What do you think?

[Fred_374366931]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if any of you seen that new caravan magazine in the shops? Go Caravan, I think it's called.

Had a browse in WH Smith, but I can't believe it'll catch on. All the people in it seem younger than us and I didn't find anything of interest for the serious caravanner.

There's nothing about rallying or any of the big caravan events - it's all about young families messing about in 'the great outdoors'.

Not my cup of tea at all - give me a nice flat rally field field and a good paperback any day.

There's a link here with more info:

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/magazines/default.asp?magazine=12
What do you guys think?

Fred

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Fred

Haven't seen the mag.

I started caravanning in 1978. It's all we could afford with a very young family.

I don't think I've changed that much over the years although I will admit we tend not to go the family orientated sites in the peak periods.

I hope more youngsters take up our hobby , because if they don't it will die on it's feet. Nothing better than new blood.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Fred that Out and About mag has been around for 2 years now. It replaced a caravan magazine but I forget which one now.

 

[RogerL]

Fred - rallying is a minority interest even amoung older serious caravanners - you only need to look at CC figures for centre membership compared to the total.

In the same way that car magazines only appeal to specific target groups, it's reasonable that a caravan magazine would only appeal to those caravanners who buy magazines, which excludes most experienced caravanners !!

 

[tash]

Hello Fred

I have not seen the magazine.I think it's good if it's aimed at a younger caravaner. We are all subject to fuel restrictions on our pockets. The new money caravaners nead to be shown to be catered for outherwise our holiday hobby will become isolated,

blikered and relogated to a bygone age. Like the many victorian spa sea side resorts we can sadly visit around our wonderful coast line.

Not all progress is good but things change thats the nature of things . But don't worry you and I will still be able to find a corner of a field that is.... Forever England

regards tash

 

[Fred_374366931]

I suppose you're right, caravanning does need to appeal to younger folk too.

But it's a real pain in the whatsits when you're trying to relax with the Daily Mail and other folks' kids start playing up on the next pitch.

I've had footballs and frisbees bouncing off our Bessacarr every five minutes on some sites and it takes a good couple of hours with the T-cut to get rid of the marks.

Still, I suppose we should encourage newcomers into the fold. Maybe I'll buy a copy for my niece - she's got three of the little blighters and what with the price of flights going up and the collapse of the Pound against the Deutsch Mark, they're going to struggle to get a proper holiday this year.

Fred

 

[tash]

I suppose you're right, caravanning does need to appeal to younger folk too.

But it's a real pain in the whatsits when you're trying to relax with the Daily Mail and other folks' kids start playing up on the next pitch.

I've had footballs and frisbees bouncing off our Bessacarr every five minutes on some sites and it takes a good couple of hours with the T-cut to get rid of the marks.

Still, I suppose we should encourage newcomers into the fold. Maybe I'll buy a copy for my niece - she's got three of the little blighters and what with the price of flights going up and the collapse of the Pound against the Deutsch Mark, they're going to struggle to get a proper holiday this year.

Fred

That's the idea Fred. Encorage them to go to one of those all singing and dancing sites with a nice loud fun-fair and music you can hear in the next couty. Then you and this old f##t can creap away with the mail on Sunday and every now and then look up and knowingly nod at each other.

tash

 

[tash]

Just a thought Fred have you ever been to Glen Nevis caravan park Fort William .If yo go in mid season it can be almost deserted. SHHHHHHHHHHHHH don't tell the newby's

tash www.visitscotland.com

tash

 

[Rick_5041348]

Hi Fred I bought the magazine it was an ok read, But I do like reading letters from caravaners but there wasnt anything like that in it. Maybe it will get better as it goes on

 

[nrdonnelly]

Fred,

You've not posted here before and your first post is to ask about a heavily promoted, new magazine which hit the shelves yesterday. Strange...

Tell you what I think. I think you work for it and are trying to drum up a bit of market research / promotion on the website of the UK's best selling caravan magazine.

Please feel free to use our facilities. You are as welcome as anyone else to www.practicalcaravan.com

Regards

Nigel Donnelly

Editor

Practical Caravan

 

[Auvergne]

Ouch!!!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Oops I missed that. I thought with the link and homepage it was referring to the Out & About mag.

 

[LMH]

Oh err.

Lisa

 

[swpostie]

Rick,

It would be difficult, wouldn't it, to print readers' letters in the first issue of a new magazine?

You know - before it had been read?

At all.

By anyone.

OK I'll stop now!

 

[Mr C]

I have read this new Mag, it is OK , quite stylised, you can see who it is aimed at, very Sunday Supplement, My wife early 30's liked it, me 47 year old git only found it OK. I read all the Mags, when your a commuter into London you have a lot of time to fill, I find all the Caravan Mags OK , some better for buying a Caravan or equipment some for actually getting out there and caravaning. I must say I still find this one, Practical Caravan the best, one point I do think Caravan magazine has it right over this one, is the way they have a few more articals after the last block of adverts, with Practical you know once you have reached the last block of adverts , that unless you are really looking for something in the Ad's, the magazine is over, but with Caravan Magazine you know there is still more to read and your more likly to turn through the adverts, as you know there is more to find and read, just a thought. On the whole I think Practical Caravan is a very good read, people point out any mistakes because they care, which is a good thing. The only comment I would make on the forum is sometimes you read it and wonder why anyone goes caravaning, with some people moaning so much, then you remember , you love going out, we have Never come across anything so bad it spoiled our holiday, there are some people who just LOVE to moan and if there is nothing to moan about they jolly well find something !

 

[Dustydog]

Well spotted Nigel. So it's possible Fred is a 5th columnist, but so what. Unlike the Polish King we may be offered freebies???? LOL.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Rick_5041348]

Rick,

It would be difficult, wouldn't it, to print readers' letters in the first issue of a new magazine?

You know - before it had been read?

At all.

By anyone.

OK I'll stop now!

Hi Alan

according to the web site this was not the first issue

 

[Rick_5041348]

Hi Alan

according to the web site this was not the first issue

Sorry meant Rupert old age getting to me now lol

 

[rosies]

I have read this new Mag, it is OK , quite stylised, you can see who it is aimed at, very Sunday Supplement, My wife early 30's liked it, me 47 year old git only found it OK. I read all the Mags, when your a commuter into London you have a lot of time to fill, I find all the Caravan Mags OK , some better for buying a Caravan or equipment some for actually getting out there and caravaning. I must say I still find this one, Practical Caravan the best, one point I do think Caravan magazine has it right over this one, is the way they have a few more articals after the last block of adverts, with Practical you know once you have reached the last block of adverts , that unless you are really looking for something in the Ad's, the magazine is over, but with Caravan Magazine you know there is still more to read and your more likly to turn through the adverts, as you know there is more to find and read, just a thought. On the whole I think Practical Caravan is a very good read, people point out any mistakes because they care, which is a good thing. The only comment I would make on the forum is sometimes you read it and wonder why anyone goes caravaning, with some people moaning so much, then you remember , you love going out, we have Never come across anything so bad it spoiled our holiday, there are some people who just LOVE to moan and if there is nothing to moan about they jolly well find something !

Nicely put Paul .

 

[Mr C]

It Looks like Nigel was right, no more replys from 'Fred'.

 

[nrdonnelly]

Well, I didn't want to scare anyone off, but I wanted to make people aware that they were unwittingly taking part in a survey.

Evidentally, somebody at the new magazine believes that readers of / visitors to Practical Caravan / practicalcaravan.com are all of a type. Older ralliers who own Bessacarrs and read the Mail. Fact is anyone is welcome and we don't discriminate based on age / caravan / daily newspaper and I don't like the inference that everyone who visits the site / buys the mag could be blithely summed up with a few lazy stereotypes.

And if anyone is going to be doing some impromtu market research about magazines on this website, it's me...

Nigel Donnelly

Editor

Practical Caravan

 

[Reg]

Hey Nigel are you sure you have got it right?

"Older ralliers who own Bessacarrs and read the Mail".

I've got a Bailey otherwise spot on!

I think you could have included "buy their wine in boxes"

 

[nrdonnelly]

Wine boxes are great. Good value, easier to transport in the van and you don't make as much noise taking the empties across the bins at night...