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SHELLY HOWLEY & ISSEY CANNON
HANDKRAFTED CAMPERS LTD Instagram @handkrafted_campers; www.handkraftedcampers.com How did your business begin? It all began a few years back when we built our own quirky, off-grid home on wheels. She’s a big Mercedes 614D Bus that we called Joy. It was amazing exploring another country and having all you needed with you. She has just had a beautiful revamp and will be on the market at the end of April 2021. Get in touch for more details.
What is your design style? We focus on full conversions from van to camper. Our passion is to reclaim materials where possible. To combine simplicity with function and comfort. We meet our clients’ needs, whether that be rustic or contemporary. Our experience living in a van means we understand the details that make a van feel like your very own home, wherever your park up – the little details that make you feel cosy and secure. What experience do you have as a company? We’ve built family campers, full sustainable adventure vans, full-time dwellings, small day vans, and have worked with people from all over. The next campervan in the workshop will be a five-berth, self-contained adventure van for all the family or for you and your best friends and will be ready for rental in July 2021. Do you offer custom floor plans? Each campervan build is completely bespoke. The design process is really important. Normally, our clients have a rough idea of their perfect layout; we work with this to scale-draw their design to ensure everything about their camper comes to fruition. It’s all about you. We advise along the way and remain in close contact. 12 weeks later it all becomes a reality. It’s always a bit of a magical moment when our clients step inside and drive away. I’m completely new to all of this, how can you help me? If you’re hearing the call of the open road and you’re ready to get your van plan in motion, get in touch with us detailing the van you have or want, what you’d like to do and we’ll get started on a quote for you. We work on the basis that you supply the base van. Our process is collaborative. We are booked up for 2021 and are now accepting bookings from Jan 2022. The cost is variable and depends on the size of van, and your design spec.
JAMES SMITH
HOMESMITH CAMPERS 07394879979; www.homesmithcampers.com Why van converting? Adventure has always been a big part of my life. After travelling the world, my family and I then lived the van life on a 12-month road trip across North America. A new passion evolved and Homesmith Campers was born. What sets you apart? With 16 years military experience as an RAF officer, I know the devil is in the detail. Working closely with a client ensures nothing is left to chance and they feel fully involved in the journey. There is so much information out there, where do I start? Think of the ‘5 Ws’: WHO is it for? Are you a family, a couple or adventuring solo? WHAT are you going to use it for? Full-time van lifer, longer adventures or heading off on shorter escapes? WHERE are you heading? UK, Europe or beyond? Chasing surf, snow, or a bit of both? WHEN are you going to use it? Fair-weather camper or hardcore four-season adventurer? WHY do you want a campervan? To travel the world off-grid or explore campsites in comfort? Do you have any tips for design? With small spaces you’ve got to think multi-purpose, so clever design is key. Having a theme really helps bring it all together and make it bespoke and personal.
62 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
NICK TAYLOR-MASTERS, PHILIP TRIPPEDWARDS AND SCOTT HORNE HANG-10 CUSTOM CONVERSIONS 07495 381 753; www.hang-10.co.uk
What experience do you have as a company? Well, we’re all van enthusiasts; Phil and Nick have been converting vans professionally for 10 years and Scott brings the business acumen to the table, as he runs a well-established company, and has done so for years. What is your design style? Practical/different with a big dose of lifestyle and wanderlust. Will I be involved in the decision-making process? 100%. We are very happy to give our opinion but for us it’s all about delivering a van that does what you want it to. We’re not going to try to sell you a full conversion if a few carefully selected enhancements will deliver the desired outcome. Often ‘less is more’, you can always bring it back to have more done later down the line. What sets you apart from others in your sector? It sounds a cliché, but we’re all about the customer journey. There are lots of van companies out there that will do a great job (us included) but we really want to get to know our customers and understand what they want from their vans so that we can make suggestions that will help deliver the best possible result for their specific needs.