40 | Expanded hub for caravan enthusiasts Vanari Caravans’ new facility, located in Ruakaka just off State Highway 1, will reflect the company’s high-end brand image. Vanari Caravans & Hillcon Group T T Kelly Deeks REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Vanari Caravans is setting up a new home base in Northland, marking a major milestone in the rapid growth of the family-owned caravan dealership. Established in 2019 by Mike and Samantha Batty, the business has grown from a modest 800sqm yard to a new 6000sqm purpose-built facility now under construction with local firm Hillcon Group leading the build. Mike says the expansion reflects how far Vanari Caravans has come in just a few short years. “We started small and now we’re developing a brand-new site with a full internal showroom, workshop, offices, and a parts and accessories store. It’s an exciting step forward for us.” An engineer and fabricator by trade, Mike first built a caravan for his own family before the business idea took shape. “We sold that first caravan to help fund our house build, then later imported a Snowy River caravan for ourselves,” he says. “Everywhere we went, people wanted to know more about it. That’s when we approached the manufacturer and began importing one caravan a month. Now we bring in between 160 and 180 a year.” Vanari Caravans is North Island’s exclusive dealer for Snowy River Caravans, an Australian-made brand that has quickly risen from obscurity to become one of Melbourne’s largest caravan manufacturers. Mike says the appeal lies in both design and construction quality. “Snowy River Caravans were quite unique when we started out, with their off-road style and strong but lightweight construction. They use a welded aluminium frame with a onepiece, fully insulated body panel, which makes them incredibly robust and easy to tow.” The caravans’ durability and customisation options have proven popular with New Zealand buyers. “Around half of our customers order custom builds,” Mike says. “They can choose their own colours, finishes, and accessories from around 200 different options.” Vanari Caravans’ new facility, located in Ruakaka just off State Highway 1, will reflect the company’s high-end brand image. Designed in collaboration with Hillcon and their design team, the build will feature a polished concrete floor, high-stud workshop with electronic roller doors, and a striking façade echoing Vanari’s signature black-and-white look. “The fit-out is hugely important for our image,” Mike says. “About a third of the building will be a showroom, and we’ll have caravans displayed both inside and out. One internal wall will have cladding matching our caravans, while the external tilt panel will feature our big logo that you’ll be able to see from the highway.” Mike says the move is also about building a lasting hub for caravan enthusiasts across the region. “We want to be the go-to place in Northland for everything caravans — sales, service, and accessories,” he says. “It’s going to be a big step up for the business and great for the community too, as we’ll be adding to our team of 12.” Mike credits much of Vanari’s success to the dedicated team that works alongside him. “They care about the customers as much as we do,” he says. “They’ve got full confidence in the product, and that makes all the difference. When your team truly believes in what they’re selling and servicing, customers can feel that.” He also acknowledges the strong partnership Vanari has built with its Australian manufacturer. “It was tough at the start because you need real backing to represent a brand properly” he says. “But now they come to us for design ideas and product feedback — we’ve built a great relationship.” For Mike and Samantha, caravanning remains a family passion. “We love travelling around New Zealand with our four kids,” he says. “It’s affordable, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to explore the country without putting life on hold. That’s what caravanning is all about — freedom and family.” WE’VEGOT ITCOVERED Steel & Tube offers a comprehensive range of roofing and cladding products, services and solutions for residential and commercial builds. From nuts and bolts through to roofing, reinforcing and floor decking, we’ve got it covered. Talk to one of our specialists today to find out how we can help with your project. A one-stop-shop for all your roofing and steel requirements. 0800478 335 steelandtube.co.nz
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