Rising Stars: Meet Brett Ellenson of Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett Ellenson.

Hi Brett, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The “Accidental” Beginning (2018) Boho Vans was born from a love of travel and the freedom that a van provides over a traditional RV. After a trip to Hawaii in 2018, the decision was made to build a camper van for personal use with the plan to rent it out occasionally. The “bittersweet” reality was that it gained immediate popularity, and was essentially never available for us to use! That demand pushed us to build more rentals, which quickly evolved into people asking to buy our custom designs.

The Shark Tank Milestone (2020)
In 2020, we took Boho Vans to Shark Tank and secured a deal with Barbara Corcoran, who remains a partner today. During the challenges of COVID-19, we leveraged our growth to give back, setting up a program to donate rental trips to first responders and medical personnel to help them find a mental break in nature.

Growth & Inclusivity Today
To date we have built close to 400 Camper vans and have completed 2000+ rental trips. We’ve been fortunate to see steady growth, allowing us to expand our offerings with new materials and off-grid technologies. A major point of pride for us is our work with the disability community; we focus on creating functional, comfortable ways for people with disabilities to experience traveling and camping.

Our Core Philosophy
Our goal is to listen more than we talk. By gaining a deep understanding of what our clients truly need, we ensure that every person who invests in a Boho Van receives tremendous value and a vessel for lifelong memories.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We’ve definitely hit our fair share of bumps in the road as our company history puts more miles behind it. No journey is ever a straight line, and for us, the biggest hurdles were the global supply chain disruptions over the last few years. During that period, we faced two major challenges. Extreme delays for essential products and van chassis were often stuck in transit for months, which forced us to become much more agile and creative with our production schedules. Also with unstable pricing, costs fluctuating wildly, we had to find a way to maintain our commitment to providing ‘tremendous value’ to our clients without compromising the quality of the build.

These obstacles were a true test of our resilience. It forced us to tighten our operations, vet our partners more closely, and fight for the business we love. We didn’t just survive those supply chain issues, we used them as a training ground to build a more stable, efficient company. We’ve learned that the bumps don’t define the trip, it’s how you navigate them that gets you to the destination.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As the owner of Boho Vans, I wear many hats. To be effective, I’ve learned to rely on my team to manage their specific areas of the business. This allows me to step back, look at the big picture, and make the most informed decisions possible for the company’s future.

I believe I’m known for my willingness to jump into the trenches and troubleshoot any problem, no matter how complex. I enjoy taking on the “not yet developed” concepts, the ideas that haven’t been figured out yet, and turning them into functional realities for our clients.

Without a doubt, I am most proud of the people I’ve surrounded myself with. Seeing their commitment and their drive toward our common goal is the most rewarding part of this journey. We’ve built a culture where everyone is as invested in the craft as I am.

If I had to narrow it down, it’s my ‘never give up’ mentality. Growing up with dyslexia made my formative years a significant struggle, but that challenge became my greatest gift. It taught me how to problem-solve differently, how to persevere when things get difficult, and how to find a path forward when one isn’t obvious. I’m truly grateful for those early struggles because they gave me the grit required to build and lead a company like Boho Vans.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I have a strong belief that our industry will continue to see robust growth over the next decade. The conversations we have with our clients every day show a clear shift in what travelers want. They are moving away from the ‘bigger is better’ mindset of traditional RVs and toward simplicity, and efficiency for true freedom in their travels.

The newest trends lean towards the “Experience’ Economy” and for us that means less time spent worrying about hookups and parking and more time experiencing their destination. Boho Vans’ focus on nimble, high-quality builds correlates directly with this desire for spontaneity. “Off-Grid Independence” is a growing demand for ‘smarter’ vans using advanced solar and lithium technology to allow people to stay out in nature longer without needing a traditional campsite. A Big one is “Nomadic Workforce”. We are seeing more people who aren’t just weekend warriors, but individuals who want a professional, high-quality space to live and work from anywhere.
The trend toward a simpler, more efficient way to travel gives me great confidence. At Boho Vans, we aren’t just following these trends; we’re building the vehicles that make them possible.

Pricing:

• Our Builds start around $40K and can go $135K+
• Typical Builds are around $77K
• Van Chassis range from $50K to $90K thats between Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.boho.life/
• Instagram: instagram.com/bohovans
• Facebook: facebook.com/bohovans
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bohovans
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/boho-camper-vans-tempe?uid=37DXB0PJjtMLo4JsGKv5uw&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
• Other: tiktok.com/@bohovans