You surely know what an Airstream trailer is, even if you haven’t been to the US where they’re made and have been popular since the 1930s – their tapered shape and silver paint finish make them striking to use in movies.
The style of these trailers has remained pretty much unchanged from the early beginnings of the company and according to a recent report, demand for them is on the rebound and close to pre-2007 levels.
You may be surprised to learn that the same company that has always made them is still in business (even if it’s owned by RV maker Thor Industries), and it operates out of the same west-Ohio location. All trailers are built by hand and they’re able to churn them out at a rate of 50 per week.
The Detroit Free Press says that when the 2014 numbers will be crunched, an expected 8 percent rise in deliveries is predicted. This casts the premise for 2015 in a very positive light, even if the trailers are not the cheapest to get a hold of – they range in price from $42,000 to $140,000; you can even get one with solar panels on the roof.
Interestingly, the source says it’s not the elderly who are looking to buy these, but Baby Boomers “who are now choosing not to wait until their 60s to buy one.” The company isn’t going to sit back and passively watch sales grow – they’re also conjuring up ways of attracting an even younger audience to their products.
What they’ve done to facilitate this is they collaborated with the Columbus College of Art and Design for the creation of a unique camper comprised of both a workspace and a living area – it’s aimed at people in their 20s and 30s.