For discussion

Wonky replied on 08/09/2015 09:56

Posted on 08/09/2015 09:56

Hi all, I posted this (wrongly) elsewhere in the forum so apologise for repeating myself but this is probably the right place!

 

National rally numbers appear to be falling. I used to go to it every year without fail but have stopped for the last few years. reason? Well, I, personally believe that there are many factors at work with falling numbers.
 
The first is definitely the price - just too damned expensive @ £25 per night with no facilities. Secondly, the falling number of traders attending. I used to love looking around all the different traders and buying meat from the butcher, bread from the baker etc. Now the club just take on one faceless large shop (Londis etc.) to supply the lot - so much for local produce! I think other traders have stopped coming because the club are being greedy and charging too much to them.
The daytime entertainment seems to be stuck in the 60's - marching bands and brass bands do not interest me, sorry!
So, come on CC, wake up and smell the coffee! You need to come up to date, reduce your prices, get traders in and move into the 21st century!


Before any of you 'have a go' about it being run by volunteers etc.- I do know and do fully appreciate that. In fact I know one of the major organisers personally and know that he is the most dedicated and hardworking person with regards to the CC. My point is for the Club to look to the future and make the national something that all members want to go to. This does not involve providing more EHU's at exhorbitant prices, it simply invloves thinking like a youger person!Cool


Martin W

Ian Strong replied on 14/11/2017 12:15

Posted on 14/11/2017 12:15

I am in agreement with the above comments. If the Caravan and Motorhome Club is going to continue it needs to appeal to the younger market as well as satisfy the existing membership.

Tommorrows caravanner is todays children!. I am one of those child members that started at the age of 11 and am now looking toward retirement in the next 10 years.

The cost is prohibitive to the younger members that can go on a commercial site with loads of facilities for the children. Come on CMC get the price down and increase the trade stands and watch the profits increase.

BrianJosie replied on 14/11/2017 15:48

Posted on 14/11/2017 15:48

We are big National lovers and really enjoy it but I agree Ian it has gone downhill.Last year at Sandringham was the first time we have towed the car to a National ,and we did that because there is not enough going on to keep you interested over the 4/5 days so we were out and about in the car.

We are going next year hopefully because if members don’t support it it will die out and that would be sad.

Brian & Jo

Fozzie replied on 15/11/2017 18:55

Posted on 15/11/2017 18:55

We are going next year hopefully because if members don’t support it it will die out and that would be sad.

Brian & Jo

Didn't it sell out within one month,with people putting their names on a waiting list.

peedee replied on 16/11/2017 07:50

Posted on 16/11/2017 07:50

The National now has to compete with the likes of the Warners shows which are much more attractive in terms of price, entertainment, and numbers of traders presents. The most attractive thing for me about the National was the friends I used to meet there.

peedee

DSB replied on 16/11/2017 14:32

Posted on 16/11/2017 14:32

With regard to traders, Rodney Lambert and the other folk who organise the national are especially aware of the falling number of traders.  I know they have difficulty in attracting traders stalls, as they can make much more impact through online sales. Even charging a pittance for pitches the just can't get traders to turn out.  Many of them also pack up early and go home.

David 

BrianJosie replied on 16/11/2017 16:45

Posted on 15/11/2017 18:55 by Fozzie

We are going next year hopefully because if members don’t support it it will die out and that would be sad.

Brian & Jo

Didn't it sell out within one month,with people putting their names on a waiting list.

Posted on 16/11/2017 16:45

yes it did sell out but the number of members that attend the National is much reduced to what it used to be say 10yrs ago so with that in mind it would naturally fill up quicker.

Brian & Jo

Firedragon replied on 18/11/2017 20:56

Posted on 18/11/2017 20:56

reduced numbers are also caused by increased pitch sizes, the majority of us are taking much bigger outfits these days and regulations for pitch sizes take this into consideration, we are still using roughly the same area size which will now take less pitches. 

Last year there were quite a few complaints that it sold out way too quickly, but it was a special venue for a very special National. 2018 is at a lovely venue too, but it is as far north as it usually gets so many of us southerners will possibly think twice about the journey - time will tell, not long now till bookings are open.

Alison

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