The travel startup Camperboys, founded in 2016 by Paul Pizzinini and Andreas Mall, has undergone a rebrand and now operates under the name “Off”. According to the Munich-based company, the name change was not driven by external circumstances such as economic necessity, shitstorms, or internal restructuring. Instead, they want to become more inclusive and not exclude anyone with the new name. The team has grown since its founding seven years ago and now consists of over 150 employees according to the company. The name Camperboys did not reflect this diversity. Co-founder Paul Pizzinini explains:
“We want the sentence ‘But you’re not a boy’ to no longer exclude anyone.”
Off instead of online
The new company name is also intended to refocus camping on the essence of ‘being outdoors’. Off explains in an official statement:
“Unwind, spend time in nature, and have adventures. Being off has never been more important than now. In our everyday lives, we’re always online, always reachable, always scheduled to the minute – what better way to break this pattern than with an Off camping trip into nature?”
On social media platforms like Instagram, the rebrand is not universally welcomed in the comments. Some users regard the old name as more authentic. There are also concerns raised about SEO and brand positioning challenges posed by the new, more generic name. Others, meanwhile, congratulate the company on what they consider a successful brand rebrand.
Seven-figure funding boost
At the beginning of the year, Off – then still Camperboys – secured fresh capital in the seven-figure range through a minority investment by the Helvetia Venture Fund. The investment was intended to drive the company’s expansion. Currently, Off’s rental fleet consists of around 800 campervans according to the company’s own information, which can be rented from stations in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Main), Halle, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, and Weilheim (Teck). Additionally, the company is working on a digital customer journey to make route planning easier for its customers with the personal Off Guide.
