FESTIVAL-GOER Jacob Hill has a hit on his hands with The Lazy Camper.
The Huddersfield University student founded the business to provide a complete outdoors kit for fellow festival fans. The kit provides everything needed in one bag, for just £59.99.
Jacob, 19, said: “The Lazy Camper is the answer to purchasing a lot of camping goods with very little knowledge at a good quality.”
The kit comprises 16 items of equipment, including a two-man tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, camping stool, stove, fuel tablets, matches, mug, food tins, water carrier, waterproof poncho, first aid kit and cutlery.
The idea formed in Jacob’s mind just over 12 months ago when he was at a music festival with poor quality camping equipment – for which he had paid a “premium price”.
He raised £30,000 from fellow students at the university and after just five months’ trading, The Lazy Camper was pitched to Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson, featured on BBC 3 TV show Be Your Own Boss for Kirkheaton-born Innocent smoothies founder Richard Reed and sponsored V Festival’s VIP “Louder Lounge”
Jacob has also been guest speaker at a number of events, involving major names such as DHL and Virgin Media.
Earlier this year, his achievements were recognised when he won the Huddersfield University Vice-Chancellor’s Enterprise Award.
And this month, he will be encouraging 40 world leaders from the European Union, North Africa and Western Asia to pioneer teaching enterprise in an academic environment in a bid to encourage economic growth.
This year, The Lazy Camper – which now employs four people – has sponsored a range of festivals, sold kits all over Europe and will be planning a selection of products for other outdoor activity kits while developing its warehousing, logistics and sourcing.
In its second year, Jacob plans to have a deal with a supermarket chain in the bag and sponsor the whole of V Festival as well as trade overseas as main festival sponsor for a new weekend event in California, USA.
Jacob, of Brighouse, said: “I’m a keen speaker and really want to inspire as many people to do business as possible. If a 19-year-old can raise £30,000 investment without the help of a bank or family and import from overseas, then other people passionate about business or an idea have no excuse not to follow their dreams.”
