The Kratzmann Caravans story begun over 30 years ago, when founder and CEO, Gary Kratzmann opened a small used car yard in Virginia, Brisbane, in 1977.
Over the years it has grown to become Queensland’s largest caravan retailer and currently holds more than four percent of the Australian market.
Kratzmann Place is an exciting development for the family-run business and Kratzmann, together with his son Clint, have designed it to be a one-stop-shop for everything outdoor and lifestyle related, investing $9 million on stage one of the development.
TWO-STAGE DEVELOPMENT
Featuring a massive indoor showroom, extensive outdoor and full-covered display zones, a state-of-the-art service centre and on-site parts and towing aids, Kratzmann Place is the ultimate destination for outdoor activity.
Like the Virginia store, it has the capacity to hold around 150 caravans.
Stage one of development, which was completed eight weeks ago, takes up about 3.5 acres of the total 15-acre site.
Having bought the property six years ago, Kratzmann bulldozed the site formerly tenanted by another caravanning business when its lease ran out.
“It has allowed us to put our Kratzmann caravan business here and bring in private enterprise businesses,” he says.
“We’ve got a spare parts and accessories shop here and a towbar & bulbar specialist, both independently owned.”
In a bid to create a complete lifestyle centre, Kratzmann is also in negotiations to get a new car franchise to get four wheel drives on the premises.
An additional four acres has seen set aside for stage two of the development, which is expected to kick off early next.
“We are talking to council at the moment about putting in six, half-acre properties for commercial buildings down the back of the property,” Kratzmann says.
“We’re going to be trying to attract boat and caravan manufacturers to go in that area,” he says.
“Directly next door we’re also in negotiations with a big marine dealer for us to build a premise to suit their needs – so that would add the marine factor to it.”
Stage two is expected to be completed over the next four years.
INDUSTRY BOOM
A culmination of five years of planning and four decades of industry experience has led to the dealership’s expansion milestone, according to Kratzmann.
“I’ve spent my whole 40 years in business planning for declines and recessions because they are a fact of life,” he says.
“I run by business on a day-to-day basis, allowing for the worst and expecting the best.”
Industry support and strong demand from the more adventurous retirees has ensured a solid stream of activity for the business.
“Our biggest customers are retirees, but there is a bigger and bigger move for families,” Kratzmann adds.
OUTLOOK
Now boasting about 30 percent of the Queensland market, Kratzmann says he is looking down the barrel of some very prosperous times.
“In ten years our sales have gone up 500 percent…and this year is looking like being our best one ever,” he says.
A shift back to the ‘good old days’ of family bonding and continued interest from the older demographic will see the industry take off in the coming year, according to Kratzmann.
“I think by caravan is the best way to tour because we have vast distances here in Australia and you can’t see it all in a very short period of time,” he says. It can also be costly in hotels and motels.”
Across its two sites – Burpengary and Virginia – Kratzmann Caravans features Brisbane’s largest range of caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes with brands including A’van, Concept, Franklin, Goldstream, Jurgens, Track Trailer and Traveller.