Workload doubles at Shropshire caravan dealer’s busy workshop
Demand for servicing, accident repairs and warranty work on touring caravans and motorhomes at a leading Shrewsbury-based dealership has doubled since this time last year.
Salop Leisure is reaping the rewards of investing in its team of 12 engineers, including four apprentices and 12-bay workshop, which is open seven days a week.
The company, which has its headquarters alongside Shrewsbury bypass at Emstrey, has recently installed a £25,000 state-of-the-art Spraybake paint booth to extend the range of repair services it can offer.
Experienced after sales manager Viv Jones has overseen a rapid increase in servicing and insurance bodywork repairs since he joined the company six years ago.
“December and January are traditionally quieter months, but this year we have doubled our workload,” said Mr Jones, who previously worked in the motor trade for 45 years. “In addition to servicing and warranty work, we are now attracting accident repairs from across the country as insurance companies are now recommending Salop Leisure to their customers.
“The new Spraybake paint booth allows us to carry out an even wider range of repair work to motorhomes and touring caravans. We also have a paint mixing system, which matches any colour.
“We now have the largest touring caravan and motorhome crash repair centre in the West Midlands and Wales. Key to our excellent reputation are our highly skilled and experienced engineers and our constant focus on providing quality customer service.”
Opening the well-equipped workshop seven days a week makes it easier for customers to have their caravans and motorhomes serviced and repaired. “Customers appreciate being able to bring in their caravan or motorhome on a Saturday or Sunday because some previously had to take time off work during the week,” explained Mr Jones.
Salop Leisure is a member of the Approved Workshop scheme, which is a tripartite ownership between The Caravan Club, The Camping and Caravanning Club, the National Caravan Council and all major caravan and motorhome manufacturers.
The scheme is designed to give customers confidence that their caravans and motorhomes are being serviced by professionals, who are independently assessed in the workshop for their work and customer service against an industry wide code of practice.
Salop Leisure, which also has sales centres in Machynlleth and Stourport, was named Practical Caravan magazine’s caravan dealer of the year for 2012.
