Our Team

Throughout 2010, we will be introducing you to the various people within our business to give an insight into our Vango World. You will meet the people who shape the future of Vango.


The Vango team are passionate individuals who care about Vango, our products, customers and great service. If you would like to join our company, please visit our Careers section to look at current vacancies or submit your CV.


Now, let us introduce Martin Jones, Product Manager for Vango and Force Ten. Martin designs the tents and sleeping bags which are perfect for winter camping. He looks after the Lightweight, Mountain Lite, Mountain and F10 tents along with the Travel, Lightweight and Mountain sleeping bags.

Martin is 25 and lives in the Inverclyde area of Scotland, less than a 5 minute drive from our Head Office. Passionate about all aspects of outdoor life, he has been a Scout leader for 7 years and regularly goes hill walking and camping.

So firstly, how long have you been working with Vango?
I’ve worked in the product department since October 2006 but before that I worked as a temp helping out when I was at university, doing various bits and pieces.

Describe a typical day in the Vango office…
Well, there’s never a dull day in the Vango office!  Of course, it all depends on the time of the year.  During the winter and spring we concentrate on design and development.  This could include market research, choosing colours, testing and amending prototypes and samples, and many other tasks.  We present the following year’s range to our sales team in early summer and before that the office is manic.  After that comes an intense period of organising and attending trade shows in Germany and the Midlands.

What qualifications / experience do you need to be able to work as a product manager?
My colleagues and I have a variety of different qualifications.  I have a manufacturing engineering background while others have studied fashion design, banking or politics.  We’re a varied bunch of people.  The most important thing is to be passionate and have a love of the outdoors, whether it be camping, caravanning or walking.

What do you like most about your role?
Seeing a product that I have designed being developed from the drawing board, to a sample, to a page in our annual workbook and then onto production and into shops.

Where do you get design inspiration from?
No one place really, it’s important to keep your eyes, and ears, open to what the market is looking for.  Feedback from retailers and consumers can never be undervalued when designing new kit.  However, some designs can come from frustration.

For example, I once saw somebody trying to put up a tent, but putting a pole into the wrong sleeve.  This led to me designing a prototype lightweight tent with three identical poles which could be fed into any sleeve.  The tent was then used, abused, wind tunnel tested and sent to someone for an independent test.  Feedback from all of these tests was combined and the Halo from out Lightweight tent range was born and subsequently approved by the DofE for the Recommended Kit List.

Do you go camping?
Yes, I’ve been camping since I was young.  The West of Scotland is a fantastic place for lightweight camping: waking up to see the morning mist burning off in the sun, with a mountainous backdrop behind, is absolutely perfect.  I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else on days like that.  Of course, there were many family holidays around Britain and France when I was younger too.

So, where is your favourite place to camp?
The Knapdale peninsula, overlooking the Isle of Jura on the West coast of Scotland, is stunning.  It is, however, quite remote, the B8025 road has seen so little use that there’s grass in the middle about a foot high!  Seals and dolphins can be seen in the Sound of Jura and there are sheltered bays for jumping in for a (cold) swim.  However the exposed location dictates that a strong tent is required.  I’ve been a scout leader for 7 years, so can be found at the local scout campsite quite often too.

Tell us about your favourite camping experience?
Back in 2008 a friend and I walked the Tour of Mont Blanc, a circular route through Switzerland, France and Italy which takes about 10 days to complete. I’d recommend the route to anyone looking for a bit of long distance walking during the summer months.  We took a Vango Spirit 200 tent which was just the right size for two people and 40 litre rucsacs.

If you didn’t work as a product manager, what do you think you would be doing instead?
Difficult to say really, but I’ve always loved being outdoors so that would have to be involved somehow.

And finally…what would you choose as your favourite product of 2010?
I’ve got a new Shuttle 60 travel bag on loan which has already seen a lot of use, either chucked in the back of the car or taken on board a few flights.  Definitely a winner for me!

 

 
 

Shelter Box

footer_shelterbox
ShelterBox and Vango work together to continually develop equipment

Duke of Edinburgh's Award


Vango and Trangia products have been tested and recommended by The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Trangia


The obvious choice for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a storm proof stove.

Latest News

ShelterBox Dartmoor Challenge
09.09.10

Vango pitches in to support 2010 ShelterBox Dartmoor Challenge

 

At Vango we are proud of the strong relationship we have developed with the humanitarian aid charity ShelterBox.

 

The charity’s mission is to deliver immediate relief to victims of natural and other disasters anywhere around the world. The ShelterBox is a green plastic container packed with essential living equipment, including a Vango tent, all encompassing winter kits and Trangia stoves, to enable quick and effective shelter for victims.

 

As with all charities, ShelterBox needs assistance from the public to raise funds and awareness for its work and events are a key tool in achieving this. The 2010 ShelterBox Dartmoor Challenge, which takes place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September 2010, will be a unique opportunity for participants to promote ShelterBox and generate some crucial fundraising for the cause.

 

The Dartmoor Challenge is over 30 miles long and is a timed hike that involves self-navigating from check point to check point across Dartmoor, whilst carrying a 40kg ShelterBox. Participants will complete the challenge in groups of four and will find that all the equipment they need to safely complete the Challenge is stored in the green ShelterBox. Teams are encouraged to come up with innovative ways to carry their ShelterBox, however, to protect the environment, they are not allowed to roll the boxes on any form of wheel.

 

Winners of the Challenge will receive a selection of fantastic products from Vango’s award-winning 2010 range, including a Green Bean 350 (a versatile tunnel tent which features a huge porch area-perfect for storage), a Pumori 60+10 rucsac (ideal for walking/hiking expeditions that will challenge you to the extreme), a Wilderness 350 sleeping bag (will keep you warm on cold nights) and a pair of Classic Walking Poles (essential for uneven terrain).

 

The charity is hoping that each team will raise a minimum of £1,000. The funds will be spent purchasing essential equipment and transporting  the ShelterBoxes to where they are needed the most.

 

ShelterBox teams are currently deployed to a number of worldwide locations that have been hit by natural disaster, including Pakistan, Brazil and Guatemala. In the past they have responded to over 72 disasters, including the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami and 2008 China Earthquake. To find out more about the charity and how you can help please visit www.shelterbox.org.

 

 

 
 
Vacancies within AMG
02.06.10

If you are passionate about the outdoors, are a fan of the Vango brand and would be interested in working with our team of outdoor specialists, then check out our latest vacancies on our Careers page.

 
 
Vango Climber Reaches Top of the World
26.05.10

 


Ed (left) with climbing partner.

 

Vango, the UK’s leading camping and outdoor brand, are delighted to announce that their sponsored climber, Ed Laughton, has reached the summit of Mt. Everest.  He is only one of 2,500 climbers who have managed the arduous climb to the top of the world’s highest mountain.

To support Ed on his adventure, Vango donated a range of items from their 2010 product range, including; a Force Ten Vortex 300 tent, a Pumori 60+10 rucsac, Viper sleeping bag and 90l Cargo bag. These products kept Ed warm and sheltered from the challenging conditions that he faced on the mountain.

Ed currently volunteers with the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), a not-for-profit organisation that provides vital medical care for both western trekkers and the local Nepalese population. Along with the HRA clinics in local Nepalese towns, there are also 2 clinics on the Everest base camp that minister emergency medical care to those coming off of the mountain. Ed undertook the challenge in order to raise awareness of the work that the HRA does and to fundraise as much money as possible for the clinics.



Ed was highly impressed with the design and quality of the products that Vango donated;
"Both myself and a number of others here on Everest have been genuinely impressed with the quality of Vango and Force Ten products and how they have performed in incredibly tough conditions. The Vortex 300 is a seriously fantastic tent that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to friends, in fact the owner of the expedition company has decided to invest in several himself. Having met the staff and seen the gear in action it is clear that Vango and Force Ten have the user in mind at all times when designing their products. Even the smaller kit such as the solar lantern has been a big hit. I lent it to our cook and he was so impressed with it I have had to come to accept that I've no chance of getting it back”.

Vango’s Marketing Manager, Sharon Mason, is delighted that Ed managed to complete his challenge:
“Since its inception, Vango has supported many adventures and expeditions that challenge the participant to the extreme. The Mt. Everest climb is no different and I am delighted that Ed has reached his goal. All of us at Vango are looking forward to hearing about his challenging adventure when he comes back to the UK.”

For more information regarding the Himalayan Rescue Association, please visit www.himalayanrescue.org or for more information regarding Ed’s challenge, email marketing@vango.co.uk.