‘Christmas in July’: Camping, 4WD sales skyrocket

Christmas in July-type trade has been recorded at Sunshine Coast camping, caravan and 4WD service specialists as sales skyrocket.

Aussies race to get camping gear to holiday at home. Pictured, assistant manager Bill Jones and camping expert Simone Bassett of Tentworld, Warana, have been inundated with sales. Photo: Patrick Woods

Christmas in July-type trade has been recorded at Sunshine Coast camping, caravan and 4WD service specialists as sales skyrocket.

Since Queenslanders were allowed to travel around the state, the retailers and service mechanics have had bumper months of sales.

It comes after many survived a bleak April where business had slowed to a crawl.

Now with borders reopened, interstate adventure enthusiasts have also jumped at the chance to head to the great outdoors.

Bill Jones, assistant manager at Tentworld Warana, said while April was dead quiet, trade had picked up considerably since.

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“Basically it was Christmas in June, now July it’s still flat stick,” Mr Jones said.

“It’s just been one day after another since Easter, which has been great.

“When restrictions eased people basically said ‘let’s go camping’.

“My personal view is that this will continue for six months, we should be stable.”

Mr Jones said the Nicklin Way shop had recorded bumper sales of “just about everything” from tents, camp ovens, swags to backyard fire pits.

Compared to December, Mr Jones said more people were making actual purchases, opposed to window shopping.

He said the only issue was supply meeting the demand as there had been some delays in international shipping.

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The Caravan Industry Association of Australia have reported a 30 per cent increase in sales, with newcomers accounting for about a third of the purchases.

Office manager at Sunshine Coast 4WD Supacentre Sharon McWilliam said the mechanics had been working around the clock since Easter.

“So many people tell us they want to get out, go north, west, south, anywhere,” Ms McWilliam said.

“Things stopped for at least two weeks in April, phones weren’t ringing, no walk ins. Then bang.

“We are so busy. It has been stressful, but awesome.”

Being a camping enthusiast herself, in the two trips she had made out to some popular campgrounds she said there had been people everywhere.

“All Queensland number plates. Everywhere.”

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