigh t: +44 (0)7887 928819 e: stephcurtisraleigh@gmail.com Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: +44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kathrynkelly@maggiemedia.co.uk Nina Blanchard t: +44 (0) 7799 430327 e: nina.blanch@maggiemedia.co.uk Design: Dean Coulter Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk

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Other Events: The Glamping Show w: www.glampingshow.com e: dan.w@theglampingshow.com

© Maggie Media Ltd. International Glamping Business is published 6 times a year. No reproduction of any part of the magazine is permitted, nor storage in a retrieval system without prior consent of the publisher. No commercial exploitation is permitted. No warranty is implied in respect of any product or trader mentioned herewith. Prizes offered in competitions might be substituted with ones of similar value.

We hope you like the new glossy cover which shows off the gorgeous photo from Escape Nomade - one of our featured companies this month. Glamping can be anything you want it to be - a simple cabin in the woods like Tom MacCurrach’s inspirational project on page 32, or a bamboo wonderland supspended from the tree tops such as the architectural geniuses at Nomadic Resorts show us on page 30. Or it can be Airstreams, huts, rare antique caravans, you name it - we have it all this issue. What these different projects share is a passion to create something unique and magical for the guest. Glamping should not be one size fits all. It is a

Contents 05 13 15 news

Vintage Vacations

social Media with Glampaways

16 17 21 25 28

Planning with rob Farrow renewable and eco solutions Funding feature escape nomade interview Cabanon the French innovators

bespoke experience that can only be created in your setting, with your ideas and playing to your strengths. Unfortunately, putting our dreams into practise often involves something much more prosaic - cold hard cash. This issue we look at finance, writing a business plan, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending and other options for those who need to get creative when it comes to setting up or expanding their businesses. Don’t forget to visit theglampingshow.com for all the latest exhibitor and speaker details and to put the dates 21-23 September in your diaries. It’s shaping up to be an excellent show!

Steph

Glamping Business Editor

29 30 32 33 34 35 36 38

ask Kate - problem page nomadic resorts interview

a Cabin in the Woods: tom MacCurrach a Warwick Knight in shining armour Garden Design trends outdoor projects and kitchens Cooking outdoors with trish outdoor projects: products

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Glamping News

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Boldscan Celebrates Two Customer Finalists in VisitEngland’s Excellence Awards Boldscan, the market-leading supplier of the Albion Canvas range of Tsavo tented lodges, is thrilled to announce that two of its customers; Longlands and Dandelion Hideaway have been shortlisted for the tourism Oscars: VisitEngland’s Awards for Glamping Provider of the Year. The results will be announced as this issue goes to press, at the Hilton Waldorf in London. “This wouldn’t be possible without Boldscan’s beautiful tents. It is definitely looks to be the year of the Safari lodge with all three finalists offering Safari

glamping accommodation and Boldscan has supplied 2 out of the 3 finalists! What an incredible achievement and a real testament to the quality, durability and aesthetics of their tents!” says Bella Given of Longlands. “We are really proud to have supplied both Longlands and Dandelion Hideaway,” says Steve Hansford, Managing Director of Boldscan/Albion Canvas. “Dandelion Hideaway was our first customer for the Tsavo lodges in 2011, with Longlands following in 2012. When Alan Wenham our designer first showed me his idea for the safari lodge

outstanding appoints uK sales Manager Leading luxury Safari Tent supplier Outstanding is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Oldfield as National Sales Manager for the UK and Republic of Ireland. “The UK and ROI, is a vibrant market place for luxury Safari Tents and we at Outstanding see this appointment as our commitment to our customers in remaining the number one choice,” says the company’s Robin van Kooten. Gary, based in the North West of the UK, is responsible for all sales and customer support. With over 30 years’ experience in sales and senior management, and a lifelong love of camping and caravanning, Gary brings a sound in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Glamping business to the role, following his recent time with a UK-based Pod manufacturer. “Without question the market demand for Safari tents will continue to grow for many years now as we continue to see the trend to stay in our own country for not only family breaks but also luxury camping in beautiful settings,” adds Robin. “With the demand for Glamping holidays in the UK,

which we named the Tsavo (the name came from holidays both Alan and I had taken in this wonderful park in Kenya) I knew instantly it was a winner. Working and listening to our customers, we developed this really great lodge, which has stood the test of time.” The Tsavo lodge now comes in 14 different versions , including the new 6m wide version particularly developed for people with mobility/disability issues , a true lodge for everyone, we would like to offer our congratulations to all three finalists,” concludes Steve.

and the rapid rising trend for the Great British holiday, we wanted to improve our services by appointing Gary. After all, personal contact is indispensable to fulfill the promises we make on supporting our customers from advice to turnkey delivery. We strongly believe in low threshold communications when it comes to advising our customers. Whether it’s on their business case or the interior of the tent.” “Obviously all customers are welcome to visit our indoor extensive showroom in the Netherlands. It’s only a short journey from Amsterdam Schiphol airport. But the appointment of Gary as National Sales Manager makes is possible to visit one of our site installations in the UK as well,” he concludes. Gary is available for advice, consultation and support by contacting him on mobile; +44(0)7713 136955 or email; gary@outstandingtent.co.uk.

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Glamping News

BOND: the Only Safari Tents Tested to Withstand Winds of 75mph In a first for the industry, leading Safari Tent manufacturer, BOND has employed a team of Structural Engineers to put its entire range through a rigorous selection of tests and is thrilled to report that they all offer excellent performance in wind speeds of up to 75 mph. Bond Fabrications is the first company to offer Safari Tents performing at this level, and can now also offer premium upgraded Safari Tents in all sizes which, in accordance with the Structural Engineer’s report offer additional performance for ‘Permanent Use Site-specific’ wind speeds. The company can in fact provide a recommendation based on UK postcodes to determine site-specific permanent use wind speeds at customers’ locations in conjunction with their Structural Engineers. Mike Halliwell, owner of BOND, states, “Our clients are investing a great deal of money and time into setting up Glamping sites, not to mention the cost of acquiring the correct planning applications, and so the proven structural performance is a significant factor in purchasing Safari Tents. In short – our structures are intended to be in place year-round and will stand the test of time and also the increasing wrath of Mother Nature!” Aside from the high performance of the structures, BOND’s customers get a personal and tailored service. BOND makes all of its products at its Gloucestershire factory, where quality and workmanship take centre stage. “We make the majority of our tents to order so we can customise if needed. Our testimonials speak for themselves,” adds Mike. Kate Tregonning owner of Brownscombe Glamping in Devon, is just one of BOND’s many happy clients now running a successful luxury camping location: “Right from the beginning BOND were different from other tent suppliers in the market place. They were competitive on price but what made them stand out was the customer service changes were made to their basic design to suit my site, the team came to put them up over two visits and they coped with the rain and long hours with good humour. The feedback on the product has been very positive and I would highly recommend BOND,” she says. “ We are very proud of our relationships with our customers and it is a great joy to watch their businesses take shape and dreams come true. Do call us to find out more and discuss your own requirements,” concludes Mike. www.bondfabrications.co.uk

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life on Mars - created by F Domes On the Wadi Rum grand desert, Jordan, Freedomes and the SunCity Camp have created an other-worldly experience – straight from Mars, in fact, but without skimping on glamour Freedomes, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of geodesic dome structures, produced the habitat for Ridley Scott’s hit film “The Martian” as a part of the film’s set design, and is now back with a smaller version of Martiandomes. The SunCity Camp in Wadi Rum has just been equipped with 20 of such structures to create a unique habitat in the scenery closely resembling the surface of the Mars. With the breathtaking grandiosity of the creation, remarkable sandstone and granite rock formations and endless desert with its characteristic rusty glow, it is no wonder that these awe-inspiring surroundings were chosen as a movie set for “The Martian”. Now, the same out of this world experience in a luxurious Mars-like settlement is attainable for everyone. The domes come from the glamping line of the Freedomes’ sister brand F.Domes. The new Saudi Beige colour of the structures blends naturally with the sandy and rocky scenery, turning the Camp into a Martian-like settlement. Fully furnished, with private bathrooms, the domes allow visitors to savour the adventure in perfect comfort. The panoramic window creates the feeling of closeness to nature, whereas the “bubbly” shape of the dome adds a flavour of a space base. The SunCity Camp is already open to tourists who can also find a plethora of outdoor activities to particpate in. Wadi Rum is a real heaven for trekkers and climbers. Sightseers can appreciate fantastic jeep tours to scenic and archeological sites nearby and those who prefer other means of transportation can have a camel safari arranged. Balloon flights can also be arranged.

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Glamping News

Camp Katur Wins national Wedding award Camp Katur in Bedale, North Yorkshire has been named the Wedding Venue of the Year in the Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Awards 2017. ‘We are so pleased to have been chosen as the winner for this award, we have a great team that works really hard to ensure couples have an amazing wedding day. We aim to help couples have a special day that is unique and personal to them and we feel the variety of venue options we have here at Camp Katur enables them to do this.” Says Nicola Wilding, Operations Manager. With over 70,000 entrants and a preliminary voting round that saw 180,000 votes cast, the winners were chosen by

Bridebook.co.uk’s industry experts based on their skill, commitment and dedication to their role in the wedding industry. With 40,000 engaged couples planning their weddings on Bridebook.co.uk, the Awards provide nationwide recognition to the very best of the wedding industry. “The Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Awards recognises the cream of the crop when it comes to venues and suppliers. This is a wonderful opportunity for local wedding businesses across the nation to gain the recognition and merit they deserve for their commitment and exemplary service to their couples, both past and present.” Hamish Shephard, Founder and CEO of Bridebook.co.uk

Inn Style and The Pop-Up Hotel collaborate on Italian language booking experience The Inn Style online guest booking engine is now available in Italian, thanks to a collaboration with The Pop-Up Hotel team providers of luxury glamping accommodation for high-profile festivals, including Glastonbury. With expansion plans to offer the same luxurious glamping accommodation for the festival going public in Italy, The PopUp Hotel team needed a guest interface for native Italian speakers. They wanted to be able to offer the same slick, speedy, frictionless booking experience already enjoyed by festival goers in the UK. Mark Sorrill from The Pop-Up Hotel was keen to build upon the relationship that they had with Inn Style. “The Inn Style booking engine is great for our business. It effortlessly processes the huge volume of bookings that we take for our accommodation, alongside the big festivals in the UK, coping with the spikes in demand that are caused by the rush to buy festival tickets. We wanted to replicate that for our new venture, The Pop-Up Hotel Italy. But, for that to happen, we needed language options.” “We got a call from The Pop-Up Hotel team, explaining what they wanted to achieve” explains Chris Waters, Head of Product

Development at Inn Style. “Once there is a sound business reason, we’re very happy to look at developing the Inn Style product further. So, we built the technology and The Pop Up Hotel team provided the translation of the text that they needed for their guests’ booking journey.” “The Italian language option is now available for any other Inn Style subscriber to use, should they wish to offer it. The functionality is clearly now in place to add more languages, should the need arise,” concluded Chris. “If anyone wants to start a conversation with us, we’re pleased to listen.” For anyone wishing to sample an Italian festival experience, The Pop-Up Hotel is offering romantic luxury glamping, Italian style, at BAM! Festival, Venice; Home Festival, Treviso; and Terraforma, Milan. Mick Cozzolino, director of The Pop-Up Hotel Italy, said, "We are really excited about this new venture, made so much easier with a native language booking platform. The timing could not be better: there really is nothing like it in Italy, yet we have the weather, the most romantic, stunning countryside and a new generation of young people ready to embrace the up-and-coming vibrant festival scene.”

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Glamping News

Making your glamping business shine

So, you have a shepherd's hut, some pods, a lodge, three yurts, or six bell tents....what next to make your business boom? If you want to attract families or couples, or have a site for retreats and weddings, then all glamping businesses need to think about using PR to attract customers. Niche Brands is a PR consultancy that works with customers who run glamping business to make sure that websites, PR, social media, marketing and adverts are relevant to the people the business wants to attract at the right times. Niche Brands is all about bringing in strategic PR to ensure that it is instrumental to business success. Dimpsey Glamping is an award-winning glamping businesses in

Somerset and has used PR campaigns a as a business boost, with very successful results - in fact, Dimpsey hurtling through 2017 at almost 100% occupancy. Promotion of a business is key and you need to know what will set you apart from the competition. The key to PR for glamping businesses is getting your brand out there and raising your profile, which in turn should see an increase in awareness, queries and, ultimately, occupancy. Niche Brands is happy to chat to all glamping businesses about what they can achieve. Email claire@nichebrands.co.uk for more information. www.nichebrands.co.uk

Bespoke Shepherd’s Huts from Derbyshire Brosterfield Shepherd Huts is a small business based in the heart of the Peak National Park in Derbyshire. It comprises a team of highly skilled craftsmen, joiners, engineers, electricians and plumbers. Between them, they have many years experience in manufacturing and specialise in the manufacture and construction of luxury bespoke Shepherd Huts. Their products are hand made from scratch with raw materials in their own workshops at Brosterfield Farm, Foolow, Derbyshire. “We always have huts in stock or in production to purchase immediately or alternatively our huts can be made to order and hence we can build them to your exact requirements, ensuring it is bespoke to you,” says Stephen Molyneux.

“We use only the finest quality materials and our huts are carefully designed and constructed to ensure that they are durable and well insulated so they remain dry, warm and usable all year round whatever the weather,” he adds. The beautiful Shepherd huts come in a range of lengths from 12’ up to 24’. Please contact either Stephen Molyneux or Ben Hickman on 01433-630312 for further details and information. www.brosterfieldshepherdhuts.co.uk

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Vintage Vacations Helen and Frazer Cunningham

Vintage Vacations: a Dream Business For sale

After fourteen seasons on the Isle of Wight, Helen and Frazer Cunningham are putting their award-winning vintage Airstream glamping business up for sale. “We have decided that now is a good time to sell Vintage Vacations. Business is good and we very much still enjoy it but signing up for a further ten-year lease would put us well into retirement age!” says Helen. “We believe fresh eyes would take the business from strength to strength. There is so much scope, be it franchising, events (we do a small amount of events but there is a lot more that could be done). Of course the business is mobile too and could be moved to a new location if desired. It will be sad for us to say goodbye but it has been an amazing adventure!” What started out as a hobby for Helen and Frazer turned into a life-changing business. “We bought our first 1965 ‘Tradewind’ Airstream over from America early 2004. Having a holiday home on the Isle of Wight, it made sense for us to keep it on the island. The original idea was to use it ourselves and maybe rent it out for the occasional holiday and photo shoot (our previous jobs were in the

photographic industry). However, once we had our hands on our ‘trailer’ we really caught the bug and had our lightbulb moment ‘what if …’ vision for a whole field of retro caravans….” The couples’ first local newsagent advertisement caught the eye of a travel editor from The Guardian newspaper, who came to stay and gave them a great review, bringing in the first spate of bookings. Word spread during 2004 and the Cunninghams were thrilled to find that so many others loved the idea of a stay in a vintage caravan. “We made the move to the Island full time in 2007 and 2017 will see our 14th seasons with 13 American vintage caravans as well as our various British classic caravans,” adds Helen. The hardest thing was finding a site to operate from – the couple managed in the end to find a farmer who was happy to have up to five in a field so set up there and started looking for a permanent home.

“At this time the term Glamping was in its infancy and we had a tough time persuading the planning department to approve a site . We did find and purchase a perfect spot only for that to go spectacularly wrong due to local opposition; with comments such as “culturally inappropriate” and a view that we would be bringing in undesirables! How times change..” says Helen. Eventually, after a lengthly and costly planning process Vintage Vacations found its current home which is a longterm leased site on a farm near to Ryde. “We are starting our eighth year here. We are very proud to have been among the very first businesses offering Glamping holidays in the UK – and the original Glamping holiday operators on the Isle of Wight,” concludes Helen. For more details about buying Vintage Vacations please contact Lisa Mercer at Hose Rhodes Dickson, tel: +44 (0)1983 527727, email commercial@hrdiw.co.uk

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Planning

Planning:

Don’t get in a Jam

In the second in our series of how to set up and run a glamping site we look at the important aspects that are required before a site can be opened. Long gone are the days of just sticking up some tents and charging for people to stay in them. I once heard an amusing story from an exhibitor at a farming show who was selling yurts. They got into supplying after setting up a site not realising they would need planning permission and had been shut down by the council for not having the correct approvals.

pedigree have their experience in park homes and campsites. As such these consultancies are now turning the experience to the new industry, amending their practices as they go. Another alternative is to work with an experienced Glamping consultancy that has industry specific experience relevant to what you are looking to achieve. They can help guide you round the pitfalls and ensure your application is the closest thing to what planners require before you start. While there are general national planning guidelines, it is important to realise that each county and region have different priorities regarding what that council feel is most important for its region and this will affect their decision when it comes to how they interpret the national guidance.

Unless you happen to already own a campsite, at the very least a new Glamping site will require planning As such you could submit an identical permission. It is application to important to keep in three different “Imagine a Victoria sponge mind that this is not a counties and quick process. Don’t receive three cake. A complete cake apply in January and different consists of a sponge base, expect to be operating responses. This is cream, jam, cream, sponge in July of the same where your own year. local knowledge top and icing sugar. This is will be helpful in your complete planning There are a few your application. options to deal with report the officer will submit the planning Planning is often to committee. Now imagine application. If you have seen as an area that there is a need to the time and the shrouded in knowledge then you mystery when in change part of the can feel your way fact it is a very application such as the through the process, simple system applying and with case officers entrance. This individual resubmitting and then who collate the aspect will hold up your amending each time till information for a you eventually, application as a whole, like central hopefully get committee. The waiting for the jam to set permission. complexity comes before you can spread it.” from the Alternatively you can multitude of commission a large different leisure consultancy who have experience contributors that the officers have to with caravan sites. This can be a very liaise with in order to compile their helpful resource, although Glamping is a report, which varies for each application relatively new industry and most of the dependant on its location and what is traditional consultancies that have a affected.

Rob Farrow Rob’s advice columns, ‘How to’ articles and seminars are well known in the Glamping Industry. Rob hails from a family owned leisure business that has been operating holiday parks for over half a century. Rob has overseen the provision of Glamping holidays since 2006, he then founded a separate division adding bespoke Glamping delivery to other parks, followed by consultancy services on creating Glamping sites and pop-up sites for events and founded another specific Glamping site.

“Imagine a Victoria sponge cake. A complete cake consists of a sponge base, cream, jam, cream, sponge top and icing sugar. This is your complete planning report the officer will submit to committee. Now imagine that there is a need to change part of the application such as the entrance. This individual aspect will hold up your application as a whole, like waiting for the jam to set before you can spread it.” Once you receive planning permission this doesn’t give you a green flag to open the gates to your site. The reality is that planning only gives you permission. This will normally come with conditions, which can range from the type of materials that can be used through to the colour and placement of your glamping accommodation. When you go through the planning process I have heard clients say that receiving permission was akin to having a child, with all the trauma and emotional investment that goes with that. There are plenty of people who have given birth themselves at home. However, most people tend to prefer an experienced health care proffesional to be on hand to help. Happy Glamping!

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Green Product Round-up

Paull’s the Natural Matting Specialists

In addition to its extensive range of Panama and Herringbone Coir Half Moon and Marquee Matting, Paull’s now exclusively offers Paull’s Polyprop Matting - a durable and washable alternative to the natural coir range but made from woven polypropylene yarn.

for June delivery. Paull’s Polyprop’s appearance is as close to the colour of natural coir as possible to give a warm finish to any event space. The polyprop is also completely reversible, as is the herringbone coir with its distinctive weave.

Paull’s Polyprop Matting is tough, durable, washable and lightweight compared with other natural floor coverings. The two-tone yarn gives a coir coloured finish with the benefit of being non-absorbent non-rot and incredibly strong. Demand has been incredibly high but limited number of 40’s and 30’s lengths and 5m and 4m half moons, are available to pre-order

The full range includes 50’, 40’, 30’, 20’ and 10’ lengths for marquees, large structures and walkways. The half moon range offers 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 6m and 7m sizes for Bell Tents and 4.5m, 5.5m, 6.5m and 7.5m for Yurts and Tipis. There are also two options for 10.3m round Giant Tipis sets. www.paullsmatting.co.uk

Portable Power For off-Grid sites Light and power are an important commodity to offer your glamping customers on off-grid sites. Everyone needs light and energy it's just a question of how much. A lightweight, portable system is a great way to please all customers depending on their energy and lighting preferences. The Portable Power Technology solutions harness the sun’s energy to deliver power without resorting to noisy and polluting generators, which can detract from the glamping experience. Portable systems are also ideal if you have to take your accommodation down between seasons and are also maintenance free with no serviceable elements. The solutions range from a single light for the quick trips to the toilet after dark all the way up to larger scale silent, rechargeable power solutions that provide AC electricity, all are ideal for the glamping market. Portable Power Technology is the UK distributor of an innovative range of products from a company called NIWA. The main product is the NIWA Home 200 X2, which is a complete, all in one, safe and easy to install modular solar system that has a dimmable and efficient lighting source, phone and small device charging facilities via USB and an excellent quality solar panel.

The system is fully expandable by adding more lights and power packs that simply click into place. NIWA is completely unique and its products are patented. The system is attractive, innovative and eco-friendly. NIWA was designed by a German company for those people living without light and power and is extensively used in off grid homes across the Africa and other continents. If you are looking for a larger scale off grid power system, the all-in-one power solution; PPT Powerpack 300+ can power lights, charge small devices, TVs, laptops or even a fridge! Developed exclusively by PPT; the Powerpack 300+ is an all-inone solar rechargeable solution. This safe, lightweight system comprises of a powerful lithium battery, an integrated 300w pure sinewave inverter and battery charger. www.portablepowertech.com

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Green Product Round-up

Green and Profitable Its all very well promoting the 'Green' agenda because it feels like the right thing to do, but as a business there is a very good reason – it is profitable. Environmentalism and Glamping are two growth sectors which are complimentary, so it makes sense to marry them if you can. When customers choose to go Glamping they want comfort but the experience of being close to nature. If the relative luxury of Glamping comes guilt-free you are on to a winner. So how can this be achieved? Just as in everyday life, the environment is least damaged when its resources are used sympathetically and responsibly and energy is generated sustainably. In your Glamping business, this can be realised in the following ways: Ensure construction materials used,

an Eco Camping Pod whether they are in camping under construction. pods or site infrastructure, are from sustainable sources, locally sourced rather than imported over huge distances and manufactured with a low energy input. The visual impact is minimised. This can be achieved through sympathetic design, 'natural' material colours, and the use of green roofs. Energy used on site is generated on site, either through a mini-grid system investment will pay dividends. Green using renewable energy or individual Cabin Company aims to include some or stand-alone systems incorporating wind all of the factors above in their products or solar energy and battery systems. and can tailor designs to your individual requirements. Ecologically sensitive sites attract customers who are willing to pay a www.greencabincompany.co.uk premium, so a little extra thought and

the King of Glamping thrones.. Kildwick has been manufacturing waterless (composting) toilets for only two years but their loos have already gained a reputation for great looks, innovative design, functionality and quality - perfectly suited for glamping environments. In use, their products look much more like conventional toilets than the old style single-bucket compost or chemical solutions, and can be customised in ways that look totally unique and glamorous!

approach called ‘urine diverting’which means they include a fitting under the seat that diverts the urine away and into an external soak-pit or internal container. There are many good reasons for separating the liquids and solids! The act of keeping the solids and liquids apart not only stops the toilet from smelling but makes the day-to-day management process much more pleasant and a great deal simpler. The best bit is that you can put the toilets anywhere - without plumbing, electricity or special fixings.

Kildwick eco waterless toilets use an While the toilets work well without any power, there is an optional fan (mains or solar powered) if you’d like to ’freshen’ the toilet or bathroom area in a more controlled way or avoid the use of a cover material. This example is a Kraft 380-Flex which has a built-in 23 litre antimicrobial solids container and a 10 litre antimicrobial urine container which can be removed and replaced with a divert adapter to enable use of an

external tank or soak-pit. If you’d like to use a much larger container, we also produce a ‘drop-though’ version which, when raised on a platform, can have a wheelie-bin or other storage beneath it whilst maintaining their toilet’s signature great looks and ease of use. Kildwick’s development manager, Colin, explained that their toilets are made using proprietary processes and materials making them lightweight, strong and very hygienic. The contact surfaces are all hard and shiny making cleaning reassuring and simple. Most of the surfaces now even have a lab-proven nonleaching anti-microbial additive adding to your guests peace of mind. Whilst Colin deals with the technical stuff, his wife, Maria gets creative: “I’m always excited to work with a new customer on special paint or decoupage projects,” Maria said, “I love the extra ‘glam’ this adds to our products”. So, whether you have a tiny-house, gypsy caravan, cabin, or yurt you can always have a fantastic glamping loo! info@kildwick.com

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Social Media

The Post With the Most best of us can fall prey to uploading large amounts of content when we have a spare hour, when we know we should be posting in regular, small amounts.

it’s all about timing Social media can be one of the best ways to advertise your glamping business and create more bookings. In fact, figures show that 93% of glampers’ booking decisions are influenced by social media.

The best time to tweet is 12-3pm Updating on Facebook works best between 1pm-4pm Instagram works best any time excluding 3pm-4pm

An incredible 97% of glampers search for their holidays online and chances are they will find your social media pages first. These pages will give them an insight not only into what you offer, but who you are. Pictures shared by other happy customers enjoying your site can provide the best possible advertisement and this is why social media produces almost double the marketing leads of direct mail, websites and pay per click.

So, if you can grab a sandwich al desco and upload your pictures around lunchtime, this is a much better idea than trying to hammer social media with a glass of wine in the evenings, when it is less effective and so are you!

But what to say? Not many of us are comfortable blowing our own trumpet – particularly on social media where others are free to comment. Social media expert Rachel Lord of Glampaways Media advises, “The best content to post on all platforms includes testimonials, sneak peaks and behind the

The problem is, that not everybody is very good at social media… It’s also very time-consuming, which is why even the

Kildwick Low Impact Toilets Stand OSA77

See us at

Glamorous Toilets for Glamorous Oﬀ-Grid Living! Kildwick toilets are designed for glamping! They can be put anywhere and ﬁnished in colours & styles to suit your taste or the decor of the cabin/tent etc. No need for power, water or mains sewerage!

“Great Looking Toilets Designed for Glamorous Static or Mobile Accommodation” Call: 01756 798818

Urine-diverting ‘container-based (composting) toilets • Great looking: Prices from £395 Can be put anywhere and easily relocated Standard and custom colours & ﬁnishes Either built-in or external solids & liquids collection • Lightweight Full-sized seat Sealed against ‘critters’ and residual smell Options with, or without fan (mains or solar power) Diverter can be white, coloured or even glittered! Hard, shiny antibacterial surfaces make for easy-cleaning and peace of mind Designed and manufactured by a seasoned ‘oﬀ-grid’ team.

Kildwick. Unit 4, Gate 3, Sidings Business Park. Skipton. North Yorks. BD23 1TB

Tel: 01756 798818

www.kildwick.com

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info@kildwick.com

scenes photos. Think about your audience – who they really are and not who you might want them to be. They want to book a holiday where they can enjoy idyllic surroundings and be the guests of friendly and welcoming hosts. Your posts should reflect this, so that they can get to know you as well as your site.”

a picture tells a thousand words.. If words are not your thing then Rachel has excellent news. “Instagram will deliver you the most interaction of all forms of social media,” she says. “Keep your phone or camera with you at all times during the day as you clean the yurts, or walk the dog. You don’t know when the perfect photo opportunity might present itself – the poppies in the field, the mist over the hills or just the dog lying in the sun – these can all be wonderful images to show the beautiful setting of your business.” Glampaways Media offers a FREE marketing audit where they will analyse your online and social media presence and create a full detailed proposal to take you to the next level. Book now at info@glampawaysmedia.co.uk

Funding Solutions

Funding Solutions spread the cost of investment with one night stand

rental period, it is possible to update your accommodation to the latest and newest models without any extra cost.

If making the decision as to which glamping accommodation to buy for your new glamping venture or expansion of an existing campsite is difficult enough, where to get the funds to do it is even harder. ONS Glamping (One Night Stand) was set up 3 years ago and has several ways of obtaining glamping accommodation to suit owners’ needs ranging from renting to traditional outright purchase.

Another way of securing your new accommodation is through lease purchase, this is offered through a thirdparty finance company and requires operators to have a credit check. They will also charge you interest on your purchase and the amount will depend on lender and your circumstances.

The most successful scheme to date is the unique ‘Try before you Buy’ (TBYB) which allows site owners to try out our accommodation on their site before making the final commitment to buy. Customers take out a rental on the pod for a maximum of 18 months and if within the first 9 months they are happy, they can buy the pod paying only the

difference between the rent paid and the balance of the purchase price (there is also a security deposit paid at the beginning which also goes towards the cost of purchase). If they don’t want to buy the pod or would prefer a different one, they can just change it at the end of the agreement and start again. ONS also provide a rental scheme offering seasonal hire from £10 per day (6 months min) for their Yurts or Safari Tents enabling clients to offer more accommodation during their busy months. They also rent out Glamping Pods however these are for a minimum of 18 months. Renting accommodation rather than buying does ease cash flow compared to outright purchase and is 100% tax deductible compared to outright purchase. At the end of each

ONS have helped many clients grow their glamping business. For more details contact nickf@one-nightstand.co.uk

Turn Heads with Glampods Introducing the "Tipi" glamping pod from Glampods. Currently available throughout England and Wales for both sale and rental, this novel design is sure to turn heads and make your campsite stand out. The three-bed version is available from only £35 per week to rent and £1685 to buy. These prices include bed frames and fitted electrical socket as well as inside and outside LED lights. glampodsuk@gmail.com

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Funding Solutions

Let Glamping Fields Do the Admin While You Make the Profit Glamping Fields offers a complete solution to setting up and running your very own glamping business and has various finance options available to choose from. The company’s unique agency and franchise offer benefits site owners who want to run the practical side of the site leaving Glamping Fields to take care of all the necessary marketing and promotion and handle all the customer enquiries and bookings.

Glamping Fields conducts and funds all this activity, leaving the landowner freed up to run the site and concentrate on their other commitments. This model suits busy landowners who want to pursue a glamping business; but may not have the time required to run the site, take care of the office work and finances and carry out other commitments they may already have.

For the right landowners in the right locations, Glamping Fields is able to provide the equipment for you to run your glamping site. As with any business of this nature, customers staying at the site generate the income, and Glamping Fields specialises in the marketing and promotion of the site to ensure high occupancy levels are achieved.

From a financial point of view, the Glamping Fields business model is scaleable depending on the landowner’s budget. The available budget determines the number of bell tent units a landowner can start with, each unit costing £2,200 fully furnished. Glamping Fields usually suggests starting with a modest amount of bell tent units, building on your success to expand your site.

There is a range of finance options available to choose from and a typical landowner can make a profit of £25,000 to £30,000 each summer working with Glamping Fields operating for a 22week summer season. Glamping Fields is always looking to work with the right landowners in the right areas of the country, for the 2018 season and beyond. www.glampingfields.co.uk/start-a-site

Wigwam Holidays Franchise - if You’ve Got the land, We’ve Got the Brand Wigwam Holidays is one of the leading glamping accommodation providers in the UK, with 78 sites and counting! While Wigwam Holidays has been ‘in business’ for 23 years, the hugely successful Franchise Model was launched in 2014, and now presents Franchisees with a fully operational glamping business. In order to get on board, operators must purchase a minimum six Wigwam timber cabins, pay an initial Franchise Fee and just 10% of your accommodation turnover In return you will receive: Assistance with Planning and Finance (additional costs may apply) Funding application assistance Your own Wigwam website, including online booking system Ongoing IT assistance Use of the Wigwam Holidays trademark, a recognised quality brand Access to the Brand Manual and the Operations Manual Geographical exclusivity Support from the Wigwam Holidays team to plan and launch your business

Design and creation of printed literature Training seminars Invitation to Wigwam® Holidays annual conference Access to a supportive Franchise network Newsletter updates, and regular contact from the Wigwam team Social media support PR and Marketing for the Wigwam® Holidays brand

requirements, overcoming most objections. A positive planning decision was reached in eight weeks, with minimal problems or inherent conditions. After the site was opened, it was an exhilarating whirlwind that completely surpassed all expectations! Wigwam Holidays offers a dedicated funding service assisting potential glamping site operators to source funding, together with assistance in applications – either as a fully managed service or simply offering guidance in your own applications. Contact carron@wigwamholidays.com for more information.

Brampton Wigwams near Carlisle, Cumbria, opened just under two years ago with six Running Water Deluxe en-suite cabins. “It was very simple. Planners were invited to carry out a pre-planning visit, during which any obvious concerns were discussed,” says site owner James Goode. “As a result, the planning application directly targeted their

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Funding Solutions

Crowdfunding: What is it? and how can it help your glamping business? So, you’ve got a great idea for a new glamping site, or perhaps you’ve got a great idea that you want to add to your existing glamping site. Either which way you’re going to need money and having already been ruthlessly turned down by both friends and family, you begrudgingly make your way to the bank, where even if they do give you the loan, you’ll still feel like you’ve lost due to the eye-watering interest. Thankfully, there are other options to consider, one of which is crowdfunding.

release version of the product, meaning that the people who invested would be the very first to receive the finished item. For someone looking to set up a glamping site, the reward could be a free night stay at the site once it is open. Unfortunately the biggest drive for investors to a reward-based idea is that they have seen something that they want that they can’t get anywhere else. This means that they are happy to invest because at the end of it, they will own the product. Glamping sites often have trouble when undertaking a rewardsbased crowdfund due to the fact that the end product cannot be owned by the investor. A good way to combat this difficulty would be to make your site as unique as possible so that the investor isn’t just donating to a site but an idea.

reward based crowdfunding Kickstarter, indiegogo Rewards-based crowdfunding has been a popular and successful way for many small companies to gain the funding they need to launch. The idea behind it is that almost anyone can donate money to your company, and in return they are given a reward. For companies who are creating a product, this reward could be an early

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Leah Nicholls, founder of Sleeping Beauties Ltd, shares her experience on her Kickstarter campaign: “My Kickstarter only raised half of the funding needed and if I knew then what I know now, I would have done things a little differently. Although I did not reach my funding goal, a lot of great things came from running a Kickstarter campaign, such

by William Rusbridge as global brand awareness and a Business Angel investor. My top 5 tips: Do your research. How many other people are trying to raise or money in a similar field and are they successful? Try and speak to them if possible and ask for ideas and advice, you will be surprised how willing people are to help you if they have gone through a fund raising campaign themselves. My sleeping bags are a seasonal product so ideally I should have launched my campaign in Spring when the general public are thinking about camping and festivals etc. However, due to my manufacturing calendar I had to launch in November. I think this was a huge factor in not raising the full amount of money I needed. So choose the right time to launch that relates to your product or small business so it is at a time when people need or want to use what you are selling. Don't wait until you have launched to promote your campaign. Although global bloggers were more than happy to promote my Kickstarter on their social media and websites, I should have done this one or two months before launching so that there was already an online presence and perhaps even magazine coverage. Make sure your website and social media is up and running and looking amazing. I only had my website and Facebook but didn't have a Twitter account and had just started Instagram when I launched the Kickstarter. Again, at least one month before I should have linked my social media with all UK festivals and Glamping sites to gain interest in my product.

Funding Solutions Finally, don't rush it! Once you have decided to launch, try and enjoy the ride. You have worked so hard to get this far and it is so inspiring to see pledges from all over the world and comments from people who are positive about your product or small business.

equity based crowdfunding Crowdcube syndicateroom Equity-based crowdfunding is very similar to rewards-based, but instead of offering rewards for investments, a share of the company is offered instead. It is perfect for start-up companies who need more capital in order to grow than could be achieved with a rewards-based crowdfund, but do not have a record of revenue generation that is needed for more traditional funding. Once you have found an appropriate crowdfunding website and submitted your idea, you will be paired with a ‘crowd’ of investors, each of whom will invest small amounts of money in return for a small stake of your company. Due to the fact that equity based crowdfunders are typically looking for a larger investment than rewards-based and the fact that there is more risk involved for the investors, there are a lot more regulations placed on it and the process is a lot more involved. Once you have found the right crowdfunding website for you, financial information and business plans will have to be submitted to be verified along with video pitches that present your idea and inform potential investors what their money will be used for. Potential investors will not be investing for an immediate return in the form of a reward, they will only be investing in companies or ideas that they think will be financially successful and make them money.

Peer-to-peer lending Fundingcircle, thincats Peer-to-peer lending, often abbreviated to p2p lending, is the most similar to traditional funding out of all the examples listed above. Like traditional funding, you apply for a loan and if you are successful you will eventually have to pay back that loan with interest. The main difference is that instead of approaching a traditional financial institution such as a bank or building society, you are instead paired with a group of individuals who will lend it to you, and the more people who agree to lend you money, the lower your interest rate will be. The interest rate that you will pay on the loan is determined by certain factors such as your credit score. When you apply for a p2p loan, you will have to pass the p2p company’s credit tests and also have your credit checked by a credit reference agency. So, why would you choose a p2p lending website as opposed to a traditional financial institution? Well, if you have a good credit rating, p2p loans can often work out cheaper than traditional bank loans. Unfortunately, if your credit score isn’t great, the interest rate on a p2p loan could be higher than that of a bank. Unlike traditional lenders, many p2p websites don’t have a minimum loan amount, which is useful for people looking for smaller loans. Another positive is that most p2p websites do not penalise you for repaying the loan early. A media company involved in the Glamping industry applied for a p2p loan using Funding Circle and has agreed to share their experience: “I was shocked to be turned down for a bank loan as I have been with my high street bank

for the last 15 years. The reason given was that I had gone overdrawn over the last 12 months once or twice, but never for more than a day! In desperation, I Googled business loans and found Funding Circle and in five minutes filled in an application on their home page. This was accepted immediately in principle and I received a call from one of their people. I was reassured that I was rated A+ and therefore was within the top few per cent of applicants. I had to send in copies of my most recent business accounts and proof of identity and within hours I received a formal offer of the loan for £25,000. My application was then put before the investors and I could literally watch them investing on screen as the figure of my loan was reached. The best news was that the interest rate was significantly better than my bank. I would recommend this option for existing businesses.” There are pros and cons to each of these types of crowdfunding, and the right one for you will depend on how much money you want to acquire and also what stage your business is currently in. As a general rule, if you are just starting your glamping site and only need a small amount of money, rewards-based crowdfunding is your best bet, for a larger amount of money, equity based crowdfunding is more suited, and if you are already an established site in need of more capital then p2p loans are the way forward. A good crowdfunding campaign can also double as marketing and media exposure. If a news station, blog, or even someone on a social network starts talking about your business it means that more people are going to know about it which not only increases the chance of more investors becoming interested, but also means more customers once you have launched.

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Funding

Writing a Winning Business Plan When embarking on setting up a glamping business it is best to treat it like any other. You must begin by writing a business plan that encompasses the whole venture from what you intend to create to the bottom line and profit margins. As well as providing information to planning authorities and similar bodies you may need to deal with along the way, this business plan will also play a crucial role if you intend to borrow funds for your project or raise money to expand in the future. A good business plan or figures from sites you already run will increase you borrowing potential and will make it easier for lenders to interpret. In order to do this you will be looking at some key financial points.

Your Budget/investment: The budget you have will be a deciding factor in the type and number of set-ups you can create. In order to do this you can seek professional help or get quotations from different building companies so you can get a good idea of set-up costs. A ball park figure of £3035,000 per site is a good place to start. Most people at this stage want to get as many structures built as possible for their money. However, it is key to remember one high quality well finished site will often out-perform two sites lacking in investment and finesse. Glamping is after all an outdoor luxury experience and it is vital to try and set yourself apart from the competition.

infrastructure investment: Another key point that can be overlooked in the early stages, are infrastructure costs. These include good access and track ways, which can be enormous money pits. Water can also be a costly investment depending on the location

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and existing infrastructure. Fortunately it is not necessary in many glamping sites to have domestic power feeds as solar is often adequate, but again this is not a cost one would want to overlook. Planning permission can also be a costly process depending on how much of it you are willing to do yourself. Having a clear vision before creating an application for the next 5-10 years will reduce the amount of time, effort and money you end up spending. Once you have chosen your structures and have all of your infrastructure costs, you will start to get a good idea of your overall investment.

occupancy rates and projected profits: When projecting your occupancy rates for your business plan, it is crucial to remain conservative and realistic. You can get a good idea of occupancy rates for different site styles by visiting glamping agency websites and seeing how similar retreats to the ones you intend to build are performing. This way you can create a set of projected figures. At Crown and Canopy, when we provide consultancy to clients we hand out spread sheets of actual figures attained by running our own sites. These are invaluable as they are based on an actual business and include running costs and agency rates. Glamping agencies will typically look to charge around 25% of turnover plus VAT. These occupancy rates play a large part of your financial projections for your business, so it is important to get the best information you can.

By Edward Busby, Glamping consultant for Crown and Canopy, makers of bespoke retreats and glamping sites. www.crownandcanopy.co.uk. out your projected or actual net profit. This is achieved by working out initially how much you intend to charge per stay and combining it with your occupancy rates to come up with a monthly or seasonal figure. Amounts vary depending on structures, but £80-£140 per night for 2-4 people is common. Seeking advice from someone in the industry is the best source of information as they can draw on their own experience. Failing that, you can go about costing this yourself, however, be careful to think about everything from agency fees to toilet paper as these costs will add up and eventually create your bottom line.

Payback schedule and annual net profit:

It may be wise to seek professional help from a glamping consultant if you feel less confident with the topics above, however, you can also do background and market research yourself, in order to get a good idea of the business potential. The best piece of advice I can give about starting a venture is to begin small and grow, this way you lower the risk and create a stable foundation for future development.

In order to create your investment payback schedule, you will need to work

Email - info@crownandcanopy.co.uk

Escape Nomade

Living Without Wallls

Escape Nomade, based in Bali, designs, engineers, manufactures, installs and maintains luxury tents and interiors for private homes and luxury resorts. International Glamping Business caught up with founder Anneke van Waesberghe to see what inspires her.

How did you start the company? I did a lot of travelling for my Non Profit Organization, East Meets West, which often took me to desolate places where there were no hotels with the small luxuries we are used to in the West. I am talking about 30 years ago, when mostly travelers were interested in nature, culture and religion. There was only one United Nations office in New Delhi from where we could send emails and talk via the computer. I started designing products to make my traveling life more comfortable. I made an attempt to design a travel kit, to take the 5 star luxuries with me. It was made out of the finest Vietnamese silk; pajamas, a kimono, slippers, a sleeping bag and mosquito net tucked tightly under my mattress to keep bugs from getting close. I could sleep anywhere now!

One day I found myself having designed so many products related to travel that I decided to have them displayed inside a tent. I made a tent with a local Balinese who was producing party tents and that was our first tent in the garden of my studio. People came to see my products and I used to organize lunches and dinners with magic lights and music and it all looked so attractive that I decided to design a larger tent. I put the tent close to the river while I was going to build my house on the other side. But at the end I never built the house and decided to put more tents up instead and live inside, tents are addictive! Then, with the money I saved, I set up my business.

What was your vision at the start and has it changed as you have gone along? I started doing something I love, with the vision of expressing my concern for the environment that I have had for the past 25 years. Now that I have my own manufacturing company, I can apply these rules and inspire the people around me. Designers and architects have such an important role, as we are the ones selecting the materials for the products. The vision came when I collected the

Anneke van Waesberghe items I designed to make my travels to remote areas more comfortable and decided to display them in a retail tent. The tents became ultimately my main business and a way to communicate my message within the company. We have grown into a tent home-building company with 100 employees, as well as a company developing close-to-nature experiences, such as picnics, and soon to be tea tent-houses, to support our communication and promote an ecologically friendly way of living close to nature in luxury and comfort. So I still keep the same vision as 30 years ago.

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Escape Nomade

very rare and unknown, only a few of us believed in that new lifestyle we were creating. After all these years of work, I am amazed to see how glamping has become the trend and the medium to promote sustainability. It is great that new generations start to ask themselves questions and look for different lifestyles so early and that the lifestyle we started 20 years ago has now become a must. However there is still a “low profile” misconception of glamping. Some people still see it as dirty, muddy and shabby. But if it’s well done, glamping now can be the most luxury experience ever. Happily the misconception is disappearing!

How important is the green/eco aspect of the business for you and your customers? Due to the nature of our product, it is inherently linked. Besides being my main goal in life and in my company, our clients predominantly operate nature or eco resorts, therefore the sustainability is one of their main issues as well.

What advice would you give to operators wanting to set up a business offering glamping?

What kind of projects have you been involved in and which have been the most exciting for you?

How do you think people’s attitudes towards this kind of accommodation and experience have changed?

The first one was the most memorable as I was personally fully involved, as the architect was a friend of mine. Jean Charles, the architect, convinced Arki Busson to build tents for Uma Thurman at his Bayside property in the Bahamas. Lots of things happened; including the late arrival of the container, which was the bad part. The best part of the project was to be side by side with them and spend Christmas and New Year’s together.

My life’s mission has been creating an art of living that combines sustainability and cozy comfort in luxury close to nature. At the time I started, this was something

Now we have projects in many different countries around the world, as well as several projects in Bali to be finished in 2017. Probably the most exciting project we are working on right now is one in Cambodia in Angkor Wat.

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I guess that when something becomes a trend, there are always lots of misconceptions, it all depends on the type of glamping we are talking about and the reason behind this glamping idea. So many beautiful alternative ways of staying overnight have been created now; a simple camping tent with furniture and even a crystal chandelier, a tree house, a room under the water from a floating building, an igloo, a yurt.

Picture from Khwan Beach resort, Koh Samui, Thailand www.khwanbeachresort.com Photographer, Mikolaj Krawczunas www.foodandinterior.com

Escape Nomade

the furniture that is easy to move around and portable, so a table and chairs can be easily and quickly be put by the river for high tea or under a tree for late afternoon cocktails. The interior and exterior therefore become one.

These are all amazing options, but from the point of view of the resort operator, the idea behind glamping needs to remain intact: the sustainability, living close to nature and having a real travel experience.

Our tents are a hybrid between a house and a tent; a house due to its structural frame and resistance, and a tent due to the fast set up. Installation takes only one day with an experienced team once it is delivered to the customer.

Probably EXPERIENCE is the key word that makes the difference. This is why at Escape Nomade, it’s not only about sleeping out in the open, but also about tasting, sighting, touching, smelling and hearing. We have created life-changing experiences with our tents that make you step back in time when the environment was not threatened by human activities.

We have a team to assist our clients in Indonesia and project managers to assist the clients’ teams abroad. The maintenance is low and easy and the products we use for cleaning are all natural and easy to use. We offer our clients a maintenance training program that we include in the price of the tents as well as a detailed video.

How well would your offer work in less tropical countries - for example in europe?

the interior design of your accommodation is very high end - where do you get your inspiration?

We have now projects in 17 countries in the world, and not all of them are in tropical countries. We have settled tents in Spain, Portugal, Greece and France for example. Our tents have so many uses that the climate is not a real concern; they can be easily installed as a guesthouse in the garden of a property, or as an event venue; hence the opportunities are plenty and we continue to work on more applications such as the roof top tent. Lately, we have just rolled out our light tent versions that have been conceived for seasonal uses in any type of climate.

Most of our visitors mention the feeling of ‘Out of Africa’ and I think that is the lifestyle I live and promote, reflected in

Our guests are so overwhelmed by the complete experience of visiting our Sanctuary, that we are now developing a small retail tent to be placed indoors so that we can share this experience of nature and outdoor in even more places. We are now in the process of curating the best locations for this animated retail indoor/outdoor experience. We like to bring people in big crowded cities closer to nature.

What are your future plans for the company? It is incredible but it has been already 10 years since I sold my first tent to Arki Busson and Uma Thurman. A few years later my business partner arrived and since then, the growth has been amazing! We started selling tents in a bigger scale to luxury resorts and hotels and now I can say that my dreams really have come true. We are not only designing tents and interiors, but we have also created a simple yet luxurious lifestyle, we have passed from selling products to sell experiences, I like to call this ‘l’art de vivre’ www.escapenomade.com

Rooftop tent, private residence, Bali Photographer, Arturo Losada www.arturolosada.es

What are the practicalities of your structures in terms of how long they take to build, put up on site and maintenance? The structures are made of galvanized steel that we treat with 2 layers of marine paint. Our premium version of a 50m2 tent weighs 1000kg all included, and the light version is 600kg for the same size of tent.

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Manufacturer Profile

Cabanon – the French innovators For more than 50 years, Cabanon has designed and manufactured tents of great quality in France. These tents have been sold throughout Europe and beyond. From the original frame tents to the first dome tents and the renowned scout patrol tents, Cabanon has always been known as an innovator of products for holidays under canvas. Cabanon’s extensive product range now includes tents, lodges and trailers with many more accessories, all covered by Cabanon’s two-year guarantee. The company now has a much wider range for holiday parks and glamping sites such as lodge tents with bathrooms, products accessible for people with reduced mobility, stilts for all of its products and wood-burning stoves. Cabanon designs and manufactures its products at its Dunkerque site. In 2009, Cabanon initiated a significant evolution in the outdoor leisure sector by offering Campsites its first product, created in canvas and wood: the Classic 400, the first in its Classic range. Since then, the Classic range has been enriched with the arrival of the Classic 500 and 700.

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Cabanon also developed an unrivalled concept that has been widely commercialised in many camp sites in France called la Bulle..

Beyond bringing innovation to the market, Cabanon is focusing on offering very comfortable products with a design that fits nicely in natural environments.

The company’s latest innovation, the Natuna, created with partner Cabanologue, offers customers an innovative design, modularity, and panoramic openings.

How has France embraced the glamping sector?

Glamping Business catches up with the company’s marketing manager Géraldine Brun. Cabanon will exhibit for the first time at this year’s Glamping Show.

In France, we see a penetration of our Lodge tents into campsites. Our products offer an alternative to other more traditional, campsite accommodation. Our Lodges are a perfect fit for campers who are looking for a “canvas experience” with the comfort of a “house” such as real beds and a bathroom,… Some of the campsites in France now offer a differentiated experience, which is more “Glamping” and for these we have the Bubble and other special tents like Tipi, Ecochique and also our latest innovation the Natuna.

What are your best-selling products and why? Our best selling products are the “Lodge tents” which we call the Classic range. Among these, the best selling ones are the products that can accommodate five people as well as those that offer the possibility to be equipped with a bathroom.

What makes your products different from others on the market? Cabanon has innovated with its Lodge tents since 2009. In 2010 we launched our classic 400, our image tent, and in 2011, our Classic 500 for 5 people. During these years Cabanon was the only tent producer to offer this type of Lodge Tent. Innovation is in the DNA of Cabanon. From the early years we have developed fireproof tents equipped with a stove, tents for warm conditions, and tents equipped with bathrooms. Our newest product in the range, the Natuna provides a brand new design in the field of Lodge tents.

Apart from the traditional campsites we are now seeing a new kind of customer in France who are more focused on a Glamping style experience such as B&Bs, Farms,….

Where do you see further growth potential for your products? We are constantly growing our market share, either with new customers, to whom we can offer our range of existing products – or with existing customers for whom we are always developing new products.

What might we see from you at the Glamping show? This is the first time that Cabanon will participate in the Glamping Show. For this first, we plan to exhibit thee products representative of our brand and our innovations: one of our classic tents, our new Natuna tent and a Bubble. These three products are a must-see for those looking to diversify their rental offer. www.cabanon.com/en

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Ask Kate: your glamping agony aunt

"Kate, I've just received planning permission for a Shepherd's Hut to run as a holiday let glamping business on my five-acre Farm. I'm hoping to run the hut as off-grid as possible but I'm having problems regarding solar electricity. I've been told I can run the hut off a 12v solar system but if I install a fridge and decide to have an electric shower and hot water instead of gas I will need something bigger and a lot more expensive. Do you know of any companies that can provide an off grid system at an affordable cost that is powerful enough to run all electrics in a Shepherd’s Hut?” Many thanks, Sharon

Hi Sharon, thank you for writing in with this question, it's often asked by those who want to set up a low-impact glampsite, or don't have easy access to mains supply. The advice you've been given is correct, a large electrical installation would be expensive, I'd add that it might not be so

Glamping Guru Kate Morel has spent years working closely with many landowners and organisations, providing advice and support to new and existing sites. This, along with experience in property restoration, design and hospitality, gives her a unique set of skills and perspective on creating glamping developments. She can be contacted at info@katemorel.com

viable in R.O.I. calculations on a hut. Electrical appliances that generate heat are energy vampires, they suck up that electricity. Rather than a bigger solar installation I'd suggest a judicious use of bottled gas in combination with solar which means you can offer guests most conveniences and 'home comforts' in some form or another. Showers and fridges can run on gas, use a stove-top whistling kettle instead of an electric one. Save the solar for lighting and other low voltage usage. Kevin Holland from The Solar Shed adds, “Shepherd’s Huts are brilliant for solar as you can use flexi panels and glue them to the roof, 4 x 100 watt panels, would bend to the roof shape and not be seen. Wiring them down into a regulator, and from there into batteries, is simple and affordable enough. Running 12v lighting and charging of appliances etc. is where solar comes into its own. Hairdryers, kettles and similar appliances use a lot of energy, and while all appliances 'just plug

into the wall,' we need to understand what happens beyond our plug sockets to appreciate energy demand. Low-wattage, energy efficiency is the key to making solar work. Simple, clear bullets points on do's and don'ts regarding energy use will allow any Glamping accommodation to be powered every day, all year long.” The 'simple clear bullet points' Kevin mentions are for the guests, so they understand the limitations of the system. Also, ensure they are fully aware - clear descriptions on the website, reiterate in the 'arrivals' letter, explain verbally during the 'meet & greet', and include it in your 'Guest Information Folder' in the hut itself. Managing guest expectations is important, especially around facilities that differ considerably to a regular property. I hope this has helped Sharon, wishing you all the best with your new glamping venture, keep us posted!” Kate Please send your glamping problems to Kate at the email above.

For illustration purposes only

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Manufacturer Interview The Accordian House by 24H

Nomadic Resorts is an international design cooperative featuring a core team of an architect, tent technician, interior designer, a team of low carbon engineers and a landscape designer who have worked on numerous luxury hotel projects. Here we speak to CEO Louis Thompson about their spectacular designs, coping with leopards and crocodiles, trench foot and the filthy rich in order to create 6-star sustainable luxury in the jungle and how he not surprisingly is keen to work more in Europe! How did nomadic resorts come about? I was working with my current partner Olav Bruin at a multi million dollar resort called Soneva Kiri on a remote island off the coast of Cambodia. Olav was focussing on the Den (a manta ray shaped childrens play center made of bamboo) under his previous company 24H and I was working for Six Senses directly on the eco-suite (a green roofed hobbit hole with a natural swimming pool) but we had joined forces to build the treetop dining pod at that time (a dining experience suspended from a web of cables strung between old growth trees). Our projects were going relatively well with small teams of local craftsmen under our direct supervision; but the larger tented villas and facilities were encountering some serious logistics and budget issues, despite the 800 workers on the site. There were also social and environmental issues associated with the labour camp needed for such a large team of builders. We concluded that there must be a more intelligent approach to developments in isolated locations – our conclusion was that the buildings were too large, and many of the elements

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Light Footprints, lasting impressions should have been pre-fabricated on the mainland and assembled on site. From that idea we started to develop a few concepts for tented pods…though we had some natural building expertise we had no idea of the complexity of tensile membrane engineering nor the extraordinary design opportunities that it affords. A simple chat over a few beers developed into an international design collective drawing on specialized knowledge of membrane analysis and patterning, low carbon engineering and remote wilderness logistics. We didn’t have any money but I managed to convince each consultant to provide their technical expertise pro bono in exchange for shares in the company- so in essence we are a consortium of design specialists with a shared environmental ethos (many of whom has also worked with me at Six Senses resorts and spas).

What was your ethos when you started and has it changed at all? I think our original ethos was ‘light footprints, lasting impressions’ – which was a sort of reference to the barefoot chic resorts fashionable at the time but we always wanted to create more active environments for extreme sports, hiking lodges, safaris etc. in many ways we were ahead of the experiential tourism curve at the time. Our most recent iteration was ‘We create enriching experiences by designing iconic developments and structures that celebrate the environment’ isn’t so far off so I guess we haven’t altered our vision all that much, in fact we haven’t really changed our focus all that much (which I think is one of our strengths).

Your most high projects are in sri lanka and thailand could you anticipate working in less tropical climates such as europe? Olav is Dutch and I am English and both of us have experience working in temperate climates, Olav notably worked on the Dragspelhuset Accordion House in Sweden, an extraordinary treehouse designed by 24H (pictured above). Strangely enough many of our most recent designs like the Looper and Urchin tent designs work well in both climates thanks to the use of high performance insulation and double glazing which are beneficial whether one is heating or cooling a building. In addition our structures are engineered to British standards by one of the leading tensile membrane engineering companies in the world so that they can withstand tropical storm conditions….. Both Olav and I are very keen to work in Europe and we are planning to improve our representation in the European market. Some projects of similar nature, The Den

Manufacturer Interview

Treetop dining

such as the Treehotel in Sweden have been terribly successful and I often wonder why we don’t get more inquiries from cooler climates. Ironically I am not a particularly ‘beach’ person (despite having lived in Mauritius, Maldives, Thailand and Sri Lanka) and would love to do more projects in the mountains, where I could express my inner mountain hermit (as opposed to hiding from the sun like a hermit crab).

How do you go about creating a resort with a client? We have a pretty intimate relationship with our clients and there is a lot of dialogue to ensure that our designs meet the best practices, standard operating procedures and technical services requirements of luxury hotel operators or the practical needs of private clients; we also do a lot of environmental and historical research of each site to understand the vernacular design and natural building materials prior to the first site visit but the actual design process usually starts with me and Olav scabbling about in the jungle looking at any termite mounds, wasps nests, geological anomalies, odd shells or interesting fungi that already exist on the site…these organic forms are very often the basis of the design that follows…the Looper is based on caterpillar cocoon, the urchin is based on a sea urchin and the droplet… I’ll let you guess.

What are your favourite creations and why? In my case it would be the treetop dining pod at Soneva Kiri – it was technically challenging project, in a far out place and I really liked my team of hill tribesmen. It was also a financial success for the group which is also nice. That said I think the Looper is a really extraordinary product that redefines the term tent.

What ongoing maintenance is needed for your structures? For the tents we use the highest quality Ferrari textiles for the exterior membranes – many of the fabrics have a ten year warranty and are fully recycleable, they do of course need to be cleaned regularly, fortunately this can be done with a bit of soapy water and a soft sponge very quickly. The bamboo structures are still going strong 10 years down the line- largely because Olav made sure they had good boots and a hat (raised foundations and long eaves on the roofs). All buildings require maintenance, generally the kind of clients who work with us, love the finished product and are proud to take care of it (and this is as it should be) for example the treetop dining pod has been operational for 8 years and is still going strong. As we did not use a single screw, bolt or nail in any of the trees, the forest has now grown up with the structure, like an epiphytic plant.

How do you cope with the demands of using natural building materials in terms of dealing with the heat, damp and termites etc? We do a lot of research, it’s really as simple as that - as I sometimes joke I have spent 5 years pitching a tent in Sri Lanka…but it is only partially tongue in cheek – at the site in Yala we have to cater to elephants, monkeys, leopards, wild boar, ants, termites, polecats, crocodiles and a very large array of deadly snakes. We had to get it right because there was a guest safety issue.

How long can it take to create one of your buildings? It depends on the scale of the project a bit, but at Wild Coast Lodge we are planning to build 27 Loopers and 8 Urchins in 5 months….that’s 7 units/month. In reality it depends a bit on what flooring you go for but the general shell can be put up in less than a week.

Your creations are incredible and aspirational - would you anticipate a more affordable concept for a wider market? Definitely. In fact it is one of our main goals - I have spent most of my adult life working on projects for multi millionaires; and the extremely rich are blissfully unaware of the efforts people go

The Den to to make these luxury resorts a reality. I have sweated tears on many of the projects, living in some pretty dicey shacks with my family as well as suffering a few serious illnesses (trench foot in Thailand, dysentery in Vietnam and flesh eating bacteria in Sri Lanka) so that people could have an amazing vacation… There is also a fundamental clash between 6 star air conditioned luxury and sustainability that is inescapable. One of the reasons I started Nomadic is to offer funky designs to normal people with similar environmental values to ours. All of our tent products are affordable given the longevity of the materials and the quality of the structural materials (the Looper is the same size as a typical one bedroom apartment in London at a fraction of the cost and the Urchin would be great for student housing). The Droplet, our latest creation, is an offering to the festival going Millenial..the mud-free Glastonbury tent that hovers above the ground, like a transcendental hipster… just enough room for your Bluetooth speaker, your tablet, your clothes and an adventurous partner who doesn’t mind (and may even enjoy) bouncing around a bit.

What does the future hold for nomadic resorts? We are focussing on the prototypes for the Urchin, then the Droplet which we hope to exhibit at the Glamping Show, finishing off our project in Sri Lanka Wild Coast Lodge and opening our office in Cape Town to offer our products to the safari operators down there but we are also really excited about a new tented ecovillage project we are working on as a joint venture at Bamboo Mountain in Mauritius- a permaculture project in an unspoilt valley overlooking the ocean where like minded people can live mobilis in mobili, Free in a free world.

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Outdoor Projects

Outdoor Projects Roll up your sleeves and enjoy the good weather with an outdoor project big or small. Whether it is renovating, building, or simply filling an old sink with flowers, we have inspiration aplenty!

A Cabin in the Woods…

If it was Thoreau’s ‘Walden’ that cemented the idea of a ‘cabin in the woods’ into 19th century consciousness; the likes of cabinporn and the tiny house movement have very much taken up the batten in the 21st. Tom MacCurrach is definitely partial to the call of the wild and when the opportunity arose to build a forester’s cabin deep in a commercial forestry plantation, he jumped at the chance. For the last ten years he has been building oak-framed extensions, houses and barns, but had never had the chance to indulge his puritan streak by building a cabin in the woods, from the woods, entirely with hand tools.

The plantation was a mixture of 40 year old Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar, which was perfect for providing structural timber, internal boarding, durable cladding and shingles. “It had been unmanaged for some years and so it seemed obvious that we should use thinnings and windblows from the wood to provide all the different components,” says Tom. “After a short period of planning, in the winter of 2009, we went into the woods and started work. A site for the cabin was located, trees were felled and the timber was squared up with broad axes. The resulting timbers were laid out, marked and jointed with a variety of hand tools including a Victorian morticing machine and after several weeks of slogging through the snow and mud we raised our first 100% hand hewn frame. Over the following summer we milled up Spruce for the floor boards and Cedar for the cladding and the roof and just in time for the first frost of winter we installed an ancient Norwegian wood burner.” Since that winter, along with the larger oak frames Tom has also been building a variety of small buildings, in their entirety. From garden offices and outdoor kitchens to forestry cabins and family bunkhouses, each project has been unique and often using timber cut on site. “People come to us with a piece of land or woodland and a rough idea of

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what they want. We are then commissioned to design a building to suit their needs and sort out planning permission and building control. We then have the ability to fell and mill trees if required before taking all the timber to our workshop in the Blackdown Hills in Devon to be put together,” says Tom. “In the workshop we use a ‘french scribe’ system of layout which allows for the use of curved and irregular shaped timbers and we make all our Oak pegs by splitting them out ‘green’ and shaping them on a shave horse. We also use a range of timbers; there is an assumption that a traditional timber frame has to be made from Oak but there are lots of options depending on budget or what’s available on site.” “We are still open to bespoke commissions, but in an attempt to reduce repeat design costs we are also developing a range of ‘off the shelf ’ timber frame buildings. These will have the same attention to detail and craftsmanship as our conventional timber frames and will be available as either a self-build frame only or a completely finished structure. We are open to working across the UK and Europe so if you have a project in mind or would like some further information feel free to give us a call,” he adds. For more details contact North Star Timber Frames: www.northstartimberframes.co.uk

Outdoor Projects

The Knight in newly shining armour Ali and Rich, from the Glamping Orchard in Gloucestershire took on a project and a half when they found a rare 1950s Warwick Knight caravan. It would be fair to say that when it was discovered, the “cattle shed on wheels” as they nicknamed it, had seen better days.. It was covered in green algae and was full of debris with a roof that had collapsed. Armed with Ali’s animated enthusiasm, Rich’s realistic plans and a shared vision, the couple spent seven months of very long hours to restore and transform their “Knight”. As well as making the caravan habitable, they dreamed of recreating the elaborate roof garden that had once adorned the Warwick Knight at an exclusive Earls Court exhibition in 1952. For in its heyday, the Warwick Knight was known as the Rolls Royce of caravans, but they are now so rare that only three – including this one – are known to be still in existence. The couple got a little help along the way in their restoration project from the legendary George Clarke who filmed the entire renovation for his Channel 4 series Amazing Spaces. “We discussed with George our vision for the Warwick Knight,” says Ali. “We didn’t know whether to restore it as a touring caravan, or static? If we toured it,

we wouldn’t be able to recreate that impressive roof garden. If we kept it static, it would need to be somewhere incredibly beautiful.” Luckily this was not a problem as the pair had their very own orchard overlooking gorgeous Gloucestershire countryside, which was clearly the perfect spot. “And that would allow us to create a luxurious rooftop retreat that would restore the Warwick to its full 1950 splendour. The decision was made,” adds Ali. So began the lengthy and arduous job of restoring the Knight to its former glory. Gutting the old carcass of the caravan seemed to take forever. The Warwick had a twin wall cavity studded everywhere with rusty old screws. Each one had to be taken out individually, a job that took Rich into the small hours of the night on many occasions. Rich then spent a month painstakingly fabricating a new roof for the Warwick Knight. “It had to be just so, or we’d have to start from scratch. We felt the pressure,” recalls Rich. Thankfully, it was a success but then came the task of cleaning the caravan. Weeks of painstakingly slow cleaning work followed to reveal the bright silver Coventry Steel armoury of the Knight. Every tiny groove, curve and corner was brushed clean, the windows slowly rid of their grime and sealed with 150 meters of rubber sealant to waterproof the machine. Windows were added and the layout was meticulously planned to create a magnificent sense of space. Inside there’s a large, cosy seating area, complete with a log-burner and a fully operational kitchen with plenty of worktop space.

The sleeping area is separated by sliding doors, so that you can read a book or have a drink by the fire when the kids go to bed. There are funky bunk pods for the kids and a comfy double bed for two adults with fantastic orchard views and luxury linen. A charmingly rustic shower is adjacent, as is the compost loo. Despite starting the project for themselves, Ali and Rich soon saw the potential to rent out their Warwick Knight for others to enjoy as well and this unique caravan now offers glampers a luxury stay with more than ample room for a family of four. Plaudits have followed and The Glamping Orchard was recently chosen as one of the best weekend getaways by Lonely Planet Traveller and in March, Ali and Rich were thrilled to receive a ‘Small Business Sunday’ award from former ‘Dragon’ Theo Paphitis..

interesting facts about Warwick Knight Coventry Steel is the company who made the Warwick Knight caravans. These caravans were designed by Clifford Dawtrey – by far one of the best and most innovative designers of his time whom also produced work on Swallow and Jaguar cars. The construction is slotted together aluminum extrusion. These caravans traded for over £2000 new in 1950, the equivalent to 3 brand new houses in the same era. It was only manufactured for two years, and they stopped making the model in 1952. www.glampingorchard.co.uk

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Garden Design Trends really add a sense of personality, authenticity and playfulness to an outdoor space. Try pallet wood, scaffold boards and even logs of wood to create quirky conversational pieces. Ronseal non yellowing, clear, outdoor furniture varnish is great for protecting from the seasons. See figure 1 for one of our bespoke coffee tables recently created for a client.

In this issue of Glamping Business, I am going to talk you through some garden trends for the next 12 months and how you can create these on a cost-effective budget. Firstly, as you may have seen if you’ve logged into Pinterest or Instagram lately, natural materials are in, from potted plants to reclaimed outdoor kitchens, both inside and out, references to nature are everywhere and what better way to embrace them than in your very own garden? This trend is also supported by a concept called Biophilic design which promotes the idea that natural materials enhance well being and productivity, something we all need a little fuel for sometimes. Alongside easy to maintain plants, creating your own planters or furniture pieces from reclaimed materials

Terracotta is back, think Spanish terraces and reclaim yards, add touches with plant pots or tiles. However, if these are a little too rustic for your aesthetic, try jazzing them up by painting geometric designs (aided by a good quality masking tape) and finishing with a clear spray lacquer for outdoor use. Herb gardens are always a great addition to a garden. Not only do they look beautiful but they also smell great in the summer and add to that ‘british garden’ effect. Try planting them in unusual containers like this one (figure 2) set in an old water tank stood on logs of wood as a centre piece to a patio. As well as herbs, do some research into edible botanicals, these would be great for those summer evenings when homemade botanical gin would impress everyone around the table. Everyone craves a little bohemian cosiness on those summer nights, add baskets of vintage blankets, subtle wind chimes and beaded mirrors on fences, small touches make an outdoor space really come together to create an ambient atmosphere (figure 3). Solar lights, whether strung or on poles are also great for outdoor use. A recurring theme throughout is regularly a desire for the simple, what ever your style, go for a laid back aesthetic, a sense of cosiness, well-being and shelter. Sitting hand in hand with the glamping industry, experiences are key to consumers where memories take priority over things. Good luck and don’t forget to tweet us your garden creations @nikkitapdesigns

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Nikita Palmer from Nikita Palmer Designs

about nikkita: Ever since I was a child I’ve always wanted to make! I remember keeping everything from scraps of fabric and industrial letter stamps to jam jars of rusty nails. Growing up in a family with little money, car boot sales, skip dives and auctions were the norm and something I continue to love. After travelling through the education system, holding a tight grasp on my creativity, I went on to study a degree in Textile Design at Nottingham Trent University, graduating with a first class honours and having learnt a lot about myself, design and what sharing a flat with three boys is like. My work developed in an unusual way during my time there, resulting in a final collection of interior surfaces, created using sustainable materials such as woods, concretes and recycled acrylic. After graduating I started my first freelance job as a personal design assistant (a.k.a. right hand women) to upcycling expert Max McMurdo. Now, continuing my freelance career, I create bespoke furniture and homewares from my own studio alongside my partner Billy, both as a design service to commercial, retail and domestic interiors as well as online and retail sales of designer, one off pieces. My focus continues to develop around material exploration, sustainability, and craftmanship which is incorporated into my everyday practise, with many of my current pieces being created from reclaimed materials. For more of what I do and an insight into the products and services I offer then please visit my website www.nikkitapalmer.com and follow me on social media (facebook, instagram and twitter) @nikkitapdesigns. For enquiries please contact me on nikkitapalmerdesigns@gmail.com

Outdoor Projects

Design Your own

Outdoor Kitchen

you install? Will there be gas fridges, grills or a cob oven? What sort of food storage will you include for each unit? Will you be using it for cooking workshops to lengthen the season? Which way will it face?

International Glamping Business speaks to Trish MacCurrach from The Outdoor Kitchen about how best to design this important space. Man and his descendents have been gathering round a fire since pre-history. They did it for three reasons; safety, warmth and cooking food. Today we still have that same desire, to meet around the fire. Each one of your glamping visitors should have the chance to cook outside. An outdoor holiday has to be about doing things differently and creatively.

several reasons why you should consider a communal outdoor kitchen It lengthens your season....with a kitchen to hold other events in It provides a sociable hub....for those who want to chat and share Collaborate with local producers.... with special offers and recipe ingredients It encourages foraging or picking from a local farm.... tastes fresh and delicious. It's a good place to disseminate up to date news and information...have a notice board A place to eat together.... if the weather isn't good.

Once you have answered all these questions, and more, you will be able to draw a plan. If possible have two entrances/exits coming from different directions, a floor that can be swept, storage that vermin cannot get into (mice love an outdoor kitchen). Have plenty of ventilation with open-sided, half walls. Your outdoor kitchen will be totally in keeping with the site you are developing, rustic for some, shiny for others, or mud for another.

some tips for fitting it all together If you haven't yet set up your venue, then you are in a prime postition with plenty of time to make your communal kitchen the central part of the plan. On a large piece of graph paper roughly draw out the shape of your land and where you imagine the units. Place your outdoor kitchen right in the center. If you have a lot of units you may need two communal kitchens or even three. Beside or behind each unit will be the private firepit. For safety reasons, the fire pit should always be a destination in itself, not on the way to the loos or the car!

several reasons why each unit should have it's own firepit set up or private outdoor kitchen

How big should it be?

It's fun.....cooking becomes play; it builds family cohesion and memories of great holidays It's sensual.....it builds links with nature and the whole food process, through scents, touch, sounds and taste. It's adventurous....pirates and explorers all cook outside over a fire.

If you want the outdoor kitchen to be somewhere where people can sit and eat you will need the relevant sized table. How many washing up units do you need? What sort of cooking facilities will

The ethos of Glamping for me includes an element of being a pioneer. The brave family pushing out west with a few much loved, beautiful and useful cooking

utensils. Weather permitting guests might spend part of every day playing at their firepit, experimenting with campfire recipes, exchanging stories and drinking their favourite tipple. This is definitely part of the holiday experience and it is up to you to make it as accessible as possible for your visitors. Having clear instructions with prepacked recipe ingredients is one way of helping your guests to try cooking over a fire, often for the first time. If you want a focus on food at your site then the outdoor kitchen should feature prominently on your website, with pictures of the kitchen and firepit with things cooking. You could even have a special page devoted to the outdoor kitchen and food opportunities.You should be promoting recipe and ingredients packs and anything else you may have planned regarding food on the web site. Maybe you have special cooking kit for hire that visitors can prebook. Holding a parents and childrensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cooking morning/day as an extra option, for instance, might be a good draw. The Outdoor Kitchen offers recipes with cooking instructions for your visitors in pdf format. Well-tried recipes from the Outdoor Kitchen web site are also available. The Outdoor Kitchen online shop stocks tripods, firepits, enamel hanging cooking pots, grills and paella pans, plus colourful enamel mugs, jugs, bowls and plates for all your outdoor adventures. www.outdoor-kitchen.biz

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Outdoor Projects

Learn Some New Ancient Skills at orchard Barn If you are planning a timber-framed building project, or have an outdoor building to restore, you might like to learn some traditional techniques and do it yourself. In addition there are various courses suitable for home and business owners, with business development IHBC CPD available on professional courses. This year, Orchard Barn are offering the following courses: Restoration skills – which will teach you how to use natural, traditional building materials, and where you can source raw materials (some of them for free). “We can teach you how to repair your vintage wattle and daub panels, timber frame, clay lump or lime render. Our Restoration Skills course can also help you identify why your old house is damp and how to remedy it,” says cofounder Sarah Partridge.

Orchard Barn, based in Ringshall, Suffolk, is an environmental education Community Interest Company, celebrating ten years this year. Its aim is to increase participation in heritage activities, providing opportunities to learn traditional skills through practical participation. So, there is plenty of hands-on training using natural resources and organic techniques. This is ideal for glamping operators who are keen to conserve and enhance the historic features of their land and buildings in an eco-friendly way. Orchard Barn relies on local volunteers to take part in conservation projects and to help out around the barn and in the local woodland, offering working parties to provide community education and keep old skills alive.

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The Introduction to Timber Framing course spells out the basics of timber frames. Students start at the beginning with mortise and tenons, studs, soleplates, wallplates, jowls, pegs, braces and tie beams. Whether you're a homeowner, or thinking of building - this course provides a great understand of how a timber frame is constructed. The Roundwood Timber Frame and

Shingle Roof construction course will teach you how to construct a cart lodge frame and clasp purlin roof with trees in the round and teaches students how to use traditional carpentry hand tools and practice a wide range of skills that you can transfer into your own projects. There is also an Introduction to Lime – for those looking to do some maintenance to an old building in keeping with its age and materials. This covers health and safety considerations, mixing mortar and render, repointing, rendering and more. Even Wattle and Daub is making a comeback at Orchard Farm and this course will teach you how to use traditional greenwood working equipment, such as shave horse, draw knife and side axe, while you work with coppiced woodland materials and learn to source and assess clay and subsoil. For more information on the range of courses available at Orchard Barn – visit www.orchardbarn.org.uk or email sarah at sarah@orchardbarn.org.uk

Here come the …and Welsh Dragon Fuels is lighting up the grilling experience with the innovative and beautiful höfats range of CONE charcoal BBQ grills & accessories which are complemented perfectly by DIE KOHLE MANUFAKTUR Premium BBQ Briquettes. The höfats CONE is a modern heatresistant powder coated 100% stainless steel BBQ with integral thermometer, the first charcoal grill where you can adjust the heat effectively via a multi-level cooking grate. It simply translates the comfort of a gas grill to a charcoal grill. The intuitive heat regulation is made possible by the principle of combining distance of the heat source to the cooking food with the air supply. In case great heat is required, e.g. for searing, the coals grid, and thus the heat

Outdoor Projects

grills

source, are simply lifted. To reduce heat, you just lower the coals grid and thereby decrease the air supply automatically. As the coals grid can be lifted up to the funnel’s edge, CONE can be easily transformed into a fireplace after grilling is done. A full range of accessories is available including a water-repellent cover, a foodsafe oiled bamboo side shelf / chopping board, iron cooking grid, gloves, apron, grill tongs and steak tools. www.höfats.com For 100% BBQ success we recommend you use new Premium BBQ Grill Briquettes and Premium Starter Gels from DIE KOHLE MANUFAKTUR which are specifically tailored to meet the exacting requirements of real barbeque experts and gourmets and deliver the perfect barbeque experience (when using a starter chimney). Contain no compounds harmful to health, do not pollute the environment or smoulder when burning and boast a high and pure carbon content (over 80%)… the result is a smoke-free BBQ experience and a long burning time of up to 4.5 hours

with continuous high temperature and taint-free cooking. Briquettes are Available in handy 2.5kg & 5kg carry packs. http://www.kohle-manufaktur.de/ Made in Germany and available exclusively in the UK from Welsh Dragon Fuels… Tel: 01269 842620. Email: info@djdaviesfuels.co.uk …Whatever you do this summer, do it outdoors...

DJ Davies - no copy received

info@djdaviesfuels.co.uk Visit our showroom at 61 Waterloo Road, Capel Hendre, Ammanford SA18 3RY

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Outdoor Projects

turn up the Heat with a firepit from round Wood

Hot new pizza oven fuel launches A brand new fuel for wood-fired pizza ovens, which burns longer, hotter and cleaner than traditional firewood, is now available nationwide. Pizazz is an eco-friendly fuel made in the UK from 100% renewable Sweet Chestnut wood. As a clean alternative to firewood, Pizazz briquettes have a 0.5 per cent ash residue which means less mess after burning and a low moisture content allowing them to produce a significantly higher level of heat without splintering or breaking during use. Unlike similar products in the market, Pizazz briquettes are made in the UK from sawdust and chip from British forests. No additives are used in the process as Pizazz are formed naturally by using the lignin in the wood which when heated binds and seals the briquettes. The briquettes are clean and easy to handle with no splinters and don’t expand or crumble while burning making them one of the safest options on the market. Pizazz briquettes are available exclusively from www.woodfuel-direct.co.uk starting from £16 RRP for a box of eight.

If you are looking to add a high-end touch to your campsite, you may want to consider the range of burners on offer from Round Wood of Mayfield. Unlike many that are available on the market, their models are all manufactured in traditional materials, so are both durable and eye-catching. The company, who distribute nationwide from their base in East Sussex, also supply a range of burners and accessories. These include eco-friendly briquettes; a clean and easy to light fuel that provides excellent heat. These can be purchased by the bag, or in money saving pallet deals. Trade prices are available on all products for bulk purchases, with firepits starting from under £30. Perhaps the most popular amongst their selection are on-trend Corten steel dish burners. Corten rusts in the eye-catching, uniform finish often found on a variety of high end features, such as the Angel of the North. The rust, which requires no treatment, protects the blue steel underneath, giving Corten an extremely long life span. Round Wood’s mild steel firepits are wrought from a thinner, lower grade sheet, but offer excellent value, a unique aesthetic and can stand repeated use. Heavy duty cast iron versions are also available, along with outdoor ovens. For more information please visit www.roundwood.com. For details on trade pricing please call our sales team on 01435 860 888. Roundwood will provide a free bag of eco-briquettes, worth £3, with every burner purchased until the end of May. www.roundwood.com

Bring the indoors out

suggests you cover the units and appliances.

What better way to entertain your guests than with a luxurious outdoor kitchen? It can be assembled on site, delivered flatpacked and constructed on site by specialists Bring Inside Outside. They suggest using hard wood, or metal, and not normal chip board cabinets due to rotting caused by the damp atmosphere.

Why not create you own bespoke space bringing your Inside living space outside, for all to enjoy.

The time involved for construction depends on the size of the kitchen required. It can take anywhere between three days to a week. Although if you are creating a total outdoor living space with lounge patio and dining area, then allow

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yourself at least three weeks from ground level up.

add a lounge, and a dining area. You will need a good source of electricity although the oven and barbeque can run from a gas canister or by bringing a gas pipe outdoors to your kitchen area. An electric hook up point would be a definite bonus if you intend to fit it alongside a Glamping unit. The winter weather may affect your outdoor kitchen, so Bring Inside Outside

www.BringInsideOutside.co.uk

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NAEC, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

FREE MARKETING AUDIT FOR YOUR GLAMPING / CAMPING BUSINESS ARE YOUR STRUGGLING TO MARKET YOUR SITE? DON’T HAVE THE TIME OR THE CREATIVE FLAIR? CAN'T KEEP UP WITH REGULAR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING? LET GLAMPAWAYS MEDIA TAKE AWAY THE STRAIN AND DELIVER RESULTS PLUS IT WON'T COST THE EARTH.

Our creative team at Glampaways Media will use our vast experience in the industry to specifically design a campaign to target your desired audience that will delight, entertain and create results. For more information on how we can help or to book your free marketing audit email info@glampawaysmedia.co.uk Glampaways Media specialise in helping businesses in the glamping industry create more bookings and brand their business in this market place. Glampaways Media offers a FREE marketing audit that will analyse your online and social media presence and create a full detailed proposal of how we can help take your business to the next level.

Book now at info@glampawaysmedia.co.uk

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