CaSSOA at the Farm Business Innovation Show 2017

We are excited to be involved at the Farm Business Innovation Show this year! The Farm Business Innovation Show is dedicated to farmers, landowners, and rural business entrepreneurs who are looking to find new ways to diversify and increase their income. Returning to the NEC Birmingham on November 8th and 9th the show delivers…

• Expert Speakers such as Michael Eavis of Worthy Farm and Glastonbury Music Festival, Dan De Baerdemacker of British Deer Farms and Parks Association, Roger Allonby of Rural Payments Agency, and Doug Gurr the UK Country Manager of Amazon among many others!

• Live Debates on hot industry tops like Planning Permission, Succession Planning, Glamping, Equestrian Business Rates, Weddings, Social Media, and Marketing

• Over 500 hand-picked, world class suppliers

• Rural Digital Academy Workshops from Amazon

• Unlimited Networking Opportunities

... and much more!

The Farm Business Innovation Show is the place to find all the tools, resources, advice and inspiration you need to find creative and successful additional revenue streams to help keep maintain the traditional farm.

Tickets to this game-changing event are free and you can register via www.farmbusinessshow.co.uk! Your ticket will also give you access to the sister shows - Country House Business Innovation, Holiday Park & Resort Innovation, and Family Attraction Expo - which run alongside.

See you at the NEC, we will be on stand 1486!

Caravan Gadgets

Which caravan gadgets?

The nation’s inventors have been busy and there is now a new wave of caravanning-related gadgetry that’s been designed to catch our eye.

We’re certainly not claiming to endorse any of these or saying that we’ve tested them personally. But here is a quick run down of just a few that have caught our attention recently!

Video recorder sunglasses

This brilliant idea that comes from individuals not wanting to miss any video worthy moments because their hands are full (e.g. cycling).

They look like ordinary and actually very sporty sunglasses but they contain a built-in video recorder. They could be useful at times but then again, do you want to see your partner’s efforts to reverse the caravan recorded for posterity?

Bubble tents

These are effectively large plastic transparent bubbles which can be inflated and which have some camping-type accommodation inside. The idea is that you can sit in it at night and watch the stars in comfort, perhaps protected from that chilly draught.

WIFI Boosters

True, these aren’t exactly brand new but today they’re much smaller and using 4G – much more reliable.

You can now just switch them on and all your connected gadgets will have a local network and boosted internet access (assuming there is a 4G service in the area).

The Boatbox

Now we thought this was really ‘neat’. It basically involves turning your roof rack, once emptied, into a small boat by joining the top and bottom together and using a small flotation bag.

Absolutely ingenious though as always, do make sure you’re careful when enjoying water sports.

The Solar Panel Bag

This is clever – to a point.

It consists of small, lightweight and flexible solar panels that are sewn into the back of your rucksack. The idea is that as you hike, you can be charging up several devices at the same time and all for free.

The “to a point” kicks in here though. Once you admit to having one of these, you’re going to end up carrying everyone’s mobile, tablet and laptop devices for charging. There goes all that space for water and food and your back muscles of course!

Caravan Expanders

These aren’t entirely a new idea either but today’s models are super-slick and very well designed.

There are all sorts of variations here including some that expand telescopically from inside your caravan shell meaning you add more space instantly.  Be sure that things such as this will be covered by your caravan insurance though.

Giant towel-sized wet wipes

However brilliantly equipped many camping sites are, some are rather more rudimentary.

So, if you’re disappointed by the shower facilities, you might welcome the new near bath towel sized wet wipes.  They just might help make you just a little bit easier to live with in the caravan and car – until you reach a decent shower block!

Pocket blankets

These are really great. About the same size as a small pack of crisps, they unfold into a huge and very tough nylon ground sheet. It’s ideal for picnics and the like.

What will they think of next?

Caravan Park Security

At CaSSOA we’re all about providing secure storage for your caravan or motorhome when it’s not in use. But what about when you’re out and about on holiday?Security is still important when you’re away so here are some points to consider when leaving your tourer on a caravan park. 

• Lock all windows, doors and skylights. 
• Hide all valuables from view – including TVs and other electrical equipment. Remember to mark these with a UV or permanent marker so that they can be traced back to you if stolen. 
• Consider using a floor-anchored safe. 
• Take keys, money, credit cards and passports with you when leaving your caravan. 
• Leave curtains open (after hiding valuables from view) so that it can be seen that there is nothing of value to steal. 
• Consider purchasing an alarm system to alert others if your caravan is broken into.  
• Security posts and wheel clamps can also be used when you’re away from your caravan. Visible security devices like these act as a visual deterrent.  
• Make friends with neighbouring caravanners – they’re more likely to raise the alarm if someone unfamiliar is loitering around your caravan.  
• Awnings can be useful – not only to add extra living space. A thief may be less likely to steal a caravan with an awning because of the time they’d need to take it down or cut it away. 

And finally, check your caravan insurance policy to see if there are any specific requirements you need to be aware of whilst taking your caravan away from its storage location.