Big Bear Outdoor is a family-run leisure hire business, based in Brigstock, set up by Kate & Ian Simpson. They cover Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, offering a large range of roof boxes, cycle racks, bike boxes, horse boxes, tents and trailers for hire, so that you and your family and friends can enjoy great outdoor experiences at a sensible price. Why spend a fortune buying a quality product that you then have to store for most of the year, when you can hire conveniently and cost effectively from Big Bear Hire?
The idea for Big Bear Outdoor was borne out of ‘life-changing’ events. Just over three years ago, Kate lost both her father and sister to cancer within the short space of three months. Little did she realise that she would later be diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and fighting for her life too less than two years later. By then, their youngest daughter, Chloe, had just turned two and Emma was eight.
Kate spent the next five months as an inpatient in an Oxford hospital undergoing very intensive chemotherapy and the next six months building herself back up again. It was during this time that Ian and Kate decided they wanted to do things differently. They realised how precious life is, and working long hours in the corporate world and commuting each day had lost its appeal. They wanted more time with their children and to realise a dream of owning and running their own business locally. They had a great blend of skills between them: Kate with a retail background and Ian a banker and born entrepreneur!
It was Kate & Ian’s own experience of needing ‘outdoor/ leisure’ items, especially as the family grew with the addition of children and dogs, but also friends telling them what they needed and wanted that initially inspired them to hire out items. Due to customer demand, they now also sell high-quality outdoor and leisure items and service them as well, and business is booming!
Looking back at the last few years, Kate & Ian agree that life indeed has an incredible way of working out: that all these amazing ‘life-changing’ events have happened for a reason and have been instrumental in turning their dream of owning their own successful business into a reality. Big Bear Outdoor is a Thule, Brenderup and Cheval Liberté stockist and a member of NTTA (National Trailer and Towing Association). Kate & Ian’s vision is very clear and all about quality and convenience. They will deliver to your home or place of work at a time that is convenient to you. They know all too well how precious time is and want to make things as easy and as simple as they can for you.
For bookings and enquiries, please visit www.bigbearoutdoor.co.uk or call 033 33 22 44 55 (local rate). Big Bear Outdoor is offering readers of Village Connect a 10% discount with a mention of this article.
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