A 2014 road trip through France inspired Neill and Ollie Shurville to launch TentBox in 2016. Their product is a sleeping pod that installs on a car roof, simplifying camping. The brothers kept initial orders small to avoid debt, with Ollie building prototypes in his garage.
The company’s turnover grew from £40,000 in its first year to £28mn by 2025, and is on track for £33mn in 2026. Headquartered in Southampton, TentBox has 70 employees, with ten focused solely on product development. Annual sales have reached 20,000 units, with over 25% coming from camping accessories like awnings and cooking equipment.
The brothers now serve in advisory roles, having brought in a management team. Ollie remains involved in marketing and product design, while Neill oversees the website and tech. Approximately 90% of revenue comes from their website, though they have two showrooms and partners across the UK, France, and Germany for product demonstrations.
The brand has cultivated a community of over 100,000 'TentBoxers' who share routes, campsite recommendations, and tips. The business was initially self-funded by Ollie using £25,000 from prior profits, with no bank loans for the first eight years. Recently, they've secured loan facilities with HSBC to fund increased stock.
The founders believe the product's success lies in its ability to solve a real problem for consumers, offering value between cheaper tents and expensive campervans.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing