East Lancashire caravan firm given award for its great servicing (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire caravan firm given award for its great servicing

6:00pm Monday 29th October 2012 in News By Jonathon Dillon, Assistant news editor

AN East Lancashire caravan business has been named the best in the country for its servicing.

Read Caravans, based at Whitebirk Industrial Estate, also came runner-up for best caravan dealer in the UK in the national awards run by caravantalk.co.uk.

The firm was praised for its customer service and the habit of spotting and replacing parts under warranty.

The award was presented at NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show.

Read Caravans was founded in 1986 in Read and traded new Avondale caravans and a small selection of used caravans until August 1994, when Mark and Denise Holden bought the company.

The firm, which employs 25 staff, set about expanding sales and the business by installing a new shop and offices within the first year, and then a year later moved to their current three acre site.

The following year saw the completion of their first purpose-built workshops and service centre, which has now grown to an eight-bay service centre and a six-bay Insurance and damp repair shop, approved by all the UK Manufacturers.

They also have a two-floor shop selling caravan accessories.

General manager Shane Smith said: “We feel very proud and honoured to have won the best caravan servicing. This award means a lot to us because we do pride ourselves on trying to offer the best service we can.”

Shane said that they are bucking the trend in the caravan industry with sales holding up year on year through the recession.

He said: “We are still selling new and pre-owned touring caravans and are pretty much the same sales as last year, especially the pre-owned. When I talk with other dealers locally they are telling me their sales are down.

“We find family caravans are selling better than other layouts and to this end the Swift Challenger Sport is selling better than any other new caravan.

“I think this is because the price of holidays, flights and the euro is making it more difficult financially for families to holiday abroad. Plus we have a generation coming through who went on caravan holidays as children with their parents, who are now reliving the great experience with their own children.”

The firm was named best caravan dealer in the North of England and the best in whole of the UK last year.

It also won North of England dealer in 2005 and 2009.