In 2009, business owner Chris Ashwell ran a small caravan accessories shop and mail order business in the coastal town of Runton, Norfolk.

As the business grew, so did Chris’s aspirations and space became an issue as demand for his products increased. Chris decided it was time to look at expanding the business and whilst browsing the RTA website he discovered a nearby freehold shop in the village of West Runton called ‘Caravan Camping & Leisure’ owned by Mr Saville for over 22  years.

Mr Saville had one eye on early retirement and as such the business was slowly winding down. Chris decided it was right time to act and placed an offer for the business in September of 2009.

By December the sale was complete and Chris embarked on a complete renovation to accommodate his expansion.

The new shop was completely revamped and opened for business in Easter 2010. The new, larger shop enabled Chris to incorporate the mail order business under the same roof and the existing flat upstairs was converted to a storage area enabling him to stock far more products and offer a wider range to his growing customer-base. In the first year of trading Chris managed to double the previous years’ turnover. Not content to rest on his laurels, Chris decided to expand further and he emabarked on building a large extension to the rear of the shop, providing an extra 1,000 feet of retail space. The hard work and effort put in by Chris has really paid off and has allowed him to capitalize on his success by expanding and employing young, local people, both full-time and part-time.

To discover more about Chris’s hard work you can head over to www.caravanaccessoryshop.co.uk