Member Article

Barnsley caravan firm aims for £1.43 million turnover with new division

Barnsley firm Kustom Sport Ltd, which supplies the caravan and motorhomes industry, has added another arm to its business in an attempt to increase turnover 10%.

Kustom Sport Ltd, based at Carlton, manufactures carpets for leisure vehicles and converts vans into luxury motorhomes.

It has also been offering caravan and motorhome servicing for the last three years but has recently been named as an Approved Workshop, meaning it can now carry out repairs and servicing under the manufacturer’s warranty.

The new division is expected to increase the company’s £1.3 million turnover by 10% and result in the recruitment of at least two more employees.

Kustom Sport has been supported in its latest venture by specialists from business support organisation Enterprising Barnsley, which is run by Barnsley Council.

Managing director Gary Benson, who set up the company from a garage at home with the help of wife Jean, said: “Going for Approved Workshop status was a natural progression for us. For some time we have had customers asking if we can carry out repairs and services under warranty to save them going back to the dealers or travelling to an alternative Approved Workshop.

“At last we can say yes and hopefully this will make servicing and repairing caravans and campers much more convenient for the people of Barnsley.

“We’ve lost count of the number of people we’ve turned away in the past so we know there is demand for this.

“We’re hoping the servicing and repairs side of the business will increase turnover by at least ten per cent and before long I expect us to be in a position to take on at least two more members of staff to add to our team of 14.”

Kustom Sport’s workshop will be headed up by Gary’s son and co-director Andrew Benson who will be supported by a team of multi-skilled technicians.

A family business, Kustom Sport started manufacturing removable carpets for the leisure vehicle industry over 20 years ago and now supplies around 75% of the UK’s client base.

The company currently sells around 350 carpet sets each week to manufacturers such as Eldiss, Lunar, Bailey, Coachman and Autosleeper.

Angela Pedley, Enterprising Barnsley’s business development manager, said: “It’s great to see Kustom Sport named as an Approved Workshop.

“The company is an excellent example of one which diversifies to meet the needs of customers and I’m sure that its willingness to adapt is what has made it such a success story.”

Enterprising Barnsley is supported financially by the European Union and has attracted £3,015,276 investment from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development, through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .