Trying Out Van Life with Handcrafted Geo Campers
‘’It took a total of two years to assemble the caravan. Some obstacles and frustrations eventually gave me the strength and motivation to reach the goal. Our camper not only fascinates visitors with its beautiful design, but it also takes into account all the household details to create maximum comfort,’’says Begi Bobokhidze, the creator of Geo Campers, at CBW.
As we learn, it was his dream to build a camper, which then turned into a business. We wanted to learn what inspired him to set up his business:
My uncle instilled a love of nature in me when I was a child. We had a village in Racha where we used to spend our holidays. That is the source of my uncontrolled desire to travel. Mom often fantasized about having a house on wheels. My sister and I enjoyed listening to her recount her youth trip to Latvia on a similar means of transportation. Caravans, on the other hand, are and have always been a luxury.
About three years ago, a friend showed me a photo on the internet where a minibus-type truck was converted into a house. I have not thought or spoken about anything else since that day. This idea completely overwhelmed me and I realized that it was one of the best things I could do in my life.
Tell us about the process of renovating the van.
It took a total of two years to assemble the caravan. Some obstacles and frustrations eventually gave me the strength and motivation to reach the goal. But this effort has paid off and today, the positive reactions of the people towards the completed project are very filling and motivating. Indeed, this car not only fascinates visitors with its beautiful design, but it also takes into account all the household details to create maximum comfort.
Overall, in the process of working, I gained a lot of knowledge and experience. As fascinating as it all seems, it was so hard to implement, but I think our team coped well with it. My childhood friend was with me during the whole process.
What sort of customers do you think you will attract? Describe their day when renting a camper.
As the car is multifunctional, in addition to travelers, our customers can be a newlywed couple who will spend their honeymoon in different parts of Georgia, participants of the expedition, who can easily camp at the desired location. Music-loving young people who will go to country festivals and be provided with transportation and accommodation. We also collaborated with the film crew who used the caravan as a trailer for the actors. It is also a very useful way to work remotely, for those who are tired of the daily routine and want to escape the noise of the city.
What is the biggest challenge in this business?
Be competitive, adapt to new trends, always develop your skills, and always have a satisfied customer.
Tell us about your plans for the next year.
Soon, we plan to create several caravans with different characters, to have a variety of choices for customers of all tastes, as well as to make a special parking lot for the caravan, where the client will be able to either rent one of our cars or come with his transport and spend the night. They will be provided with all the necessary household conditions.
It all comes down to pretty solid funds, so at this point, we are looking for a sponsor to collaborate with.