GERMAN MOTORHOME AND caravan manufacturing giant Hymer has appointed a new commercial agent in the UK, tasked with building a network of dealers for its Hymer and Carado motorhomes and caravans.
The new agent is Paul Kershaw, who’ll be responsible for appointing an independent, UK-wide network for the first time in Hymer’s history. He explained how he sees things developing:
“It would be ideal to have Hymer centres – Hymer dealers who’re able to retail Hymer motorhomes and touring caravans – but that’s unlikely.”
With this in mind, Paul told us he expects to appoint between six and nine dealers for both Hymer motorhomes and touring caravans, who’ll be capable of “representing this premium brand with a premium service.” There could be a similar number of Carado dealers too. The motorhomes have been sold in the UK but the caravans have never been imported.
Paul was the former managing director of Hymer UK in Preston and also the brand director for the Brownhills group of motorcaravan dealers. Brownhills has in recent years been the sole official UK Hymer dealer. We understand it will continue to be a Hymer dealer but as part of the network alongside other retailers.
[tl:gallery size=450×300]Hymer caravans have not been imported since 2009
Exchange rate to blame
However, Hymer’s popularity suffered at the hands of the euro exchange rate, and sales of the brand here plummeted. Lowdham Leisure World was the last volume importer of Hymer touring caravans in the UK and it stopped the import of new Hymer caravans in 2009 as prices rose.
Following the closure of the Hymer UK (Brownhills north west) motorhome site near the end of 2011, the brand’s future here looked in jeopardy, so this news will be welcomed by fans of the brand. And Hymer owners will be relieved to know that all the new dealers will be able to carry out warranty work on Hymer vans.
Paul explained that there is some motorhome stock to sell through but big plans are in place for the 2013 season models (which will launch this summer).
We can expect standardised ranges and specifications, while the new Hymer network won’t bring in all model ranges nor all the layouts within ranges. There will, though, be dealer stock models available for customers to see on forecourts.
“The UK was formerly Hymer’s largest export market (for motorhomes) worldwide,” says Paul, “and it will be again.”
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