Sawatdee Kaa

Apologies for the lack of blogging. I've just arrived back from an amazing 10 days spent in Thailand. What a country. Fantastic friendly beautiful people, brilliant service, scrumptious food, stunning scenery and oh, so so cheap!

The Thailand quarters of Wicked now has a set address, so in no-time you'll be able to join the constant peak-hour traffic and crazy 'anything goes' driving over there. Driving a Wicked van still beats riding an elephant - I thought it would be glamorous to ride one...but I left the experience ride feeling bruised, battered, and happy to be back on the ground :)


"I'd rather be in a Wicked Camper"


Unfortunately this is a quick entry as I'm still catching up with work - but I promise a decent article in the next couple of days. I guess the most exciting news from the last week has been the Wicked exposure of our company on nationwide prime-time television!

Eli Wolfe transforms a Wicked Camper

Eli Wolfe, a touring musician and his partner Dominique (both from Sydney) flew to Broome late last week to commence Eli's west-coast tour. He's using a Wicked Camper as his gig vehicle and spent a couple of afternoons in the Broome depot painting up this gem of a van - here's the video!

Click here to view Eli's tour dates on his 'Magic Honey Tour'.

Who paints the vans?

One of the questions most asked when I tell people I work for Wicked is 'Who paints the vans'? .
Charley Boorman on his tv show 'By Any Means' mistakenly said a group of Harley Davidson motorbike junkies did the paint job. Sounds wicked but its not true.

Mrs Wicked, an artist and one of the Wicked creators originally did the artwork, and then a guy named Eric was brought on board for his spraypainting talents. Eric has recently left Wicked to start his own Tattoo Studio business.

The new painter on the block is Guy, who's job has just gotta rival Tourism Qld's 'best job in the world'. Based in Brisbane, Guy has flown all the UK, Thailand and New Zealand painting up Wicked vans. He also travels extensively around Australia. More recently, he's been painting up depot and backpacker hostel walls with 'Wish you were here' text emblazoned on them.

Check out a video of the bloke spraypainting the Trogdor van here.

A lot of the ideas for the paint jobs come from Mr Wicked; but anyone can submit their own design ideas! If you rent a van for 60 days or more/purchase a van from Brisbane you can even elect to have your own paint job on your Wicked Camper! Click here for details.

Join the Wicked Cult!

A big shout-out to Budi, our IT guy this week. I've been hounding him with questions everyday re. the new website and he's been a big help!

We've now updated our affiliate site on the new webpage, so sign up today. You can earn a neat 10% commission for any Wicked Campers booking made through your link. That's right - passive income...you can sit on your butt and watch the cash flood in.

We also have a new section on our website that allows people to subscribe to The Wicked Gospel - a 'wicked happenings' e-newsletter sent out to subscribers every couple of months that keeps them up to date with all the latest roadtrip ideas, specials, competitions and travel news around Australia and the rest of the Wicked world.

In other news...I had a little scare this morning when Sister Sam sent me a text message, saying Wicked were in trouble with the ACCC for not advertising all charges up-front. It was the first I'd heard of it but I let out a sigh of relief shortly after a quick Google search....and discovered the company in trouble was 'Wicked Travel' - not Wicked Campers.

Seen the new fridge?

As I've mentioned in an earlier blog post, its been an extremely busy week up here in Broome.

So busy that you can make people believe things that they wouldn't usually believe.

Yesterday I came back to work after hours and discovered a new fridge sitting in the waiting room. I assumed that Bob, the landlord next door was the culprit. I went over to visit Bob after work and yep, I was right - Bob had kindly delivered us another fridge!

This morning Chris and I walk into work and the conversation goes something likes this:
Chris: Wow! have you seen this new fridge?
Me: Umm... Chris? Are you feeling ok? That fridge has been there since Wednesday.
Chris: What? No way
Me: Yes. Bob even asked you where you wanted it - and you told him to place it behind the door!
Chris: Ahh...I don't remember (looks quizzically at the fridge).

5 mins later Bob's wife walks in and Chris asks her when the fridge arrived. Over Chris' shoulder I mouth 'WED-NES-DAY' over to her, which she promptly replies to Chris. He can't believe it!

Bob walks in after another 5 mins and Chris asks him the same question. Bob says "Mate, I asked you where you wanted it. You even offered to help me bring it in!".

Chris is looking super confused at this stage. Moments later, a German couple return their Wicked van. I overhear the conversation. Chris says "Guys...I've been so busy, I didn't even realise this new fridge had been sitting in my waiting room for three days!".

It took all my strength not to laugh. Ahh, what stress can do to a person...

Leave town in a Wicked Camper

After a quiet week in Broome last week, things seem to have exploded here. The temperature is heating up and everyone is evacuating Broome!

In Wicked news this week:

- The new Wicked Campers Australia website is up - same address; different image: http://www.wickedcampers.com.au . Our web designer, Budi, has done an amazing job!

- We're giving away free 5 day roadtrips from Brisbane to either Alice Springs or Adelaide. Simply join Sister Cassie at Birdie Num Nums on Sep 28 for a one-hour focus group.

- Join the Wicked Nullabor Links convoy and play the longest golf course in the world.

- Had an amazing roadtrip? Submit your best roadtrip story and you could win a 7 day Wicked roadtrip, a Panasonic Camcorder, two memory cards and 10 double passes to Stone Bros. "the first full-blooded Oz comedy in eons" (Empire).

I also received some nice feedback from a travel agent in Cairns who used her free Wicked days (book 7 days and get 1 day of Wicked hire for your own use) for a roadtrip in Adelaide. Here is her feedback:

"Would just like to say thankyou very much for allowing me a camper while i was in Adelaide! The camper was great and a MASSIVE hit with the likes of my Mum, Dad, brother etc haha. LOVE LOVE LOVE the Wicked laugh's adults only book!! haha some great stuff in there. The guy (cant remember his name :() who runs the ashop in Adelaide was awesome...giving me stickers and all sorts of things :) So i intend to make a Wicked display with ALL the stickers done up on a box or something like that!! Thanks once again! Have a great day"

"A Wicked van is all you need"

George and Maureen from the UK popped into the Broome depot to get their Wicked van serviced. After a quick chat to them, I discovered that they had rented a van for 10 months -- which must be a Wicked record! This is their 3rd Wicked hire in Australia. Both are huge Bob Dylan fans so they got the bloke painted all over their vehicle (it was either Bob, or Manchester United).

I interviewed them both and will post up that video next week, but here's a sneak peak of the song George wrote and performed at our Broome depot as a tribute to Wicked Campers. Its called 'A Wicked Van is all you need'.

Lyrics:
A Wicked van is all you need
From Sydney Harbour, to Monkey Mia
From Kakadu to Uluru
A Wicked van is all you need.

The Virgin Van

Here's a video audition clip I created for a competition to drive Richard Branson around Sydney for a day (http://virginmoney.com.au/driving-sir-richard). Oh yeah, you also get to hang out with him in the Virgin pits at the F1 in Singapore too. Not a bad prize.

If you're a Wicked customer please do not perform any of these stunts while out on your roadtrip (driving on the beach, sitting on the van!)! Highly illegal and we'll suck your bond.

Yes I know I'm not the greatest role model, but those stunts did make for a good camera shot :)

Wicked World Cup 2010

Nick from Wicked Africa gave me a call last week about his plans for the World Cup in 2010. I went to Germany back in 2006 and had some great times:

Here's Nick message to encourage you all over in 2010.

The 2010 World Cup is shaping up to be an absolute extravaganza and here at Wicked we have been working hard to make it the most memorable experience of your life! Our Campers have everything you need to eat, sleep and travel to all the Games. Unlimited kilometres and an upfront price gives you the re-assurance that you are sorted for the world’s biggest sporting event.

There are plans on the table to have Campsites close to Game venues, with a shuttle service to the games. We will also have Wicked Discounts for activities you may wish to do whilst here.

There is a genuine shortage of accommodation and vehicles expected for the World Cup, and Wicked have a limited amount of vehicles available.
With over 1,000 Requests in the past year alone we suggest that you book early to avoid disappointment.

Our bookings for the world cup require a 30% deposit to confirm, with the balance to be paid by the 1st April 2010.

We appreciate the patience you have shown us in the past months and to say thank you for this, we wish to offer you a special discount. If you are booking for a Thirty Plus day Adventure with the majority of this time in the World Cup period then you qualify for a Wicked Discount. Simply enter the words world cup in the promo field of the booking engine on our site ( http://www.wickedafrica.com/fifa_soccer_world_cup.htm ). This offer is valid for a limited amount of time and is subject to availability.

Those that have booked using this promotion code enter the draw to have their Wicked Camper personalised with their own Design at no additional cost.

So get cracking and take advantage of this amazing early bird discount!!!!!!

Yours in all that is Wicked and Fun,

Lula (Wicked Africa)

Loyal and smile

Ok I admit, my last post entry was lame. It was a last-5-minute-at-work-blog-entry since I've been super busy being an evangelist! I won't bore readers with the gory details, but some of the tasks include I've been helping our web developer Budi(licious) with content updates/audits to the new Wicked Campers website (which looks exceptional by the way, good stuff Budi); creating a new Wicked agent manual; organising training for the agents at the Broome Visitors Centre; editing a new Wicked loop DVD; ordering new Wicked country stickers and in amongst it all, talking to my mates in China about ordering new Wicked merchandise.

I was looking to order some Wicked hats from China the other day and sent off some prospective emails to suppliers over there. Here's a lovely email I received back from Amy at Guangzhou Kaavie Cap Co Ltd.

"Dear Ms Leanne, Thanks so much for your message in our website. please send us your caps's pictures,so that we could quote a exact price. These are the pictures about our factory. please see them in attached at your convenience. Hope can cooperate with you .

loyal&smile.
Amy"

Loyal and smile. What a terrific parting message. It beats 'Cheers'!
Oh and here are the photos from Amy's factory...

Sparking dreams around the world

Seems like someone else has taken the 'round the world' Wicked Campers roadtrip philosophy to heart!

Look what I spotted in Broome town today.

This family (yes, a family with 3 yound children!!) have driven from Argentina to Alaska and are now covering Asia. You can track their progress on their world roadtrip blog - sparkyourdream.net .