Ultimate Campers join the que

[trinityalyce]

This got me thinking and looking around the house for Australian made

Furniture - Generally China
Cars  - Thailand
TV's   -  China
Frozen Vegtables - China
etc etc

It’s the sad truth these days!

Where possible I buy older Australian made furniture because it actually lasts. A lot of things I own furniture wise would be 80-100+ years old and have been in my family generations. And I just scored myself a partners desk on Gumtree - it was the bloke’s father’s desk from when he was working (long since passed on) and was built by a Brisbane furniture maker in roughly the 40s. I get that for “my generation” (older millennial) I’m an odd one out. But they don’t make things like they used to...

...The bigger question is why? Off-shore manufacturing if cheaper. The quality is *improving* but not across the board. Many people expect low prices that come with off-shore manufacturing where labour is so much cheaper (let’s move right past the ethical arguments). Low prices and cheaper quality mean disposable products that end up in landfill. No one gets a TV repaired anymore (generalisation), because frankly it’s not worth it. You just buy a new couch when the so-called “leather” peels off the cheap one you bought... Not to mention the “I’ll have one of everything” expectation many people have these days - our parents and grandparents went without many things to have a few nice things. That’s something that’s lost on many children now who beg for the latest and greatest plastic toy that by next year will be long forgotten (or broken) and probably in a tip somewhere...

How did we hit this point? Do “premium products” like the Ultimate Campers even have a place in today’s cheaper, more disposable market where people want - or expect - to throw away or trade in what they have every few years? What about the premium caravan manufacturers like Bushtracker? Are they going to be able to stay competitive when the low and middle market competitors are bringing out flash looking offroad vans in bright colours and getting them endorsed by whatever off-roading TV show is the biggest thing at the time?

[Bird]

This got me thinking and looking around the house for Australian made

Furniture - Generally China
Cars  - Thailand
TV's   -  China
Frozen Vegtables - China
etc etc

I finally found something made in Australia......MY KIDS, although technically probably made on a Chinese bed or possibly Chinese trampoline(wild night). Having said that I'm considering selling them on the Chinese version of ebay.

 I did find some Drifta canvas bags in the cupboard so I'm teaching my kids how to use a sewing machine for their future employment opportunities.

there is so little made in this country compared to 30 yrs ago they should save the money on the 'buy australian' campaign - if there still is one

[Craig Tomkinson]

There is a market for well made Aussy products, but most are mum and dad owned and run from home or if they are lucky enough over time have bought a shed in an industrial estate, they employ sons and daughters and do not build big numbers and do everything in house,  I seek them out as much as I can, Craig   

[BaseCamp]

As has been said by others -- looking at the Ultimate collapse, (like KK etc), I think their issue was that they were:
(a) a lot of coin; and that
(b) these concepts became too niched for Australia's matured/saturated and limited market..

Perhaps if Ultimate had established export markets (as KK had attempted), it may have gone better?

I believe the situation where a market segment (CT, Van, etc) has cheaper made and cheaper to buy local (Jayco), and imported (MDC), product -- does not automatically mean that this will be at the detriment and/or demise of quality made and more costly products..

I think in a marketplace - it is all about market segmentation and choice and demand...   Like how for a myriad of reasons some will buy a BMW, others, a Berina...

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[Spada]

there is so little made in this country compared to 30 yrs ago they should save the money on the 'buy australian' campaign - if there still is one

O.H.& S is the only growing industry left in Australia...............................every other industry is being outsourced to 3rd world countries (that don't have any OH&S) 

[KathyL]

Article in Eurobodalla online news about Ultimate ...

"In June this year the company was among the list of successful applicants offered funding under the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages, South Coast, New South Wales region for $758,134 to go towards their Composite Camper and Rapid Adhesive Assembly Process estimated at $1,516,268

The grant for the project was awarded to help develop cost competitive curved composite panels, and design and manufacture a high quality, light weight entry level compact camper using the new types of composite panels for rapid assembly. The project would see the manufacturing process fully automated, simplified and scalable to ensure the new compact composite camper will be cost competitive with international competitors."

https://www.beagleweekly.com.au/single-post/2018/10/11/Moruyas-Ultimate-Campers-in-Voluntary-Administration

[Moxley]

Article in Eurobodalla online news about Ultimate ...

"In June this year the company was among the list of successful applicants offered funding under the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages, South Coast, New South Wales region for $758,134 to go towards their Composite Camper and Rapid Adhesive Assembly Process estimated at $1,516,268

The grant for the project was awarded to help develop cost competitive curved composite panels, and design and manufacture a high quality, light weight entry level compact camper using the new types of composite panels for rapid assembly. The project would see the manufacturing process fully automated, simplified and scalable to ensure the new compact composite camper will be cost competitive with international competitors."

https://www.beagleweekly.com.au/single-post/2018/10/11/Moruyas-Ultimate-Campers-in-Voluntary-Administration

Sounds a bit more like an investment package than a jobs package.

[Spada]

From the article posted by KathyL - "It has until recently employed 50 people and produced between 100 to 120 new camper trailers per annum."

So wages and associated payroll on-costs alone would be around 70k per week, plus the plant/business operating costs for each week, plus the annualized non-direct expenses of the business. Potentially the weekly CODB (cost of doing business) alone could be well in excess of 100K per week, and needs to be covered each week from an average of 2.3 units sold, so each Ultimate sold needs to have a minimum of 43k of business cost, plus the actual cost of the componants themselves built into the sale price just to break even? Then add on a modest profit margin of 15% ? plus GST..............................................................and some people cant believe why these (and all other premium campers) cost so much ?

How much is an Ultimate camper? 60K or so ?

[plusnq]

Base level was just over $40k. They were a pretty lean operation when I toured their facility a few years ago.

[D4D]

So wages and associated payroll on-costs alone would be around 70k per week, plus the plant/business operating costs for each week, plus the annualized non-direct expenses of the business. Potentially the weekly CODB (cost of doing business) alone could be well in excess of 100K per week, and needs to be covered each week from an average of 2.3 units sold, so each Ultimate sold needs to have a minimum of 43k of business cost, plus the actual cost of the componants themselves built into the sale price just to break even? Then add on a modest profit margin of 15% ? plus GST..............................................................and some people cant believe why these (and all other premium campers) cost so much ?

When you do the back of napkin calculations, you can see that most of these companies are running on overdrafts and owners passion.

[BaseCamp]

Looking at those calculations for weekly wages - $46K?, I can see why Travelanders (of which I owned one for a short period) - were getting their boxes glassed in China...   (But not these days though, I don't believe?)..

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[Bird]

O.H.& S is the only growing industry left in Australia...............................every other industry is being outsourced to 3rd world countries (that don't have any OH&S) 

...were getting their boxes glassed in China...

and again like it or not, the chinese trailers are the majority of the problem

[KathyL]

Base level was just over $40k. They were a pretty lean operation when I toured their facility a few years ago.

XTRK model was dropped last year and entry level camper (XPLOR) started at $55k ...

https://www.facebook.com/ultimatecampers/

[Bird]

wonder how many done their $ at the melb leisurefest.. or if that was going to be the make or break show, and they broke.
it was only few days before administrators called in...

[KathyL]

wonder how many done their $ at the melb leisurefest.. or if that was going to be the make or break show, and they broke.
it was only few days before administrators called in

Based on our experience when buying an Ultimate camper a few years ago, and unlike most other caravan/RV/camper trailer companies, they didn't take deposits at shows - they gave quotes that were valid for seven days ...

[plusnq]

Based on our buying experience when buying an Ultimate camper a few years ago, and unlike most other caravan/RV/camper trailer companies, they didn't take deposits at shows - they gave quotes that were valid for seven days ...

Our experience was similar. The hardest part of business would have to be deciding when the business needs the administrators called in. Up until that point , the business managers are obliged to seek ways to keep the business going. Unfortunately there is always someone who was the last order before the decision had to be made, and we all hope it isn't us.I feel more for the people who have made their last payment but haven't yet received their camper. They have paid in full. Hopefully those orders can be completed.

[KingBilly]

Our experience was similar. The hardest part of business would have to be deciding when the business needs the administrators called in. Up until that point , the business managers are obliged to seek ways to keep the business going. Unfortunately there is always someone who was the last order before the decision had to be made, and we all hope it isn't us.I feel more for the people who have made their last payment but haven't yet received their camper. They have paid in full. Hopefully those orders can be completed.

From what I read above, they are still trading, so no deposits lost as yet.

KB

[tryagain]

From the article posted by KathyL - "It has until recently employed 50 people and produced between 100 to 120 new camper trailers per annum."

So wages and associated payroll on-costs alone would be around 70k per week,

That's assuming all fulltime workers, there might be a decent number of part timer's/casuals in that mix, I doubt they would have last this long with those sales figures and a wages bill that high, but the broader point you make is right.

[rossm]

That's assuming all fulltime workers, there might be a decent number of part timer's/casuals in that mix, I doubt they would have last this long with those sales figures and a wages bill that high, but the broader point you make is right.

And maybe a few were not  actually employees, but subcontractors brought in for specific tasks.

Would they have tradesmen on full time staff for specialist jobs like electrics, plumbing, gas etc?

It’s an academic argument I guess. But all you can hope is that buyers, workers and contractors get out alive.

[KingBilly]

And maybe a few were not  actually employees, but subcontractors brought in for specific tasks.

Would they have tradesmen on full time staff for specialist jobs like electrics, plumbing, gas etc?

It’s an academic argument I guess. But all you can hope is that buyers, workers and contractors get out alive.

In the caravan/camper industry, you do not need to be trade qualified for plumbing and 12 volt electrics.

KB

[rags]

Just reading an article in latest Camper Trailer Australia Magazine regarding the Complete Campsite company and the rise of their success in initially making tent trailers to today's operation of Hybid vans.

Effectively the company has grown from in 2004 2 employees to a peak of 50 employees in 2013 which in their words was "a little unmanageable" to now around 38 employees.
They have stepped away from the original core of tent trailers to now focusing on the hybrid range and their single rear fold XTE.

This seems twofold in that the demand for a high end tent trailer has diminished and that competing against the imported stuff is increasingly difficult and that the tent trailer market has moved towards the forward fold range which they decided did not warrant investment in.
They talk of the challenges of maintaining an Australian sourced product.

Good article on a company that has an impressive product, one which Spada would attest to, read here http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=55167.0

[Pebble]

Prices of campers have been going up year on year, it's no wonder a market has opened up for a flood of low cost Chinese imports.

It's a shame about Ultimate, we really liked a lot of aspects of their design but ended up choosing a TVan at that time.... for us the whole idea of such a camper was to get away from having so much canvas.....  know the bed doesn't take long to make...but it has to be made each time...and you can't store stuff on it either.

Mind you these days some of the TVan models cost a lot more than they did 5yrs ago when we brought ours. We thought about upgrading to a "Hybrid" or Crossover or whatever something like the Topaz would be called.... but it was actually cheaper to buy a little offroad caravan like the Trakmaster Gibson!

Ultimate obviously did try to innovate and move with the times but I guess they just didn't get it quiet right. It's a real shame they didn't evolve well enough to satisfy their target market, I guess especially after other brands come up with competing designs (look at Pioneers TVan copy for example).

[sharkcaver]

The fat lady hasn't sung yet, so talk of ultimate's demise is a bit premature until all is revealed at the creditors special meeting. It may be able to trade out of its woes, albeit, somewhat differently to what the business is at present. Time will tell, but I'm holding a pessimistic view of the outcome. I hope I'm wrong on that.

[lukeycat]

The fat lady hasn't sung yet, so talk of ultimate's demise is a bit premature until all is revealed at the creditors special meeting. It may be able to trade out of its woes, albeit, somewhat differently to what the business is at present. Time will tell, but I'm holding a pessimistic view of the outcome. I hope I'm wrong on that.

I hope ya wrong too but it's very similar to the kk situation early on.


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[KathyL]

This has just been posted on the Ultimate Campers FB page:

AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED - INVEST IN OR BUY ULTIMATE CAMPERS

OFFERS BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS 02 NOVEMBER 2018.

Genuinely interested parties should contact Darren Carter of Capital Brokers on 0433 858010 or darren@capitalbrokers.com.au. Darren is handling the sale.

Founded almost 25 years ago, Ultimate Campers has grown to become one of the most iconic off-road camper trailer brands in Australia. Why? Because it delivered on its promise to provide a more fuel-efficient, light weight and aerodynamic towing experience combined with superior off-road performance, reliability and durability. An off-road camper from Ultimate Campers is guaranteed to be able to negotiate any off-road track in Australia you care to mention because over the years Ultimates have done every track you care to mention and then some. In short, they have street cred and are highly-respected by those within the industry.

There is a highly-experienced and dedicated team in Moruya on the South Coast of NSW ready to start making and servicing these iconic campers immediately. If you are up for it, so are they.

The high end off-road niche market needs competition and there is a place for a unique product like Ultimate in the market that is built in Australia, by Australians for Australian off-road adventures.