Barossa 4x4 & Outdoors is celebrating 15 years in business - offering caravans, vehicle maintenance, camping equipment and everything in-between, needed for outdoors enthusiasts.
With a wide variety of parts and accessories available, customers are able to find everything they need to create their dream four by four vehicle, while the shop’s extensive camping range includes equipment for any trip - from camper chairs, fishing equipment, and barbecues.
Owner’s Brian and Sue Hammerling say they’re proud to be able to provide everything in one place - something unique in the Barossa Valley.
“That was always our aim, to create a one-stop shop,” Brian said.
“We deal with some very big major suppliers now...there’s nothing really that you can’t get here.”
Brian and Sue’s son Cameron also works for the business and said it’s always good to see customers leaving the store happy.
“It’s good to build the customers’ dreams,” Cameron said.
“They purchase a car and we set her up so they can do what they like, whether it’s touring the country or it’s a work horse.
“It brings a fair bit of pride to the job.”
The business has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2010 when Brian and Sue took a chance and brought into a franchise after Brian had spent years working in the transport industry.
“(We) always had an inkling to run our own business,” he said.
Originally working as a Johnno’s Camper Trailers franchisee, Brian and Sue sold and hired out camper trailers out of their own home before the business began to evolve.
They then found themselves making a choice to either sell the business or embrace the growth and move into a shop.
They decided to continue going and found a property at Nuriootpa to lease and the business continued to flourish - so much so that just 18 months later the business moved into a new space offering double the size.
Then in December 2022 Brian and Sue were able to purchase the current location at Greenock, which after some extensive electrical work from their other son Kyle, has become the business’ home.
Premises at Greenock
The new location has continued to see a thrive in business, and has also brought in plenty of interesting stories.
“This building’s got a lot of history behind it,” Brian explained.
“A lot of customers come in and they talk about, ‘I used to bring milk here with Dad’ or ‘we worked here’, so they’ll stand there and they’ll tell you the stories.
“We love listening to the stories and you don’t get that in lot of places.”
One customer even brought in a photo of the original opening day in 1962 - a copy of which is now proudly on display behind the front desk.
“Us coming in here has really enlightened the building and the locals love it,” Brian said.
The business also saw a name change in 2015, one which Brian believes reflects the business better.
“The name suits us better for what we do,” he said.
The business is now a Repco nationally recognised and authorised service centre and provides services for all makes and models of car - not just four by fours , and are happy to look at cars both old and new.
The team has also grown from just two staff members to seven, all of whom are outdoors enthusiasts and can provide in-depth advice to customers.
Experienced four wheel drivers
“We’re all four-wheel drivers which is what people come here for,” Brian said.
“There’s not a lot in here one of us hasn’t used.
“If we use something that doesn’t work for us we won’t sell it.”
He said the team also works well together, with everyone providing their own expertise to help in areas such as sales and social media.
“We’ve got a great young team,” Brian said.
“I’m not seen as just the boss I’m just somebody who works here.
“That’s how we work, they come up with ideas and stuff like that and we all talk about it.”
There are no plans of slowing down, with Brian and Sue currently looking into further extending the showroom and workshop.
Business growth
The business has also recently started selling caravans on consignment and has unveiled a new website where people can custom select all their requirements for a car and then receive a quote.
“We’re always trying to grow,” Brian said.
When it comes to owning the business Brian said he enjoys the flexibility, along with the pride of owning the building.
“Pulling up here in the mornings and you know it’s yours...that probably makes me more happy than anything,” he said.
