FIRST PITCH news and views - Smartentsmartent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/review.pdf · Park...
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q FIRST PITCH news and views 8 | March 2012 | camping | campingmagazine.co.uk ➲ HERE AT Camping we’re always looking out for new innovations that make life easier and more comfortable for you, the camper. Sometimes these ideas work and sometimes they don’t but we’d always give full marks for creative thinking. The Smartent is a perfect example of the sort of originality that deserves praise. Billed as the world’s first ‘off-the-ground’ tent, its inventors say they came up with the idea after one too many nights sleeping on hard ground at music festivals. The tent essentially looks like a camp bed with a cover and can be pitched in just a few minutes. As well as providing comfortable sleeping for one (or more cosy accommodation for two), the bed forms the basic structure for the tent. You don’t even need to worry about guy ropes or trying to hammer pegs into rock hard ground. The legs of the bed sit on the floor while the rest of the tent is off the ground. The hydrostatic head rating – in other words how waterproof it is – is 1,500mm which means it should be plenty to keep the rain out on a typical British summer’s day. Aimed at all campers, from newbies to seasoned pros, it’s said to be simple and quick to pitch, even in the dark, particularly as there are no poles or groundsheet required. • The tent will be available from Smartent’s website or from outdoor retailers for £179.99 Visit smartent.com for more information SMART THINKING ➲ AWARD-WINNING Cornish campsite Trevella Park is offering discounts of 10 per cent on “glamping” holidays. The offer is available on bookings made by 29 February 2012 Trevella is close to Crantock Beach and Newquay on the stunning North Cornwall coast and boasts mature gardens, well stocked fishing lakes, an outdoor heated pool and many other facilities. Following the introduction of its popular ready tents last year, Trevella is now offering a new range of luxury camping options, including teepees, safari and bell tents. Park manager Barry Templeman said: “We recognise that times are tough economically but we firmly believe in the importance of holidays and spending valuable time with family and friends” The 10 per cent discount is also available on touring breaks and holiday homes. • For more information visit trevella.co.uk or call 01637 830308, GLAMPING DISCOUNTS AT TREVELLA ➲ THE FUTURE of some of the biggest names in the camping industry remains uncertain after two multi-million pound takeover deals over the winter. Blacks Leisure Group, which owns more than 300 Millets and Blacks stores and employs 3,500 people, was bought by JD Sports for £20million in January. The news came just days after it emerged the owner of outdoor retailer Yeomans had bought the tent and camping accessories brand Gelert for an undisclosed amount. No firm plans for either business had been announced at the time of writing but there are fears that jobs could be lost and stores closed. Following their purchase of Blacks, sportswear retailer JD confirmed that any “underperforming stores” would close, but did not say how many. Blacks was put up for sale last December after reportedly running up debts of £36 million. Sports Direct, owned by Newcastle United chief Mike Ashley and Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Peter Jones were among the interested parties who bid for the firm. But it was JD who landed the prize after Blacks temporarily went into administration. Richard Fleming, one of the administrators from KPMG said: “Blacks has struggled, in tough economic conditions, to generate enough cash to service its high overhead costs. However, Blacks has a strong brand and accordingly generated a huge amount of buyer interest from some of the best known entrepreneurs and competitors in the market.” As part of the deal, JD Sports acquired the “inventories, fixtures and fittings and intellectual property” of Blacks. The company said: “Following the elimination of any underperforming stores and other cost reduction initiatives we believe the business can be run successfully as independent fascias within the [JD Sports] group.” Blacks’ accounts for the period ended 26 February 2011 showed an operating loss of £2.5m. The new owner said it hoped to “rejuvenate” the stores and would be looking for ways to cut costs. Meanwhile, corporate dealmaker Jason Granite, who owns retailer Yeomans, has bought North Wales based tent firm Gelert. He reportedly plans to merge the two businesses. Gelert was founded in the Snowdonia village of Beddgelert in 1975 by Alastair and Jane Langdon with the vision of creating affordable, good quality outdoor gear. The company, based in Porthmadog in North Wales, grew to employ around 150 people but announced job cuts last year. Mr Granite, a former distressed-debt trader with Deutsche Bank, bought Yeomans last summer. FEARS FOR JOBS AT OUTDOOR RETAILERS Join the Camping Magazine Club for more offers at Trevella! See p25 to join 06-09 first pitch ID.indd 8 23/1/12 17:31:45
Transcript of FIRST PITCH news and views - Smartentsmartent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/review.pdf · Park...
q FIRST PITCH news and views
8 | March 2012 | camping | campingmagazine.co.uk
➲ HERE AT Camping we’re always looking out for new innovations that make life easier and more comfortable for you, the camper. Sometimes these ideas work and sometimes they don’t but we’d always give full marks for creative thinking.
The Smartent is a perfect example of the sort of originality that deserves praise. Billed as the world’s fi rst ‘off-the-ground’ tent, its inventors say they came up with the idea after one too many nights sleeping on hard ground at music festivals.
The tent essentially looks like a camp bed with a cover and can be pitched in just a few minutes. As well as providing comfortable sleeping for one (or more cosy accommodation for two), the bed forms the basic structure for the tent. You don’t even need to worry about guy ropes or trying to hammer pegs into rock hard ground. The legs of the bed sit on the fl oor while the rest of the tent is off the ground.
The hydrostatic head rating – in other words how waterproof it is – is 1,500mm which means it should be plenty to keep the rain out on a typical British summer’s day. Aimed at all campers, from newbies to seasoned pros, it’s said to be simple and quick to pitch, even in the dark, particularly as there are no poles or groundsheet required.
• The tent will be available from Smartent’s website or from outdoor retailers for £179.99Visit smartent.com for more information
SMART THINKING
➲ AWARD-WINNING Cornish campsite Trevella Park is offering discounts of 10 per cent on “glamping” holidays.
The offer is available on bookings made by 29 February 2012
Trevella is close to Crantock Beach and Newquay on the stunning North Cornwall coast and boasts mature gardens, well stocked fi shing lakes, an outdoor heated pool and many other facilities.
Following the introduction of its popular ready tents last year, Trevella is now offering a new range of luxury camping options, including teepees, safari and bell tents.
Park manager Barry Templeman said: “We recognise that times are tough economically but we fi rmly believe in the importance of holidays and spending valuable time with family and friends”
The 10 per cent discount is also available on touring breaks and holiday homes.
• For more information visit trevella.co.uk or call 01637 830308,
GLAMPING DISCOUNTS AT TREVELLA
➲ THE FUTURE of some of the biggest names in the camping industry remains uncertain after two multi-million pound takeover deals over the winter.
Blacks Leisure Group, which owns more than 300 Millets and Blacks stores and employs 3,500 people, was bought by JD Sports for £20million in January.
The news came just days after it emerged the owner of outdoor retailer Yeomans had bought the tent and camping accessories brand Gelert for an undisclosed amount.
No fi rm plans for either business had been announced at the time of writing but there are fears that jobs could be lost and stores closed.
Following their purchase of Blacks, sportswear retailer JD confi rmed that any “underperforming stores” would close, but did not say how many.
Blacks was put up for sale last December after reportedly running up debts of £36 million. Sports Direct, owned by Newcastle United chief Mike Ashley and Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Peter Jones were among the interested parties who bid for the fi rm.
But it was JD who landed the prize after Blacks temporarily went into administration.
Richard Fleming, one of the administrators from KPMG said: “Blacks has struggled, in tough economic conditions, to generate enough cash to service its high overhead
costs. However, Blacks has a strong brand and accordingly generated a huge amount of buyer interest from some of the best known entrepreneurs and competitors in the market.”
As part of the deal, JD Sports acquired the “inventories, fi xtures and fi ttings and intellectual property” of Blacks. The company said: “Following the elimination of any underperforming stores and other cost reduction initiatives we believe the business can be run successfully as independent fascias within the [JD Sports] group.”
Blacks’ accounts for the period ended 26 February 2011 showed an operating loss of £2.5m. The new owner said it hoped to “rejuvenate” the stores and would be looking for ways to cut costs.
Meanwhile, corporate dealmaker Jason Granite, who owns retailer Yeomans, has bought North Wales based tent fi rm Gelert. He reportedly plans to merge the two businesses. Gelert was founded in the Snowdonia village of Beddgelert in 1975 by Alastair and Jane Langdon with the vision of creating affordable, good quality outdoor gear.
The company, based in Porthmadog in North Wales, grew to employ around 150 people but announced job cuts last year.
Mr Granite, a former distressed-debt trader with Deutsche Bank, bought Yeomans last summer.
FEARS FOR JOBS AT OUTDOOR RETAILERS
Join the Camping Magazine Club for
more offers at Trevella!
See p25 to join
06-09 first pitch ID.indd 8 23/1/12 17:31:45
