Life gets sweeter for caravan firm creating a buzz in the holiday sector
ONE of North Wales’ fastest growing caravan firms is creating a buzz in the holiday sector.
Launched two years ago, Beeline caravan traders and holiday lets has risen to become one of the most successful independent tourism firms in north west Wales.
Employing up to 20 staff in Pwllheli, Beeline has become a one-stop-shop for visitors to the region.
As well as caravan sales and letting, the company offers cleaning and laundry services, maintenance and plans to unveil a hot tub showroom at its headquarters on Gromlech Business Park.
There were plans for further expansion, but brother and sister Kirk and Charmaine McBeth – who lead the firm – are now focused on reopening in the summer and providing customers with a safe and secure environment.
The company was founded by their Dad Barry, a popular cleaning and caravan sales entrepreneur, and despite the Coronavirus pandemic they are confident for the future of the sector.
“We have come a long way in the last two years, the scale at which we’ve grown has even surprised us but is down to a lot of hard work,” said Kirk, from Criccieth.
“There are different parts to the business – Charmaine looks after the cleaning side, and has responsibility for administration and HR – but ultimately we’re an estate agent for anyone looking for a caravan, lodge, cottage or holiday home, and we work alongside parks all over North Wales and beyond.
“We had expected it to be largely in this area but now have clients as far away as Scotland and the south, so we are always on the road and building new connections.”
He added: “We have also launched a new arm of the business – The Lodge Co – which will specialise in the sale of lodges and is something we plan to take nationwide in the future.”
With respected names including Aspire Leisure Homes, UK Leisure Living, Porthmadog Carpets and Biz25 marketing and web agency among their partners, Kirk says Beeline is poised to expand further in the next 12 months.
His ambition is to purchase their own caravan site in the future, as the business now occupies four units at Gromlech.
“We love it here and have plans for the site, including the hot tub showroom, but one day we would love to have our own holiday park, that’s the dream,” said Kirk, a former pupil at Ysgol Eifionydd in Porthmadog.
“To do that we need to keep grafting, which is the only way we know how to do things. Working hard, giving the customer that personal touch and always being fair with our prices, which sometimes isn’t the case in what is a notoriously tough industry.”
Originally from Belfast, Dad Barry is well-known across the north west for his previous firm, Beeline Cleaning.
Having moved from that sector to caravan sales, he was joined by Kirk and Charmaine and through word of mouth and a five-star reputation they have been on an upward trajectory ever since.
As mentioned, hard work is their mantra, and that never stops, no matter where in the world they are.
Kirk is just 21 years old, and the avid Liverpool FC fan was even buying and selling caravans when his beloved Reds took on Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions’ League final last year.
“We drove a Beeline van from Pwllheli to Madrid, and I was sat in the back for most of the way with my laptop and mobile phone in hand,” said Kirk.
“If you want to be successful and keep moving forward you can’t take your foot of the pedal, especially this early on. I did manage to watch the match and we won the cup, so it’s all good!”
He added: “We have between 15 and 20 staff in what is a seasonal business but are looking to double that.
“When opportunities arrive, we capitalise on them, we’ve done that since sitting in an office at home two years ago to having four units on the business park now and will do the same in the years ahead.
“We put the customer first and that’s why they keep coming back. It can be quite hard to find jobs in this part of the country so to be growing and supporting the local economy makes us very proud.
“We have been something of a hidden gem but the rate at which we’ve risen means it’s all change, so if anyone wants to find out more please get in touch.”
For more information, visit www.beelinecaravantraders.co.uk and www.beelineholidaylets.co.uk