What Are The Biggest Blockers When Setting Up A Glamping Business?
Setting up a glamping business, no matter how much you try, isn’t going to be smooth sailing 100% of the time. There will be roadblocks in the way but preparing yourself can make them much easier to contend with. Here’s everything you need to start a glamping business. We’ll also discuss the biggest obstacles you’re likely to face and what you can do to avoid them.
Difficulty To Start: Everything You Need To Begin With
A Good Plot of Land
Your land is the foundation of your glamping business (quite literally) so getting this right is an essential first step. The location of your land needs to be considered before you settle on your location. If you already have land, that’s fantastic! However, you need to ensure this and it is effective for a glamping site. Ask yourself these questions before making the final decision to buy or use your land for a glamping site.
Does this land have enough room for potential growth in the future?
Is this site easy to access for manufacturers as well as guests?
Does the site look appealing?
Is the land in a quiet area?
Is the location in the right place for your target market?
Money
It’s unlikely you will have all the money you need to purchase the pods for your glamping site. You need to consider your financial options. There are plenty of options when it comes to funding, so it's important to do your research and see what works best for you.
A Business Plan
Fail to plan, plan to fail. It’s a saying for a reason, it’s true. You need a plan so you know where you are, where you’re going and what you’re doing to get there.
Some Essentials to Include in Your Business Plan:
Overall business concept
A set of achievable goals
Key employees
Financial plans and projection
Designs and concepts
Pre-planning permission and full planning permission applications
Feasibility Study
Your glamping pods manufacturer
Marketing Strategy
Feasibility Study
In a nutshell, a feasibility study is an assessment of your business. It analyses factors within your business and calculates the likelihood of success. By completing one, you can see your risk/reward outcome and your overall return on investment. It’s also a great way to reduce worries and anxieties around the success of your business. The study will highlight whether your business is viable and whether you should proceed.
Dedication and Passion
Setting up a glamping business, if you’re not passionate about it, is going to prove difficult. You need a reason to work through the tough aspects of running a glamping business. You also need enough passion to enjoy and celebrate all the big wins you experience that makes it all worth it.
Biggest Obstacles For Moving Your Glamping Project Forward
Planning Permission
Planning permission is often one of the biggest obstacles you will face. It’s a lengthy, and quite intensive, process. If you don’t get it right and it’s rejected from your local council, it can be a massive setback for your business. Not all glamping structures require planning permission but it’s more than likely that you will need it.
Finding the Right Manufacturer
There is an abundance of glamping pod manufacturers to choose from. You need to ensure your choice of manufacturer suits all your requirements. Not every manufacturer can provide you with the perfect pod. Choosing the right one is essential to your site’s success.
The first thing you need to look for in a manufacturer is the types of structures they offer. If they don’t even produce the types of pods you want on your site, you can rule them out right away. Gather a list of manufacturers in your price range and then delve into what they do, how they do it and any reviews or testimonials they display. If you want a bespoke glamping site, choose a manufacturer of bespoke glamping pods. If you prefer plain and simple, choose a manufacturer that reflects that.
Lack of Communication
As with any business, a lack of communication between you and your collaborators can cause plenty of confusion and mistakes. If you are working with multiple people on your project, ensure everyone is kept up to date at all times. If you’re going solo, keep a good line of communication between you and your manufacturers, the land owners and/or whoever else you may need to be in contact with. Over-communication is better than a lack of.
How To Avoid The Most Common Issues On Your Glamping Business Journey
Complete a Pre-Planning Application
Completing a pre-planning application first can be very beneficial. It helps make the full planning permission application much less stressful. With this application, you send a few site drawings and plans that outline your potential site to your local council. They then make suggestions to increase the likelihood of getting your final application accepted.
Focus on Your Customers
Customers are the main reason for your business’s existence. You need to take into account their wants and needs. Giving your customers a positive experience with you will lead to higher profits.
Buy the Right Glamping Structure(s) for Your Target Market
Your customers are looking for a holiday experience of a lifetime, filled with extravagance. You need to give them accommodation that fits these needs. Luxurious glamping structures are the best way to give your visitors a good first impression of your business. They also ensure their stay meets (and exceeds!) their expectations.
There are always going to be bumps in the road when it comes to setting up a glamping business. Knowing the most common ones and avoiding them can help make the journey a little bit smoother.
The essentials to avoiding blockers in your glamping business are; find the right land, complete a feasibility study, source the right finance option, find a good manufacturer and get planning permission.
At Enchanted Creations, we provide a full turnkey service for glamping businesses. We take you through every step of your glamping journey from the very first concepts all the way to your opening night. We love nothing more than starting a new project, get in touch with us today to get your glamping business off the ground running!