Business Tips
What actually sells vs. what you think sells
A realistic product guide for UK campsite shops — based on what guests actually need, not what looks good on Instagram.
The Campsite Shop Reality Check
When people imagine a campsite shop, they picture artisan jams, locally roasted coffee, and hand-carved tent pegs. The reality? Your bestsellers will be Elsan Blue, milk, and gas bottles.
That's not a bad thing. It means your shop doesn't need to be complicated. You don't need a retail EPOS, supplier negotiations, or weekly stock takes. You need the right 15–20 products, kept in stock, with a simple way to track what's selling.
Click any £ price to edit it — watch the annual estimate update live
| Season | EHU/night | Grass/night | Hard/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | |||
| Shoulder | |||
| Off-Peak |
Estimated Annual Revenue
£100,101
Based on 18 pitches · avg occupancy · updates live as you edit
The Core Categories
Based on what actually moves at UK campsites (not holiday parks — actual touring and camping sites), here's what to stock:
1. Gas Cylinders — Your Biggest Revenue Line
Gas is typically your highest-value product. A single exchange can be £30–£50, and in peak season you might do 3–5 per day.
| Type | Size | Typical Exchange Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Propane (Calor Patio Gas) | 13kg | £38–£45 | Most popular for caravans |
| Propane | 6kg | £28–£32 | Smaller caravans, motorhomes |
| Butane | 15kg | £42–£48 | Static caravans, longer stays |
| Butane | 7kg | £30–£35 | Less common, but worth stocking |
| Campingaz 907 | 2.75kg | £22–£28 | Tent campers, festival crowd |
💡 Pro tip
Stock what your regulars use. If you're predominantly caravans, focus on 13kg and 6kg Propane. If you get tent campers, add Campingaz. Don't try to stock everything — you'll tie up cash in cylinders that sit there all season.
2. Sanitation Products — Essential, Not Glamorous
Elsan products are unglamorous but essential. Every caravan and motorhome needs them, and guests always seem to run out on a Sunday.
| Product | Typical Price | Stock Level |
|---|---|---|
| Elsan Blue (2L) | £7.50–£9.00 | Keep 10+ in stock |
| Elsan Blue (4L) | £12.00–£15.00 | Keep 5+ in stock |
| Elsan Pink (rinse fluid) | £6.50–£8.50 | Keep 5+ in stock |
| Elsan Double Blue (concentrated) | £10.00–£13.00 | Keep 3+ in stock |
3. Fire & BBQ — Seasonal but High-Volume
🪵 Firewood
Kiln-dried nets: £5–£7. Your top seller on cool evenings. Keep 20+ nets in stock during summer.
🔥 Firelighters
£3–£4 per pack. Always stocked alongside firewood. People forget them every time.
🍖 BBQ Charcoal
Instant-light bags: £5–£8. Regular charcoal: £4–£6. Peak demand: June–August weekends.
🍢 Marshmallows
£2–£3. Surprisingly strong seller. Keep them near the firewood — impulse buy gold.
4. Daily Essentials — The "I Forgot" Category
These are low-margin but high-frequency. Guests don't plan to buy them from you — they just forgot to pack them.
- Milk (semi-skimmed, 2-pint) — £1.20–£1.60
- Bread (white, wholemeal) — £1.00–£1.50
- Eggs (free-range, 6 pack) — £2.00–£2.50
- Butter — £1.80–£2.50
- Bacon (if you have a fridge) — £3.00–£4.00
- Tea bags (small box) — £1.50–£2.00
- Washing-up liquid — £1.50
- Bin bags — £1.00–£2.00
✅ Keep it simple
You're not a supermarket. Stock one brand per item. Guests don't want choice — they want availability. If you've got semi-skimmed milk and white bread, you're covered.
5. Camping Extras — The Emergency Aisle
- Tent pegs (pack of 10) — £3–£5
- Guy ropes — £2–£4
- Midge/insect repellent — £4–£6
- Sun cream — £5–£8
- Torches/batteries — £4–£7
- Matches/lighters — £1–£2
What NOT to Stock
Resist the urge to over-diversify. These rarely justify the shelf space:
- ❌ Souvenirs and gifts (unless you're a tourist destination)
- ❌ Multiple brands of the same product
- ❌ Fresh produce beyond basics (it spoils)
- ❌ Alcohol (licensing, storage, competition from village pub)
- ❌ Expensive camping gear (guests buy online)
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Managing Your Stock Without a Retail System
Here's the thing: you don't need barcodes, SKU numbers, or a till system. For 15–20 products, you need:
- A product list — what you sell, what it costs, what category it's in
- A stock status — in stock or out of stock (not unit counts for sundries)
- Gas tracking — unit counts for cylinders (Full / Empty / On Order)
- A sales log — what sold today, for reconciliation
That's exactly what Site Essentials in PayCamp provides. No barcode scanner. No EPOS terminal. Just a phone screen that shows you what's in stock and lets you record exchanges and sales with one tap.
Click an available pitch to check someone in
Seasonal Adjustments
| Season | Increase | Decrease |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Gas, Elsan, camping extras | BBQ, ice cream |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | BBQ, firewood, sun cream, ice cream | — |
| Autumn (Sep–Oct) | Firewood, firelighters, gas | Sun cream, BBQ |
| Winter (Nov–Feb) | Minimal — gas only if open | Almost everything |
Revenue Expectations
For a 30–50 pitch touring site operating April–October:
Gas exchanges: £150–£300/week in peak season
Elsan products: £40–£80/week
Firewood & BBQ: £60–£120/week (summer only)
Daily essentials: £30–£60/week
Total: £280–£560/week → £8,000–£16,000/season
That's meaningful ancillary revenue from products that practically sell themselves — as long as they're in stock when people want them.
Start tracking your shop stock today
Site Essentials is included in every PayCamp plan — no extra cost.
See Site Essentials →💳 Sell Stock via PayCamp Payments
With PayCamp Payments integrated into Site Essentials, you can sell shop stock directly to guests — in person via QR code, through the customer portal, or at the reception desk. No separate EPOS system needed.
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