A new and exciting alliance of five of South Africa’s top caravan dealers has been announced details of which have just been released to Godfrey Castle, publisher of Caravan & Outdoor Life. The composition of The Big Five, as the group will be known, will be made up of five caravan dealers strategically positioned around South Africa. The owners of the privately owned and managed dealerships are active Dealer Principals who between them have nearly 200 years experience in the industry, and are all in the Jurgens CI stable. Add in the years of service of all their highly experienced staff members, and the combined number will be a staggering 1000 years plus!

The grouping comprises Kempton Caravans, (1983 – 2011) situated in Kempton Park, Johannesburg and Tygerberg Caravans ((1983 – 2011) in Cape Town, owned and managed respectively by Larry Kreuiter and Ben Barber who both worked for a number of years together in the marketing department of CI Caravans before setting out to open their own dealerships. On the Western side of Johannesburg the Grouping is represented by Kennis Caravans (1966 – 2011) of Krugersdorp, now owned and ably managed by Allan Vos who joined Kennis in 1984. Spreading the representation further is GC Caravans (? – 2011) of Witbank owned and run by Gordon Hammond who first became involved in the caravan industry with East Vaal Caravans way back in? In another strategic position from the holiday maker’s perspective and central to the Greater Durban and KZN Country and Coastal areas is Natal Caravans & Marine (1960-2011) of Pinetown the longest serving caravan dealer in South Africa, owned and managed jointly by Brian Courtis (1968 – 2011) and his son Geoff (1990 – 2011) who also worked for a number of years in the Marketing department of CI Caravans before joining the family business.

By pooling their advertising and marketing budgets and their vast experience in these matters, the five will be in a position to embark on joint advertising and promotional campaigns in the National media, previously out of their individual reach because of budgetary constraints. In combining the joint buying power of the Group it is their intention to bring to the market a variety of special deals on the various caravan and outdoor products they sell and also to source new products where possible. These promotions will be presented to the market by way of a series of open week ends, held simultaneously at the five centers and advertised through the National media.

An unselfish interchange of caravan stock amongst each Big Five member will help to ensure that a member dealer should always be in a better position to satisfy a customer wanting a particular new or used caravan. Another primary objective is to ensure that customers of any Big Five dealer receives service and attention of the same standard of excellence in another geographical area, in the event of any break down or warranty problem, from one of the other member dealers, as if the customer were his own. Considering the strategic positioning of the five outlets this will be extremely good news for caravanners travelling away from home on holiday.

“To become the Campworld Dealers of Choice in our respective areas” is the primary objective of the grouping that will constantly be bringing to the market new unique customer friendly products and concepts such as extended warranties on caravans and roadside assistance, to name just two which will be offered shortly.