Newark motorhome showroom opens as firm marks 50 years in business

A Newark company have celebrated 50 years in business with the launch of a new showroom.

SMC Motorhomes (Seventy Seven Motors) opened a new premises in the former VW dealership next to the its existing showroom on Northern Road on Thursday, November 11.

“It’s been good since we opened. We had some great footfall come through,” said Neil Garland, of SMC Motorhomes.

Around 500 people were pre-booked to visit the new premises over the weekend, which coincided with the launch of the company’s 2021-22 product range.

“Thirteen years ago we had less than a handful of motorhomes on site and now we can operate with anything up to 120 to 150,” Neil said.

“The automotive sector has been hit quite hard by covid and Brexit, but the sheer growth the business has seen in my time has been phenomenal.”

The business started half a century ago on 77 Millgate.

Neil said: “It progressed over the years from accident repair and vehicle damage into a car sales establishment.

“We were doing body work and specialist repairs for other motorhome establishments in the town, which grew into us starting to sell and retail a few of the vehicles.

“It sort of exploded from there.”

Neil said covid had caused a boom in the motorhome industry, with many preferring a staycation instead of a holiday abroad.

“The expansion gives us the ability to spread out and specialise in particular products,” Neil said.

“It’s certainly a very buoyant industry, in covid times the staycation is absolutely massive. People are enjoying exploring the UK.”