Best show ever boosts Romahome and Freeborn
Sales worth more than £2.25 million during the International Caravan and Motorhome Show at the NEC have bolstered Freeborn Motorhomes and doubled the order book at Romahome on the Isle of Wight.
Romahome saw its best show performance ever during the event, where it revealed its latest model, the R25.
The company sold nine of them among its total sales of 32 vehicles and this was followed closely by eight of the R10 single berth motorhomes it launched at the same event last year. Next best seller was its luxury R40 four berth coachbuilt with five ordered.
“It’s a fantastic achievement for us when many motorhome manufacturers are still groaning under the weight of the recession and a drop in sales,” said Romahome managing director Brian Bailey.
“The high volume of sales, many of them achieved directly by Freeborn Motorhomes and Romahome staff, was augmented by our national dealer network bringing in a dozen orders.
“Workers at our factory at Cowes on the Isle of Wight now have a strong order book going forward to Christmas as it is more than double the size it was at before the NEC doors opened. It’s a great early present for them!”
Freeborn Group managing director Andrew Jones, who worked in the sales team at the show, said the result was remarkable for both Romahome and Freeborn as a whole.
“As well as a dedicated Romahome stand we also had staff working on manufacturer stands, as a result of which we sold 13 high-end AutoTrail models and six from Elddis,” he added. “While the show was in progress, three more vehicles were sold from our Godalming base, including one of the trade-ins that will be arriving from the NEC!
“Our staff on manufacturers’ stands were competing against possibly 30 rival firms’ salespeople around the show presenting the same products so to win customers for 19 units is fantastic, especially when one order alone was for a £72,000 AutoTrail.
“Freeborn Motorhomes is reaping the rewards of continuing investment in its facilities in Godalming and Southampton, while our relationship with Citroën through our four car dealerships ensures the necessary supply of chassis and base vehicles for Romahome.
“Romahome’s strong position – it is current Motorhome Manufacturer of the Year - through offering quality products at affordable prices has largely insulated it against the worst of the recession, too. Other makers have been laying off staff while ours have been working overtime.
“But we are not complacent and realise we have to go on delivering top level service. Motorhome buyers are very loyal so many return to us again and again while the strong demand for used Romahomes also helps owners can get good trade-in values to keep new sales buoyant.”
