Salop Leisure celebrates dealer of the year award
A successful Shropshire-based company that has been in business for 46 years is celebrating after being been named caravan dealer of the year.
Salop Leisure, which employs 140 people at sales centres in Shrewsbury, Machynlleth and Stourport, beat more than 300 dealerships across the UK to win the coveted award from Practical Caravan magazine.
Nominations are submitted by readers and the award covers the whole range of activities associated with a caravan dealer; from buying a caravan through to the aftercare service provided. The magazine also sends a number of mystery shoppers to visit the company and assess the customer service.
Salop Leisure’s managing director Mark Bebb said it was the first time the company had won the award, which he dedicated to the first class customer service provided by professional staff.
“We are very proud to win this award because it is based on customer feedback and an independent assessment by mystery shoppers,” he added. “Customer service is paramount to the business.
“The award is also recognition of the considerable investment made by the company over recent years at our headquarters in Shrewsbury.
“We aim to create a centre of excellence that will benefit Shropshire by attracting more people from all over the country to our county and allow us to move forward with our business expansion to further improve the range of services that we provide to our customers.”
Last year, Salop Leisure opened a multi-million pound holiday village development and secure caravan storage facility at its headquarters, which is located alongside Shrewsbury bypass at Emstrey traffic island.
Established in Shrewsbury 1965, Salop Leisure is recognised as a leader in the caravan industry, having won a string of trade awards and Shropshire Company of the Year in 2007. It is also a key player in promoting Shropshire and Mid Wales as tourist destinations.
Following the move to Emstrey in 2006, the company has increased turnover from £18 million to £35 million and seen retail sales grow in all departments of the business.
Despite a challenging economic climate in the UK, Mr Bebb is convinced that demand for caravans and motorhomes is going to increase over the next decade, as more people opt to holiday in Britain instead of travelling abroad.
“This year, we have seen more first time buyers, including many young families, looking to invest in holidays in the UK for the next 10 to 15 years by buying a touring caravan, motorhome or a caravan holiday home, which gives them the freedom to have a break any time they wish,” he said.
“We are also finding that retired couples are investing in caravan holiday homes and luxury lodges, which can be shared with their children and grandchildren.”
Nominations are submitted by readers and the award covers the whole range of activities associated with a caravan dealer; from buying a caravan through to the aftercare service provided. The magazine also sends a number of mystery shoppers to visit the company and assess the customer service.
Salop Leisure’s managing director Mark Bebb said it was the first time the company had won the award, which he dedicated to the first class customer service provided by professional staff.
“We are very proud to win this award because it is based on customer feedback and an independent assessment by mystery shoppers,” he added. “Customer service is paramount to the business.
“The award is also recognition of the considerable investment made by the company over recent years at our headquarters in Shrewsbury.
“We aim to create a centre of excellence that will benefit Shropshire by attracting more people from all over the country to our county and allow us to move forward with our business expansion to further improve the range of services that we provide to our customers.”
Last year, Salop Leisure opened a multi-million pound holiday village development and secure caravan storage facility at its headquarters, which is located alongside Shrewsbury bypass at Emstrey traffic island.
Established in Shrewsbury 1965, Salop Leisure is recognised as a leader in the caravan industry, having won a string of trade awards and Shropshire Company of the Year in 2007. It is also a key player in promoting Shropshire and Mid Wales as tourist destinations.
Following the move to Emstrey in 2006, the company has increased turnover from £18 million to £35 million and seen retail sales grow in all departments of the business.
Despite a challenging economic climate in the UK, Mr Bebb is convinced that demand for caravans and motorhomes is going to increase over the next decade, as more people opt to holiday in Britain instead of travelling abroad.
“This year, we have seen more first time buyers, including many young families, looking to invest in holidays in the UK for the next 10 to 15 years by buying a touring caravan, motorhome or a caravan holiday home, which gives them the freedom to have a break any time they wish,” he said.
“We are also finding that retired couples are investing in caravan holiday homes and luxury lodges, which can be shared with their children and grandchildren.”
