Ekodome is very proud to announce that we are now an official preferred partner of the American Glamping Association. For those who don’t know, the organization, which has been featured in Forbes and The Wall Street Journal, was formed to advance the industry as a whole by empowering Glamping (and Glamping adjacent) businesses of all sizes.
Obviously, we’re thrilled to see our family-run start-up get such a shot in the arm from an industry-changing organization like the AGA. Indeed, we have high hopes for our geodesic dome kits, and we see this as an essential step in our growth. But what exactly is the American Glamping Association? More importantly, how will they help us take Ekodome to the next level? In this post, we’ll discuss all of this and more.
A New World of Glamping Opportunity
It’s safe to say that Glamping is having a bit of a “moment” right now. Recently, Kampgrounds of America (KOA) published its 2022 report, details the who, what, where, and why of the booming industry for the first time. Meanwhile, organizations like Vauates have estimated the Glamping market may soon reach $7.11 billion thanks to a 10.9% annual growth rate.
Though Glamping had been growing in popularity for years, the pandemic clearly ushered in a whole new level of demand. Suddenly, what seemed like an alternative to camping became its own thing. Soon after, customers became more diverse, and the sites and experiences became more unique.
This is a big deal for companies like ours. Geodesic domes are not only innovative and futuristic, but they also provide a comfortable experience. On top of that, they’re affordable and versatile enough that almost any budding Glamping company can invest in them. However, as the industry itself is still very new, it lacks many of those A to B to C connections you find in other business sectors.
The AGA is committed to solving that, and we’re happy to be along for the ride.
What the American Glamping Association Does
For starters, the AGA provides tons of resources for those starting a glamping business and those who simply want to expand an existing enterprise. Members who join the AGA get access to their team of business development experts as well as loads of other perks. The best part? The organization is as well suited to helping a profitable Glamping company as they are a start-up that only exists on paper.
As you’ll see, a lot of what the AGA offers has to do with marketing. Many business owners will breathe a sigh of relief at that, as promotion tends to be one of the areas that many of us struggle with. That’s why the AGA provides even basic members with a slack channel and newsletter for reaching out to new and existing customers. These tools are essential to a modern business owner, yet few of us have the time, energy, or staff to get more than the bare minimum out of them.
Of course, if they are willing to invest more, members can gain access to things like social media shoutouts, guest blog opportunities, logo design assistance, and even a dedicated episode on the AGA’s popular Glamping industry podcast. This is the sort of exposure you simply can’t put a price on, and it can prove a significant boon for all types and sizes of businesses.
But there’s more.
As we already stated, the AGA is committed to forging the sort of connections many in the Glamping industry simply haven’t had time to form. Through its blog, podcast, magazine, and industry award program, it’s helping builders to connect with sites, companies to connect with land owners, and everyone to connect with potential customers.
For businesses just starting out, the AGA can also be a valuable source of funding. This is thanks to its large network of third-party financiers. The AGA also helps entrepreneurs come up with business plans, deal with permits and zoning, and get their hands on essential documentation that some first-time business owners might not even know they need.
This past year, the AGA held its first-ever Glamping Awards, which were presented during the Glamping Business Basics Workshop at The Glamping Show USA. The organization highlighted a number of industry standouts with awards for innovation, operational excellence, and both traditional and eco-friendly manufacturing. However, winners don’t just get highlighted at the event; they also enjoy a year’s worth of free promotion on the AGA website.
Ultimately, the AGA is the first organization in the industry that understands how to nurture it from the inside out truly. Their teams’ blog articles are insightful and informative, as are the AGA podcast and its magazine: Glamping Business Americas. And with so much buzz around the Glamping industry at the moment, it will be very interesting to see what the American Glamping Association can accomplish. Of course, those of us at Ekodome couldn’t be happier to be a part of it.
Ekodome’s Potential as an AGA Member
At Ekodome, we know that our kits have potential far beyond the Glamping industry, and we do our best to promote ourselves that way. However, it’s true that domes – though rare – have proven immensely popular among campers, travelers, and eco-tourists all around the world. This is not only because of the unique experience they provide customers but also the many benefits they offer site owners.
Of course, thanks to the aforementioned KOA Glamping Report, we now know more about Glamping demographics than ever before. For instance, we’ve found that those actively seeking out Glamping experiences tend to be Millennials or members of Gen Z. As such, they are very tech-savvy, highly social media conscious, and enthusiastic about vacations they see as exclusive.
At Ekodome, we often tell our customers and partners that domes are an Instagrammer’s dream. In fact, we paid a lot of attention to aesthetics during our initial design process for just that reason. When people see our domes, they suddenly can’t wait to post a photo of themselves in front, inside – you name it. This has a benefit one simply can’t get from a cabin or tiny house. However, it also has the added benefit of elevating an otherwise unremarkable lot or view into something truly awe-inspiring.
Put simply: domes are the perfect way to enhance a Glamping experience. Not only can most prospective Glampers not resist them, but they are essentially self-promoting thanks to the unique experience they provide. This translates into highly satisfied site owners, as they have to do much less to market their brand to new customers.
Nowadays, all it takes is a good photo and a location hashtag to create millions of dollars worth of buzz. Combine this with Ekodome’s versatility, affordability, and ability to stand up to almost any weather conditions, and you don’t have to squint to see the potential.
As a preferred partner of the AGA, we’re hoping to take our business – and the businesses of our future partners – to a whole new level. Not only does this give us the opportunity to spread the word about how and why domes are popular, but to promote what makes our domes so unique. We’re sure that this partnership will be a long and prosperous one, and frankly, we can’t wait to see where it takes us all!
You can visit https://americanglampingassociation.net/ to see just how this organization is changing the game for thousands of business owners.
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