South Africa's newest caravan manufacturer, Okto Caravans, have revealed their first prototype. Caravan & Outdoor Life Loftus Caravan City in Randburg, Gauteng.
As soon as I arrived at the dealership, the excitement that had been building since the morning when I boarded a flight from Cape Town (and for months before, when the Okto team informed us of their plans to build a new caravan), grew even bigger.
The dealership was decked out in the bold colours of Okto – big red and white banners, tables with red cloths, and the unmissable caravan in the front… hidden away beneath a big red cloth!
Of course, there was a red carpet leading up to the unit as well.
After a quick welcome from Woody Loftus, the guests and media were presented with a message from Keith Laing, one of the men at the head of Okto. Keith, who these days resides in Australia, could not attend the launch but addressed the crowd via a prer-ecorded video.
Keith said: “I had left the caravan industry four years ago after being involved nearly 20 years.
“After a year away I bought a caravan for my family to go [on holiday with].
“Sitting around the campfire we would talk, as all caravanners do, about our toys and what we like about them and what we would change.
“I came to realise that I missed the process of building something. Of taking an idea, a concept, and turning it into something that people would like, and others would not, and then doing it all over again.
“A year ago the opportunity arose for me to once again become involved in an industry that I have loved all my working life. Tinus van Wyk wanted to set up a company and needed a partner that would contribute to something new and exciting.
“In joining Tinus, I knew I had a partner who was hardworking, diligent and clear thinking. I know that he is the best person to set up a caravan factory and get it flowing.
“We hired a designer, Ingo Ferreira – we knew that Ingo was uniquely positioned to do the design work, given his many years of experience doing just that.
Denne historien er fra August 2018-utgaven av Caravan & Outdoor Life.
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Denne historien er fra August 2018-utgaven av Caravan & Outdoor Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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