EP 10 – Running a $130M Caravan Business // MDC Campers & Caravans

In this episode of the OFFGRID DOWNUNDER podcast and video series, we delve deeper into the entrepreneurial journey of Vaughan Hindley, the owner of MDC Campers and Caravans. We chatted with Vaughan a little while ago and people were so keen to hear more from him, that we invited him back to revisit the evolution of MDC, and to learn more about the man himself and hear about his entrepreneurial journey.

The Birth of MDC Campers and Caravans:
Vaughan’s journey began with a diverse range of products under the Market Direct brand. From importing solar lights to selling Pee Wee motorcycles, go-karts, and agricultural equipment, Vaughan explored various markets. The breakthrough came with camper trailer tents, which were offered at a price significantly lower than the market average – when the industry was charging $12K for a camper trailer, Vaughan was bringing it to market at $5K! The industry embraced the price difference, and this success marked the shift of Market Direct's focus entirely to camper trailers.

A Passion for Camping and Caravanning:
Vaughan's affinity for the camping industry stems from his personal background. Growing up from humble beginnings, camping and fishing were regular family activities. These outdoor adventures (and a few nightmarish rain and tent experiences!) planted the seeds for Vaughan's future ventures in the camping and caravanning industry and solidified his commitment to this market.

Transition to Caravans:
Starting with soft floor camper trailers, MDC progressed to hard floor campers, including rear fold and forward fold designs. Vaughan’s innovative approach led MDC to be the first to manufacture these products in China. The natural progression from camper trailers to small caravans allowed MDC to expand its offerings and meet the evolving demands of both on-road and off-road caravan markets.

Pioneering Manufacturing in China:
MDC was a trailblazer in openly manufacturing camping products in China. Vaughan proudly shares that MDC developed the first Chinese-built hybrid caravan in 2013, a market they dominated for several years before other Australian competitors caught on. Today, any hybrid caravan in Australia can trace its origins back to MDC’s pioneering designs.

Healthy Mind and Healthy Business:
An entrepreneurial journey isn’t just about business success. Vaughan also speaks candidly about being significantly overweight for a period of time when the business was growing and spurred by health issues during a trip to China, he prioritised his health. He lost a significant amount of weight, changed his lifestyle from working 16 hour days, 7 days a week, to enjoying more balanced lifestyle.

Loyalty, family, and personal drive are highlighted as important values, alongside the acknowledgment that not everyone is suited to entrepreneurship due to differing motivations and work ethics.

“I always say, I've been a lucky guy, I guess things fall into my lap, but you have to make your own luck. And I think it's just seeing opportunity.
One of the secrets to being a good business owner is to be good to your people. Because you need to respect their time, respect their needs, and know what actually drives them. Some people are driven by money. Some people are driven by family time, or some people have families where they have their children on different weekends.
You have to make people feel important and part of the team, which they all are at MDC.”

Vaughan Hindley
Owner of MDC Campers and Caravans


Conclusion:
Vaughan Hindley's journey from a diverse product range under Market Direct to a focused and successful MDC Campers and Caravans is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability. His passion for camping, innovative approach to manufacturing, and collaborative mindset have driven MDC to the forefront of the on-road and off-road camping and caravanning industry.


Presented by:
Melissa J Scott
MDC Community Manager
www.marketdirect.com.au

MDC Caravans and Camper Trailers
Facebook:   / marketdirectcampers  
Instagram:   / mdc_camper_trailers  
YouTube:    / @mdc_au  

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https://www.marketdirect.com.au/mdc-p...

00:00 Introduction
01:20 From Humble Beginnings
04:23 Evolving From Camper Trailers to Caravans
05:02 Manufacturing in China
06:53 Failing University... twice!
07:38 AI and Using Technology as a Tool
09:25 Predicting Trends & Listening to Customers
11:31 Learning to Let Go and Collaborate
18:41 Vaughan's Amazing Taste In Music
20:58 Health
22:38 What Drives You?
27:32 Proudest Moments as a Business Owner
31:38 Sniffing Out the Bullsh*t
32:39 How to Deal With Stress
34:13 Predictions for the Future