Retro Day! Camp-Inn's look and brand

K

Kilometer 31

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This being National Retro Day (who knew?), seemed as good a time as any to wonder aloud about this.

Treading gently here as I don't think Camp-Inn has anything like a business challenge or a problem to solve. But I've wondered at different points whether certain things hold back potential customers from considering Camp-Inn trailers:

* THE RETRO LOOK: This ode to vintage style is obviously a conscious choice -- and executed about as well as one could hope for! But I'll confess in my first drive-by of Camp-Inn on YouTube, I kinda thought, "Oh, those look old-fashioned." In my head, that partly translated to thinking they were not up to date in terms of features or build components. But it's not until you really get intimate with these trailers you discover how well engineered and thoughtful they really are. The vintage look is a style, not a limitation. Just wonder how much of an initial impediment that could be? (Like I said, though, Camp-Inn is hardly having trouble finding people to buy these trailers.)

* THE WEB SITE: I'm a little conflicted here. In terms of information and organization, Camp-Inn's site is one of the best -- tons of info that's really well organized and easy to find. Even the trailer build process is super clean and clear. But, well, it does very much feel like 1990s-built web technology and design. So again, I wonder if that turns away any number of potential customers. Vistabule is obviously spending some serious bucks on web presentation and a lot of (nicely done) video bits. Maybe they need to for whatever business position they are in or aspire to be in. I don't think their website has the depth of information that Camp-Inn's has. And they are chasing a more "We're a hip thing" kinda strategy.

Anyway, just something that rattles around in my head (why, I don't know). Curious for other's takes. Cary and Craig have built an amazing product and business -- and they may well weigh in on this. So I'll say again: I don't think they have a brand or business problem. Just curious as to how outside potential customers (as all of us here have been) felt in the initial encounter.
 
I think quite the contrary. I think the retro look draws people in --- at least a segment. I know it did me -- the teardrops in general all do that. By 'teardrop,' I mean the boutique brands and home-built ones, not the standee models like T@B. Those are not teardrops; those are just weird-shaped bumper pulls.

Once Elkhart started rolling those out it was clear that CampInn and their brethren were making a splash...."frightening" the powers that be.

I'd go one step further in talking about the Campinn website- It is not the most technologically advanced, but what it has is a tremendous amount of information, and it tells a great story about why CIs are completely different and better in many, many ways. It kind of reminds me of the old DAK catalogs --- remember those? Even if you were gluten-free, you'd read for 2 pages about the wonderful bread-baking robot, suddenly having one in your kitchen and wondering how it got there. Or the "Smart Duck" 2400 baud modem. :D I miss those catalogs!

Someone who buys a CampInn is a completely different customer than someone who will buy an Elkhart special. We use them differently...not quite an RV, not quite a tent -- we kind of look for that sweet spot in between.

Something else to consider: Mercedes only has a 3-5% market share, depending on your source. It doesn't take total market dominance to be a successful brand.
 
Great thoughts, Sweeney. And I agree: They've no problem to solve as they clearly have found -- and maintained -- an audience. Just curious as to range of impressions people might have. (If you dig vintage you'll be in love right away, of course.) I like your point about how their website "tells a story."
 
Was sorta cross-discussing this with Drew at Playing With Sticks in comments on his latest video. He has an interesting take:

"I think they know their target audience well. And while technically, I was the perfect target audience in terms of one who would appreciate their trailer, in terms of marketing, I was not the target audience. I think Vistabule does a great job targeting me. The photos they use and the lifestyle pictures get me every time."
 
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I owned a Little Guy for ten years and some years spent more months on the road than I did at home. I loved teardrops but hated the Little Guy. One look at the CI website and I ordered one sight unseen.

I now own two and am always looking for a third. Most use theirs to camp but mine is mostly used for going somewhere. I have a trip planned for Williamsburg and will pull the 560 while staying in motels. Having a sink, stove and lots of space is a great way to travel. I will be traveling with five ladies ranging from 77 to 99. We will be gone for two weeks.

The CI wasn’t really marketed to me yet it works perfect for my style.
 
Tour 931 said:
I owned a Little Guy for ten years and some years spent more months on the road than I did at home. I loved teardrops but hated the Little Guy. One look at the CI website and I ordered one sight unseen.

I now own two and am always looking for a third. Most use theirs to camp but mine is mostly used for going somewhere. I have a trip planned for Williamsburg and will pull the 560 while staying in motels. Having a sink, stove and lots of space is a great way to travel. I will be traveling with five ladies ranging from 77 to 99. We will be gone for two weeks.

The CI wasn’t really marketed to me yet it works perfect for my style.
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Sounds like a great trip and travel plan. Do report in!
 
Bought our Camp Inn without ever seeing one. The information on the website and the comments on this forum were what convinced it was the correct choice over a Little Guy. We bought ours through the dealer in Maine after we talked to CI, so that we could get sooner. Still have the paper tag from Maine although ours never left Necedah until we picked it up. First one we ever saw were the ones in the showroom in Necedah. Turns out seeing one would have been easy as there is another owner in our town, but we didn’t know that at the time.
 
Bot mine based on the quality of construction, customer service rave reviews, and the sweet spot for me- the feeling of being in nature, simply- a step up from car-tent camping but off the ground and "glamping" comfort,

without all the extra cost and fuss of something larger.

Its towable by a sedan, station wagon or CUV and its small enough to park in garage in between trips.

Form follows function.
 
Tour 931 said:
I owned a Little Guy for ten years and some years spent more months on the road than I did at home. I loved teardrops but hated the Little Guy. One look at the CI website and I ordered one sight unseen.

I now own two and am always looking for a third. Most use theirs to camp but mine is mostly used for going somewhere. I have a trip planned for Williamsburg and will pull the 560 while staying in motels. Having a sink, stove and lots of space is a great way to travel. I will be traveling with five ladies ranging from 77 to 99. We will be gone for two weeks.

The CI wasn’t really marketed to me yet it works perfect for my style.
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Thats where we started too -- WAAY back in 2010. I was also looking at building a homebuilt. TNTTT.com was huge at the time. Then I saw a campinn, and every plan I drew after that looked like a 560...

My bride said "Just order the darned thing..." and of course I argued. Then I won the argument, hands down, by saying, "Yes, dear, I'm ordering it now" --- the last one who speaks wins -- right?
 
Kilometer 31 said:
This being National Retro Day (who knew?), seemed as good a time as any to wonder aloud about this.

Treading gently here as I don't think Camp-Inn has anything like a business challenge or a problem to solve. But I've wondered at different points whether certain things hold back potential customers from considering Camp-Inn trailers:

* THE RETRO LOOK: This ode to vintage style is obviously a conscious choice -- and executed about as well as one could hope for! But I'll confess in my first drive-by of Camp-Inn on YouTube, I kinda thought, "Oh, those look old-fashioned." In my head, that partly translated to thinking they were not up to date in terms of features or build components. But it's not until you really get intimate with these trailers you discover how well engineered and thoughtful they really are. The vintage look is a style, not a limitation. Just wonder how much of an initial impediment that could be? (Like I said, though, Camp-Inn is hardly having trouble finding people to buy these trailers.)

* THE WEB SITE: I'm a little conflicted here. In terms of information and organization, Camp-Inn's site is one of the best -- tons of info that's really well organized and easy to find. Even the trailer build process is super clean and clear. But, well, it does very much feel like 1990s-built web technology and design. So again, I wonder if that turns away any number of potential customers. Vistabule is obviously spending some serious bucks on web presentation and a lot of (nicely done) video bits. Maybe they need to for whatever business position they are in or aspire to be in. I don't think their website has the depth of information that Camp-Inn's has. And they are chasing a more "We're a hip thing" kinda strategy.

Anyway, just something that rattles around in my head (why, I don't know). Curious for other's takes. Cary and Craig have built an amazing product and business -- and they may well weigh in on this. So I'll say again: I don't think they have a brand or business problem. Just curious as to how outside potential customers (as all of us here have been) felt in the initial encounter.
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Do you own a teardrop trailer?
 
Kilometer 31 said:
This being National Retro Day (who knew?), seemed as good a time as any to wonder aloud about this.

Treading gently here as I don't think Camp-Inn has anything like a business challenge or a problem to solve. But I've wondered at different points whether certain things hold back potential customers from considering Camp-Inn trailers:

* THE RETRO LOOK: This ode to vintage style is obviously a conscious choice -- and executed about as well as one could hope for! But I'll confess in my first drive-by of Camp-Inn on YouTube, I kinda thought, "Oh, those look old-fashioned." In my head, that partly translated to thinking they were not up to date in terms of features or build components. But it's not until you really get intimate with these trailers you discover how well engineered and thoughtful they really are. The vintage look is a style, not a limitation. Just wonder how much of an initial impediment that could be? (Like I said, though, Camp-Inn is hardly having trouble finding people to buy these trailers.)

* THE WEB SITE: I'm a little conflicted here. In terms of information and organization, Camp-Inn's site is one of the best -- tons of info that's really well organized and easy to find. Even the trailer build process is super clean and clear. But, well, it does very much feel like 1990s-built web technology and design. So again, I wonder if that turns away any number of potential customers. Vistabule is obviously spending some serious bucks on web presentation and a lot of (nicely done) video bits. Maybe they need to for whatever business position they are in or aspire to be in. I don't think their website has the depth of information that Camp-Inn's has. And they are chasing a more "We're a hip thing" kinda strategy.

Anyway, just something that rattles around in my head (why, I don't know). Curious for other's takes. Cary and Craig have built an amazing product and business -- and they may well weigh in on this. So I'll say again: I don't think they have a brand or business problem. Just curious as to how outside potential customers (as all of us here have been) felt in the initial encounter.
Click to expand...
The website doesn’t bother me, but I have tried to stay away from the retro angle. Primarily removing the rims in favor of a more modern black with all terrain tires. I looked into changing the fenders…that alone would make a big difference for me…in part for clearance. The rest I’m fine with…the function of the teardrop is amazing, and the build quality can’t be beat. Love mine!
 
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