The Ultimate Glamping Tent Buying Guide
So you read my previous posts on how to create a glamping business and want to give it a go yourself? Excellent! Given the current travel restrictions, there’s no better time to dive into the accommodation arena by creating a glamping business. Assuming you have taken the preliminary steps to create a camping business, these being- crunching the numbers and finding a great location, the next step on your To-Do list is to find great glamping tents for sale. For this, you’ve come to the right place.
Eco Tents Australia are glamping tent manufacturers and have a great range of glamping tents for sale, ideal for your new glamping business. Thus, we have conducted critical market research to understand the consumers wants and needs when glamping and have compiled such into our glamping tents design.
Today, we will share with you the critical considerations for buying glamping tents in Australia. Hopefully, once you have finished reading this article, you will have a good idea of what you want from your glamping tents and will be able to find glamping tents for sale to meet your needs.
Types of Tents
When searching for glamping tents for sale, you will find there are various options, including glamping teepees, bell tents, and safari tents, which is the classification our Eco Tents best fit.
Glamping teepees and bell tents are popular by name; however, they come with some disadvantage. Compared to safari tents, glamping teepees and bell tents are much less robust and not nearly as sturdy in their construction. They are more of a temporary solution than a long term structure and generally contain no windows for guests to appreciate their surroundings from the privacy of their tent. Bell tents also rely on a centre pole to keep the tent upright, significantly reducing the usage of the space below. Meaning, you may not be able to configure the tent to maximise the use of space. Perhaps their biggest flaw is their height. Only the largest bell tents provide the needed height to be able to walk around inside of them.
On the other hand, safari tents, such as our Eco Tents, are very sturdy and are generally much larger and taller than glamping teepees and bell tents. This is because they don’t have to conform to a circular design. They are constructed more like a building, featuring a sturdy aluminium frame attached to a solid foundation (base). Thus, safari tents are a better long-term choice for glamping businesses due to the longevity offered by the construction, along with their ability to cater to larger guest numbers.
Business Niche
When choosing the right type of tent for your glamping business, you should also consider your business niche. For example, if you’re opting for a safari experience in the outback, it makes sense to invest in safari tents over glamping teepees and bell tents. However, if your niche is to offer hens party experiences or something more chic, such as a bell tent may be more attractive to your guests – you just have to weigh up the pros and cons mentioned above.
Size of Tents & Configuration
An important consideration when shopping for glamping tens is size. The size of the tent will significantly impact the type of guest you can attract, how they are configured, and of course, your investment. The larger the tent, the higher your investment.
Glamping tents come in all shapes and sizes, as mentioned when looking at the tents. However, in terms of size variations and options, safari tents offer the most flexibility.
If you look at our range of Eco Tents, you will see that we offer four different sizes:
- 5m x 4.5m
- 5m x 5.5m
- 5m x 6.5m
- 5m x 7.5m
These varying sizes allow business owners such as yourself the ability to offer varied pricing structures based on tent size. For example, a small 3.5 x 4.5m tent, suited for couples, maybe promoted at $280 per night, while our largest, 3.5m x 7.5m tent, suitable for families and groups, may be promoted at $450 per night. It also means you can attract a larger audience.
Large safari tents such as our 3.5m x 6.5m and 3.5m x 7.5m tents, comfortably sleep three guests and even more if bunk beds are added. Moreover, they’re so large that there’s even room to add a sofa lounge, sitting chair, bedside tables and a TV – it’s these added features that turn a tent into a glamping tent and camping into glamping!
Guest Demographics
As mentioned above, varying tent sizes allow businesses owners the chance to offer different pricing based on tent size. It may be more economical to order ten 3.5m x 4.5m safari tents, but is this the best decision for your business? Doing so will rule out the possibility of attracting families or more than two guests to any tent.
Thus, consider your demographics. Your niche may be a couples retreat, in which case small safari tents are ideal. However, why limit your profit possibilities? Consider investing in various size safari tents to attract as many guest types as possible.
Materials of Manufacturing
The material and fabrics used in the manufacturing of glamping tents are essential considerations when buying tents for your own business. They will play a significant role in the longevity of the tents, and therefore your business. You want to invest in quality tents that last the test of time and require the least amount of maintenance – tents that are made from the highest quality fabrics to ensure stability and all-weather protection.
Good quality glamping tents are all manufactured from heavy-duty cotton canvas and waterproof PVC fabrics. Some tents, such as the Eco Tent, provide additional mesh layers to encourage airflow whilst keeping flies and mosquitos at bay.
The Eco Tent comes in three frame and roof systems:
- V2– Fame w/ Outriggers for Extra Coverage w/ Dual Layer Roof System
- MV2– Fame w/ Outriggers for Extra Coverage w/ Single Layer Tension Membrane PVC Roof System
Our Dual Layer Roof System features a top layer of Australian made commercial grade shade cloth, an intermediate waterproof membrane layer, and a bottom layer of the highest quality Australian made canvas, which acts at the roof of the tent. This rooming system provides shade and reduces heat build-up.
Our Single Layer PVC Membrane System features a top layer of 580 – 630gsm Architectural PVC membrane with PVDF lacquer and is perfect for high temperature or remote areas.
Additional Options
The purpose of glamping is to provide luxury accommodation in a camping environment. Thus, the more glamourous and luxurious, the better. Most glamping tents will come with extra options or accessories to elevate a standard glamping tent into an even more elegant and functional space.
Such options include the likes of ensuite pods and decks, which are optional with some of our Eco Tents. Our Ensuite pod fits our largest 3.5m x 7.5m tent and provides guests with a private shower and toilet. This option can be a significant drawcard for guests and can allow you to increase rates for ensuite tents, increasing your profit.
Decks can also allow you to offer additional features such as decks and outdoor seating to provide a better home away from home experience to your guest.
Conclusion
If you’re planning to take advantage of the current state of the tourism industry by starting a glamping business, then you’ll need glamping tents! But, with so many different glamping tents for sale, which do you choose?
There are definite advantages and disadvantages of the three most common types of glamping tents in Australia; glamping teepees, bell tents, and safari tents.
Glamping teepees and bell tents are economical; however, they don’t have the straight and security of safari tents that cheater a steel frame. They’re also much smaller in size and height and don’t often feature any windows or a fixed flooring. Safari tents, on the other hand, although more expensive, provide greater longevity, are much larger, more functional and practical, can offer additional add-ons such as private ensuites and decks, and therefore, offer the premises for a higher ROI.
When choosing glamping tents for your business, consider the types of tents available, your business niche, the size of the tents and configuration, your target demographics, manufacturing materials, and what additional options are available to give your business a leg up over other glamping businesses in your area.
If you have any questions about safari tents or would like to learn more about our Eco Tents range, please click here. Alternatively, you may complete our online quote form, and one of our sales representatives will get in touch with you with a quote for your requirements.