Why You Should Buy Your Tent/Awning from an Independent Retailer

See it. Feel it. Understand it.

Buying a tent near you isn’t like buying a T-shirt online. It’s an investment in your comfort, safety, and adventure - and you deserve the chance to experience it first-hand.

Independent outdoor retailers make that possible. They invest heavily in showroom space so you can step inside a luxury camping tent, feel the quality, and visualise your setup before you buy.

Online images and product specs can’t show you how it really feels - the height, layout, ventilation, or materials. Seeing it in person makes all the difference.

“Once you’ve stood inside a Holawild tent, you understand the difference instantly.”

Expert Advice from People Who Actually Camp

Independent retailers aren’t just salespeople - they’re campers.

They’ve pitched countless premium tents in real conditions, they know what works, and they care about finding the right fit for you.

That knowledge doesn’t exist in an algorithm or a call centre. It exists in your local outdoor store, where someone will happily take the time to explain fabric differences, help you choose a compatible driveaway awning, or share practical pitching tips.

Expertise can’t be downloaded - it has to be experienced.

Supporting Real Businesses, Not Algorithms

Running a physical shop is expensive: staff wages, business rates, rent, insurance, electricity, and the ongoing cost of displaying products.

Yet too often, people use these stores as showrooms - visiting to see a tent in person, then buying online to save £10.

Running a retail store isn’t easy.

There are staff wages, business rates, rent, insurance, electricity, and the constant cost of keeping products on display.

Yet, year after year, some customers visit these shops to see and try a tent — only to buy it online later to “save £10.” Sadly, that small saving has a much bigger cost.

Many once-trusted outdoor shops have closed because of this behaviour. And ironically, the same customers who saved a tenner now complain that there’s nowhere left to see products before buying.

If we don’t support our independents now, we risk losing them forever - and being forced to buy products online without ever seeing them in person.

Aftercare You Can Rely On

Independent retailers don’t stop caring once you’ve made your purchase.

Need help with pitching? Missing a part? Have a question months later? You can walk straight back into the store and speak to someone who remembers you.

Online-only sellers rarely offer that. They may sell cheaper - but when something goes wrong, you’ll wish you had someone local who could help.

Good service doesn’t end at checkout - it starts there.

Holawild: Proud to Support UK Independent Retailers

At Holawild, we’ve made a clear choice:

We will only supply physical retail stores, not online-only outlets or large conglomerates.

We believe that customers should be able to see, touch, and experience our best tents for camping before making a decision. That’s why we proudly support UK independent retailers - because they share our passion for camping and care about every customer’s experience.

When you buy from a Holawild retailer, you’re supporting more than just a business - you’re supporting a community of outdoor enthusiasts who want you to have the best adventure possible with great outdoor camping gear.