Lions Club Plymouth
30th April 2018
OM Recommends: Shapla Balti
9th May 2018
See where your curiosity takes you; hire a luxury motorhome from plymouth couple Matt and Lisa and get exploring!
Matt and Lisa Hugh have been making their happiest memories out on the road for the past 20 years with their family, camping caravanning and motor-homing. Harnessing their passion for exploring- they took the plunge and decided to start up Kintripper, a luxury motor home hire in the heart of the South West.
Matt Hugh didn’t know what he wanted to do when he left school- and after moving to Plymouth from Redruth, he trained as a Chef and worked in some well known establishments such as The Duke of Cornwall, Lockyers Quay and The Mount Batten. “I moved around quite a bit until one day I realised it wasn’t for me”.
At the age of 23, Matt decided he would take up one of the most in demand professions at the time- plumbing. “It took me 4 years to become fully qualified- I would work for three months without a day off but it wasn’t necessarily a tough time, you do what you have to!”
After he became qualified, Matt took himself straight into business- his own business, MSH Plumbing and Heating. Fast forward 17 years, Matt and his wife Lisa are in the early stages of their brand new venture- Kintripper.
Lisa tells us that she had grown up with trips away camping- and she persuaded Matt to try it out with their young family. “My granddad actually built a motor home from scratch and toured around Europe in it- I had a great childhood, always out and about”.
Starting out with tenting holidays, the Hugh family gradually upgraded. “We had a break when we moved into our current home, but then I came across an old motor home- our first motor home. This started our passion for it really” Lisa tells us.
So how exactly does a passion for something turn into a business plan? Matt explains how he saw an advert on TV for a motorhome, and given the growing interest in camping- it sparked an idea.
After some quick research and realising there was a gap in the market for motor home hire in the South West- the rest as they say is history
Lisa explains she was more reserved about the idea that Matt had- so when he says he needs to sit down and talk, panic naturally set in. “He turned up with a huge brown envelope- I thought it was divorce papers!” Matt says, “I had to sit her down and tell her what I’d done. What Lisa didn’t know was that I’d contacted my friend who works for a design agency in Cornwall- and had a comprehensive pack of Kintripper branding to present to Lisa”.
The Kintripper van is a 4 berth, meaning that it is suitable for both families and couples to get out and explore. Matt explains that a lot of thought went into the type of Motorhome they gave the Kintripper name to; “We decided on a layout with a fixed bed at the back- there’s nothing worse than rolling in late and realising you have to make up the bed before you crash”.
The Kintripper Motorhome can be taken anywhere within the EU, in weekly bookings at peak season or daily bookings out of peak season. You don’t have to go far to catch a glimpse of the UK’s stunning coastlines- and with the ferry on our doorstep, Europe is only a quick hop over the channel
Matt and Lisa have made sure that anyone can experience the open road- with just a few terms and conditions. You have to be aged between 25 and 79, and have no more than 6 points on your license to be able to drive. “The prices advertised include breakdown cover, insurance and a full bottle of gas”.
Matt explains that there are a number of extras on offer for those who may want them, including bike hire, bedding, a sat nav; and you can even bring your well behaved furry friend along for the ride!
Prices start from £80 a day and the motor home can be on the road in the height of summer for £745 a week. Matt and Lisa put together packages for those who are interested, recently advertising a ‘Cornish mini break’ with a well thought out route to established campsites and landmarks.
It’s the special touches that really put Kintripper one step ahead- The branded cushions and mugs give it a professional feel- and Lisa spends her time creating bespoke hampers for each trip. “For everyone who took the van out in April I made an Easter basket- and if anyone was venturing down to Cornwall I would make up a Cornish cream tea hamper”.
We like to think outside the box, come up with new ideas- things that other people may not necessarily think of
Lisa explains that they would love to expand on the planned route aspect of the business, in the near future. As Kintripper is still in its first year of operation- Matt and Lisa are being flexible with what they offer and are keen to expand as soon as possible.
We ask that people call or email to enquire about our flexibility. We are looking to include an online booking form soon- we want our facilities to grow with us!
Considering the business is so new, Matt and Lisa tell us that they have had a lot of interest. Having taken a short break to splurge out on a Caribbean Cruise, since they’ve returned it has been nonstop. “We are booked up for the majority of June already. We have one week available currently”. Matt stresses the importance of having a strong social media presence- and showcasing what they offer on their Facebook page.
So what does the future hold for Kintripper? “This year we have a motor home. Next year we would love to have two motorhomes!” Says Matt. “In 5-8 years time I would love to have a small fleet of vans that we can hire out to be taken all around the EU”.
“The first thing you have to do is take the plunge, and we’ve done that. Lisa jokes that she doesn’t get told anything, but in all honesty I think that’s why it works so well. I am more of a risk taker and live in my head- whereas Lisa is more in touch with reality. She brings me back down to earth!”
Perhaps it’s the perfect balance between the pair as to why Kintripper is set to be a success; or maybe the professional look and feel that the business has sculpted for itself.
Matt and Lisa have taken a passion of theirs and turned it into something more; an exciting new venture that gives other people a chance to experience what they love so much. So what are you waiting for? Hit the open road and see where your curiosity takes you!
