Truths, Trials & Triumphs of Setting Up a Glamping Business

The Truths, Trials & Triumphs of Setting Up a Glamping Business

By Martha Fosberry

Martha & Reuben Fosberry

‘Have the courage to take your own thoughts seriously, for they will shape you’ - Albert Einstein. We took our thoughts about setting up a glamping business so seriously that it has shaped the rest of our lives in the most exciting way. In 2015, we escaped to the country and relocated from Kent to my home county of Herefordshire to set up shop. We dreamt big, dug deep (literally) and dived headfirst into a life more wild.

I always like to start any feature where I offer advice with the disclaimer that I am not an expert! I can say with confidence, however, that we have probably made every mistake in the book whilst setting up The Moon & I. We used to take them very personally, feeling like we had failed in our new endeavour, but I soon realised those mistakes were a gift and a lesson learned.

We’ve had the highest of highs (being featured in The Sunday Times travel magazine & The Observer) and the lowest of lows (mostly involving shower traps, squirrels in the roof of our shepherd’s hut, and mud, mud and more mud). But despite the blood, sweat and tears, we honestly wouldn’t change a thing. So, whatever stage you’re at, read on to discover what we wish we had known before setting up a glamping business and becoming “Glamparents”. Happy reading, glampers!

Glamping Business Truths, Triumphs & Trials and a Guide to “Glamparenting”

Money Matters!

There is so much I could share with you regrading the truths of how vastly your financial situation will affect not only your business, but your family life by proxy. We have cut our teeth as DIY business owners and built everything from the ground up – we even hand-built our shepherd’s hut to save us about £30,000. We are very fortunate to have the skills to have started this way, but I understand this would not be preferable for everyone and it certainly isn’t the path of least resistance.

In the summer of 2017, with a two-and-a-half year old, a newborn and zero childcare, Reuben and I spent a painful two days finishing our shepherd’s hut before our first booking working 24 hours a day – and I mean literally. I recall the 2am tears as I hand-finished fitted blinds with one hand while breastfeeding my daughter with the other. Doing everything yourself is NOT easy. But the rewards come in a different shape to calling in the cavalry. We poured our heart and soul into lovingly finishing every corner of our hut and it shows: people notice. They notice the story we have woven and the delight we take in telling them – you cannot put a price on that.

In our situation we did not have the money for help (other than the input of Reuben’s super-dad, Kel), but your situation may be very different to this. If you have the budget to pay for help, buy pre-designed structures, or are able to secure lending, this eases the challenges vastly. But the point I feel is important, is that it can also change your relationship with your business. I am not saying don’t get help – in fact, I encourage you to – but don’t shy away from putting your own touches to your spaces. Whether you like it or not, you are an active part of your guests’ visitor experience. It is your business, after all, and your story to tell, so enjoy telling it! I know we do.

Are you a people person?

One thing that occurred to me after opening The Moon & I, was that it’s a very good job I’m a people person! When you’re swimming in the more practical aspects, like planning applications and building projects, it’s hard to cast your mind forward to the day-to-day aspects of running a business. I am not saying you always have to be as chipper as a Broadway show compere when meeting guests, but I’d be lying if I said you could show up grumpy and expect to see repeat occupancy. If the more social aspect of running the business feels ominous to you, maybe consider paying a site manager. Check in videos are also an alternative way to connect with guests without actually having to greet them.

To live on site, or not to live on site – that is the question

Living on site certainly has its benefits in terms of security and convenience (my commute to work is literally 30 seconds), but it’s worth planning the layout of your site to maximise privacy for both you and your guests. Do not be afraid to create areas that guests don’t have access to. During our first season, I remember walking outside to have my morning coffee and not having anywhere to sit in my own garden because we had not considered this. When viewing a potential property, don’t underestimate your family’s need for privacy while running a business from home. However, living off site offers its own unique set of trials to consider. Who will greet guests? Will you be on call 24 hours a day? Will noise be an issue if you’re not on site to keep an eye on things? How will you manage security when occupancy is low?

The Moon & I

Marketing: Flying solo or with an agency?

If you are thinking of flying solo on the marketing front, be sure to know how to dot your Instagram Is and cross your TikTok Ts. If your background is in marketing or you’re able to employ someone to help you take bookings directly, you could save a fortune in commission – but you need to know your social media onions in order to make this approach a success. Should you choose to go with an agency, marketing for occupancy is largely taken care of. You can set up your own social media channels in order to take direct bookings – but do check permissions as some agencies have exclusive contracts. Discuss commission rates with agencies and feel free to negotiate if you are coming on board with more than one space. Choose an agency that reflects your values and don’t be afraid to shop around to find the right fit.

Stranger Things: Expect the unexpected

It’s easy to think that running a hospitality business will be pretty predictable, guests check in, guests check out – bada bing, bada boom. We’ve had our fair share of weird and wonderful over the years, so expect the unexpected is a sound piece of advice. One evening, we had taken outside for a beer with friends. From the middle of the meadow we suddenly heard a trombone (yes, the big brass type) ring out across the valley. Bemused, we ventured further to see where the sound was originating, only to find our guests enjoying a champagne picnic and the sound of his trombone echoing from the Black Mountains. A more poignant and heartbreaking situation was when we once supported a guest who, unbeknown to us, had recently suffered the loss of her husband and, as part of her grieving process, still imagined he was with her - right down to requesting two breakfasts and keeping his chair warm with blankets. We respectfully attended to her during her stay and she said what a special time they both had. Like I said, heartbreaking.

The Importance of The Backstage Crew

I am not going to lie, finding cleaning support is very tough. If you find a person or a company who has excellent standards, who is reliable, punctual and good to work with, my best bit of advice is: value them! Pay them well, offer them support and flexibility where possible. The same applies to gardeners, window cleaners, tree surgeons and odd jobs. A good backstage crew will guarantee a great show, so hold on to those hardworking handy-folk.

Neverending Laundry – No luckdragons to be found

My final two pennies before we move on to “Glamparenting”is simple. If you are able find a laundry and ironing service that can take your linen, wash, press and return it – then do it. There are companies who offer this service and will usually collect from your site, or chat to your local laundrette and see if you can come to an arrangement as a regular customer. If you choose to do your washing on site, cut yourself some slack and make the decision to take all of your household and family laundry to the launderette instead. I often worry that I will meet my untimely demise at the bottom of our never ending “Mount Pants-more” as I affectionately know it, so this is a great area to relieve the work/life balance pressure by seeking suds-y support.

Glamparenting: Running a glampsite while raising a young family

Glamparenting; verb. A special mode of parenting that requires you to multitask like an octopus, while being as charming as Hugh Grant, as entertaining as Mr Blobby and having the creative resources of Neil Buchanan from Art Attack, with the business acumen of all three dragons from Dragon’s Den.

Changeover Childcare Challenges

If, like us, you plan to do changeovers yourself to reduce outgoings and maximise profit, then childcare is a biggie. Consider carefully what days and times you will be offering check in and ensure you can work your childcare needs around this. For example, don’t offer a 4pm check in if the school run is at 3:30pm. If you’re able to pay for some after school pick ups or babysitting support, this will be a godsend and well worth factoring into your business costs.

The Moon & I

Let Me Entertain You

If your children are on site with you during changeover, keep them close to you. Ask them to help with age appropriate tasks, like collecting sticks for the kindling baskets or sweeping decking. You may be surprised what delight they can take in “working” alongside you. If you are cutting the lawn, ask them to help you collect the grass to build huge nests, or try a “wheelbarrow wonderland” - a hot fav at The Moon & I HQ. Simply pop some toys and activities in a wheelbarrow to accompany you on your rounds.

Half Terms & Holidays

You may wish to think ahead and make some strategic changes to your booking structure to maximise family time and minimise workload during school holidays. The same theory applies to Christmas and New Year, because let’s face it: no Glamparent wants to be doing changeovers on Christmas Eve when the big man is on his way. We tend to structure our school holidays to only allow bookings Monday–Friday & Friday–Sunday, making those our only changeover days and leaving plenty of time for family adventures.

Little People at Check In

Try to have a check in strategy that ensures your children always have an adult with them while you attend to your guests. Guests are usually very open to meeting your children, but unless an adult is present to take care of them, their actions can be somewhat unpredictable. Our youngest daughter, Eira, once made her way into our barn space during a check in, wearing nothing but a tutu, and presented me with a drawing of what was apparently “mummy’s big bottom”, complete with what I think was described as a “rainbow unicorn fart”. Thankfully, the guests saw the funny side - as did we. As suggested earlier, check in videos double up as a way to mitigate this during holidays and half terms.

Noise

If I had £1 for every time I have had to say, “Shhh, we have guests,” as my children launch into the garden like assault missiles, I would be a very rich woman. The Moon & I is run largely as a couples retreat and the last thing romance-seeking couples want is to be privy to an overzealous trampolining session. That’s not to say guests don’t enjoy meeting our children, I am just sure they don’t want to hear them at DEFCON 1 during their stay. Although this won’t be such an issue if you are planning a familyfriendly site. We therefore walk a tightrope of allowing our children to play and enjoy our four acre plot of paradise, while ensuring guests get the peace and quiet they have been promised. I don’t have a magic answer for this issue, only that having garden time during the day when guests are likely to be out is a good shout.

Being There, But Not Being There

This can be a tough one for children to understand and very frustrating for both parent and child. Being home and appearing to be available, but in fact not being available, can take some getting used to for the whole family. Childcare can help with this, allowing children to associate a person with “So-and-so is here, which means my parents are working,”. A big tip at this point: outdoor play areas and trampolines will be your greatest advocate!