10 top things to consider setting-up a glamping venue

If you are setting up a new glamp-camp or extending an existing glamping business below are the top ten crucial things to consider. But before we get to that… You can't please all the people all the time.

"You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time". (US poet, John Lydgate)

Like the above quote, likewise, recognise that there will be differing motivations from glamping customers and you will not be able to satisfy every need.

On the one hand, some customers may want a totally ‘off-grid' experience in a back-to-basics no-mod-cons Shepherd's Hut or Teepee with no Wi-Fi, no disturbance, simple composting toilets.
While, on the other hand, other glampers may be prepared to spend £1,000 a week for your fantastic view by the sea, in stunning countryside, or fun-fishing on the riverbank. Instead, they may wish a no-expense-spared luxury log cabin with wood burner, Wi-Fi, hot and cold running water with toilets just like home-from-home, and along with authentic farm activities for the kids etc.

Therefore, you won't be able to offer a tailor-made solution for every potential glamper. You can only make money by setting up the right glamping-gig for the right people at the right price that you want to attract. A glamping hut isn't going to work in a city centre, and a 5-star hotel isn't going to work in the middle of your wood.

So, research is critical.

Furthermore, there will be other external factors to consider, too that will influence your glamping-gig. Here is a starter, our top 10 list of things to consider in no particular order, whether new to the business or experienced, your marketing, research and preparation should include:

1. Identify your ideal customer or research new customers

Marketers often call this a customer avatar – it's a personal profile of your ideal customer, their preferences, demographics and personality etc. You'll be surprised how doing this will benefit and inform you.

2. Research your competition

• Who are your neighbouring competitors, and what are they offering?
• Do you copy them, or are you going to offer something completely different?

3. Set your budget

Use a spreadsheet to calculate your set up costs and budget accordingly. Remember to add in legal, planning, environmental survey and any engineering costs too etc. Check if there might be any funding might be available too.

4. Select your product

What's the right glamping-gig-crib for you and match it to your location and your ideal customer.

5. Plan the installation

Make sure that your glamping-gig-cribs can be delivered, installed, serviced and maintained.

6. Consider utility services

Make sure that you have engineered a solution for electricity and water plumbing if needed. Remember trenches may be required for service pipework, drains and cables etc.

7. Work out how to get rid of waste sewage

Waste tanks, for example, may require above or below ground as part of the overall solution to collect and hold waste so you may also have to consider vehicular tanker access for removal. This is important as no glamping customer wants to smell whiffy-waste! This is where we come in (see end).

8. Work out your revenue and cash-flow

Use a spreadsheet to analyse all your options and costs for each option and from there, your customer numbers and charges that will lead you to a revenue and profit estimate.

9. Get the planning authority involved as soon as possible

Applying for planning permission is vital and will be a show stopper if you don't. This is vital for success and will throw up all sorts of other considerations as you go along. Only proceed if you have planning permission.

10. Sort out your Marketing communications

Such as branding,  website, leaflets, 3rd party letting agent, existing connections, customer databases etc.

Where do we at Glampsan come in?

One area of our expertise is the supply of flat, plastic waste tanks that usually slide comfortably underneath glamping units to collect toilet, kitchen and shower waste or are positioned at suitable points into which waste from portable camping toilets can be safely tipped. And there's more too, our #flattanks and products give you the flexibility to move locations as your glamping-gig grows and adapts, or even where you need to capture chemical toilet waste and where septic tanks, mains connection or cesspools are not an option.

In fact, we believe we make the most awesome Flat Tanks in the universe. But perhaps we're a tad biased! Our additional products range from water supply pumps, cesspools and septic tanks to underground pump stations, which collect the waste from several sources and pump it away to a suitable disposal point.

We help #Glamping businesses with awesome whiffy-waste solutions that make glamping holidaying easy.

Let us help you too to make your glamping-gig a success. #Glampsan, we'll do you proud.

Click here to explore other Glampsan blogs. See also I own some land and want to get into glamping.

Sincerely, JT

0800 999 6010

https://www.glampsan.com

http://bit.ly/Glampsan part of Plastic Solutions based in Aldridge.