What a YEAR! 2015 will go down as one of the most exciting, challenging and adventurous years for our family. We officially launched “Caravanning with Kids” and we watched our dreams turn into reality…we saw our vision and concept evolve and finally saw our Travel Journal released and enjoyed by families all over Australia, including a few in NZ too…Here are some highlights:
Jan 2015: We have journalled with our girls since they were born, creating story books that hold our holiday memories. Ashlee would often pull down her Travel Journals when she was learning to read. However, we couldn’t find a Travel Journal that was made in Australia and that suited Ashlee’s needs when she started filling it in herself…so…after years of scribbles , drawings and working with Ashlee when she started to learn to write in Prep, we designed and developed a Travel Journal that would nurture and develop her writing skills PLUS be suitable for the whole family and be able to be used for all types of adventures. Our Travel Journal design was finally starting to take shape and with the amazing talent and assistance from Roxy from Rocko Designs, we were ready to go to print! We also added our Log Book design too, a handy little book to rate destinations and log the km’s your caravan or camper trailer has travelled…great for resale and servicing…
Feb 2015: Finding a printer was no easy feat. We were about to make a major financial investment, so we needed them to be PERFECT. We searched high and low, onshore and offshore. For us, ensuring our Travel Journals and Log Books were Australian made and printed in Australia was very important to us and our business. We found Ian from Willprint in Shepparton and after our first few emails and meetings; we just knew we had found a very special man and a fabulous local business. A local business that we would be very proud to use and support.
March 2015: It was time to lock in some supporters for our little business, supporters that we could advertise on the back of our Travel Journals and Log Books. IGA Australia loved our concept and they were the first to jump on board. We are huge supporters of IGA stores. Caravanning Australia Magazine were next and introduced us to the industry through their awesome publication. We tour around in our Ian Grants Tourer, so it was wonderful to have Ian Grants Caravans on board as well. We were then very lucky to chat with Paul from Explore Australia Expos. With a young child of his own, Paul also loved our concept and supported us from the beginning. Which also paved the way for our official Launch at the Explore Australia Expo in Melbourne in May…along with presenting on the Seminar Stage for three days about Travelling with kids..?eeeekk…so exciting.
April 2015: Our little business was in full swing, not too much time for caravanning at this point, our Travel Journals and Log Books were nearly ready, our website ready to go live and planning for our official launch well underway. At this point, we had no idea how it was all going to be received, will families love our Travel Journals as much as us?
May 2015: Travel Journals arrived from Willprint and they were AMAZING! It was quite overwhelming to see them in the ‘flesh’ and we couldn’t wait to now spread the word. We built up our online store with a few super cool products that are Aussie designed, we have used and loved and took these along to the Explore Australia Expo. Three days of excitement at an amazing event at the showgrounds. Our Travel Journals received a fabulous response and we could finally ENJOY all our hard work…
June/July 2015: Time to reflect a little….what a whirlwind start to the year….we added some stockists, some awesome affiliates and a fundraising offer that saw schools raise loads of money…
August 2015: Two massive Caravan & Camping shows…The Caravan Industry of Victoria show in Wodonga was our first with the industry body and they did not disappoint. Such a fabulously organised event that thousands enjoyed. We got to meet the CIA VIC team and the What’s up Downunder crew, along with many other amazing people. Next stop, Gosford with the Caravan, Camping & Outdoor Living show. The weather was perfect, the team lovely and the crowds came in their thousands. We were set up near Julie Goodwin and had such a fun time of the few days…
September 2015: Nowra & Seymour shows…we now have a wonderful appreciation of this amazing industry. The caravan and camping industry and the holiday park industries are filled with generous, passionate people who CARE about the wellbeing and success of their industry. We knew we were with the right bunch.
October 2015: FAMILY TIME…finally…after such a busy time working on “Caravanning with Kids”, we now had 3 weeks for US…just us and the kids…We towed the van from Numurkah to Qld, then worked our way across to the Sunshine coast and then down the Pacific Hwy to south of Sydney then home…we saw a side of this country that we had only seen in magazines and were experiencing moments with our girls that will stay in our hearts and theirs FOREVER…thank you so much to everyone that followed along via our Facebook page and Instagram…
Nov 2015: Final show in Bendigo with CIAVIC, once again, perfect weather, wonderful people and an experience that is exhausting and exciting all at once. We have loved meeting families at our stands at the Caravan Shows, loved hearing their thoughts on our Travel journals and LOVED being a part of this industry.
December 2015: Online sales are cracking leading into Christmas and we celebrate our first official year…a year that saw us JUMP…take a risk…BELIEVE in our Travel Journals and build our family business. Our website is only a baby, and we can’t wait to add more and more in 2016. We have some huge news to share with you soon and a new partnership which we are so excited about.
THANK YOU so much for joining us on this journey…it means the world to us that you are here, enjoying our Facebook page, our website, our Instagram and most of all, enjoying our Travel Journals…it warms out hearts knowing that they are now a part of your lives, creating keepsakes of your cherished memories that will last for years…
Safe & Happy Travels
Adele, Wayne, Ashlee & Kate xxoo
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