Andy Jenkinson outlines the journey of Swift, now in their 60th year, and a major UK manufacturer…
Swift began back in 1964 making touring caravans; by 2004 they were making motorhomes and holiday homes too…
Ken Smith founded the Swift brand in a small workshop in Hull. Soon his son Peter joined him and as the end of the 1960’s approached the Swift brand was well established in the mid market. Real oak veneers were used and a notable feature was the triple front windows with low design enabling the car driver to see through to the rear of the caravan. Mid market tourers a Swift would by the mid 1970’s cost around £600!
By 1967/8 Swift had established the “Swift look” and was growing its tourer range and factory.
The 1970’s proved a turbulent decade for Swift, but through clever design and marketing plus a quality product the company would expand.
Now under Peter Smith’s ownership after his father Ken Smith passed away suddenly, the 1980’s witnessed new challenges as new aerodynamic designs came into being. Swift had its Corniche luxury tourer range that sold well along with the Challenger line up. Further expansion and a new factory for motorhome production with the well known Kon-Tiki range in 1985. By the end of the decade Swift were firmly established as caravan and motorhome producers. Between 1992 and 2001, Swift purchased tourer manufacturers and by the 2000’s they had acquired more brands including ABI UK’s tourer ranges.
The first Debut holiday home, launched for 2005, would be the start of Swift becoming market leaders in both single and twin lodges.
In mid-2004 Swift decided to take the brand in a new direction. With the Swift name known in Europe as well as the UK, they looked to the holiday home market. The company decided a new factory was needed and investment into creating new designs. It could have been easier to buy out an established holiday home/lodge manufacturer, however Swift set up its own Holiday Home division initially with just two models. Early days saw lower sales than they had hoped, but by 2006 they developed new layouts and made changes which saw the brand become more popular on parks. Now, nearly 21 years later, Swift have become a major manufacturer of holiday homes and lodges, both single and twin. Swift have in fact recently expanded the holiday home production lines with a factory expansion.
Swift are now a major producer of leisure vehicles not just in Europe but the UK as well. Swift is now a well-known brand, with new designers and marketing. Their lodges are more popular on parks than ever before. With a strong team, Swift will see a larger-than-ever stand at the October NEC show and also more TV advertising. They produce some of the best holiday homes and lodges on the market, with flair and solid build-quality. The Swift complex covers 47 acres and now produces campervans, tourers, motorhomes, holiday homes, lodges, and twin lodges. Not bad progress from one caravan taking shape in a small workshop in Hull back in late 1964.
