There are plenty of rags-to-riches stories in business, but few are as literal as Dave Benson’s.
It started in 1983 when Dave landed a unique role at a caravan dealership in Adelaide.
“I’d just failed my matriculation, so our family friend Geoff Dabinet offered me a job hand-washing vans at his Millard dealership. I took it to get out of dad’s hair,” Dave tells Let’s Go Caravan & Camping with a wry smile.
“From there, I worked my way up through the repairs and sales departments, and by 22, I was running the Viscount Caravans dealership here in Adelaide.”
Talk to Dave and you will immediately notice a high degree of natural business acumen. After all, he built the foundation of one of Australia’s longest-running RV dealerships, Dave Benson Caravans – at one point the country’s largest caravan dealership and the first to feature a fully undercover showroom.
Yet it’s more than the art of the deal or sharp foresight that has made Dave one of the most knowledgeable and respected dealership owners in Australia.
Aside from a five-year break after selling Dave Benson Caravans to Smith Motor Group in 2007 – when he dedicated his time to community work – Dave has spent over 40 years shaping customer experiences in the caravan industry. For him, it’s never just been about making money.
“While it’s nice to make a living, the real enjoyment I get out of my work is seeing that look on a customer’s face as they’re about to drive away with their new caravan,” he explains.
“I take great pride in matching each customer with a van that will suit the travel experience they want to create, then delivering on that promise by working with the manufacturers we stock to supply that product.”
This combination of passion, experience and commitment to quality customer service shapes the business philosophy at his latest venture, Adelaide-based dealership Explorer Caravan Sales – a business he started alongside his wife Tania and sons Josh, Daniel and Tom in 2020.
While Dave jokes that he’s officially the Dealer Principal while his sons “learn the ropes”, one thing he’s certain about is maintaining best practice in customer care, safety and satisfaction, standards built over decades in the industry.
This is a key reason why Dave and his team chose to become accredited under the Retail Dealership Accreditation Program (RDAP) – a national initiative that identifies highly professional, ethical and customer-centric dealership businesses ready to assist customers with their next RV purchase.
“By being accredited, we’re really validating the years of experience and knowledge that have gone into setting up our business,” Dave says.
“The caravan market is more competitive than ever, so RDAP gives customers confidence that they’re choosing to buy from a reputable and reliable source, as validated through regular audits of our business.
“The brands we stock – Viscount, Franklin, and Titanium Caravans – are all high-quality products with whom we maintain close business relationships, so that chain of trust is something we can deliver in every sales experience.
“We’re proud to be RDAP accredited and encourage customers nationwide to look for the accreditation key when purchasing a new caravan.”
The Retail Dealership Accreditation Program (RDAP) is administered by Caravan Industry Association of Australia. It identifies highly professional, ethical and customer-focused businesses ready to assist with your next RV purchase. Subject to stringent independent audits of business practices – including compliance with Australian Consumer Law (ACL) – accredited caravan and RV dealerships are committed to best practice in business management, operational policies and procedures, sales and customer service.
When looking for your next RV, make sure you look at buying from and Accredited Dealer.
To learn more about the Retail Dealership Accreditation Program and the other accreditation programs run by Caravan Industry Association of Australia click below.
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