RV Industry News
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| August 2003 | Volume 29 - Number 1 | |
RV Industry News | ||
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Monaco Makes $200,000 Pledge
This contribution will help the RV Learning Center begin the process of providing access to educational programs for RV retailers that will improve dealership employees' ability to provide outstanding customer service.
The RVDA Education Foundation's RV Learning Center is dedicated to providing dealers and their employees with new and innovative ways to operate RV dealerships, sharing proven methods and practices, and encouraging the highest professional standards for dealers of all sizes. RV Learning Center education programs will include distance learning, live workshops, online products, publications, and certification for RV dealership personnel. For more information on the Foundation's RV Learning Center visit www.rvlearningcenter. com, send an e-mail to info@rvda.org, or send a fax to at (703) 591-0734. According to Monaco Coach Corporation President John Nepute, "Monaco is proud to support the Learning Center. The RV industry has a bright future with tremendous potential, and enhancing our customers' retail experiences is a top priority for both manufacturers and dealers. The RV Learning Center provides the resources and expertise to raise the standard of service for all RVDA member dealers." Additionally, Jim Sheldon of Monaco will be assisting the RVDA Education Foundation with RV Learning Center fundraising, manufacturer relationship development, and curriculum generation. The RVDA Education Foundation is the educational arm of RVDA. Because the Foundation is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, donations to the Foundation may be tax deductible as charitable contributions. Headquartered in Coburg, Oregon, with additional manufacturing facilities in Indiana, Monaco Coach Corporation is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles. The company offers customers luxury recreational vehicle models under the Monaco, Holiday Rambler, Safari, Beaver, McKenzie and Royale Coach brand names. Roadtrek Celebrates Last Dodge
On June 25th, Home & Park Motorhomes held a celebration with their employees to mark completion of the last Dodge based Roadtrek Motorhome Van. It is being delivered to American RV, Roadtrek’s dealer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "The Dodge Ram full-size van has been the mainstay of Home & Park Motorhomes. Since 1974, we have built almost 13,000 Roadtreks on the Dodge van", stated Jeff Hanemaayer, Chairman and Owner. "Although the Dodge Ram has been a very reliable, well performing van, our production has shifted to two thirds Chevrolet since introducing our main model line on the newly designed Chevy Express van in 2002. Due to DaimlerChrysler’s decision to stop building the Dodge Ram vans, our output will be 100% Chevrolet from this day forward. Several weeks ago, I took one of the these new Chevy based Roadtrek models on a tour of the National Parks of the western United States and was thoroughly impressed by its driving performance and motorhome features." Home & Park Motorhomes manufactures the Roadtrek, the #1 selling class B motorhome (camper van) in North America (since 1990). For further information, visit www.roadtrek. com or contact Andrew Knowles, Director - Sales, Marketing & Service at 1- 888-ROADTREK (762-3873) or andrewk@roadtrek.com.
ARVC’s Insites Expanded to
Include
“We are pleased to be able to team up with the paddlesports industry to host a show and convention of this scale and magnitude,” said Linda Profaizer, ARVC president. “The tremendous growth of the outdoor hospitality industry means new products, new opportunities and new partnerships. Together, we can bring these exciting opportunities under one roof to the benefit of the entire industry.”
The joint convention and trade show will be branded Insites Parks and Paddles. Primary management responsibilities of the trade show remain with ARVC, who will oversee all registrations, exhibitor assignments, finances, and on-site management. The two organizations will also work together to ensure a compelling mix of educational seminars, keynote speakers, and other events that speak to the interests and issues of both organizations. “Insites has long been a cornerstone event of the outdoor hospitality industry, and we are thrilled to be able to join forces with ARVC to make it even better,” said Matt Menashes, Executive Director of PPA. “When key segments of the industry work together to create economies of scale, greater opportunities, and deeper reach and breadth, everybody wins. It’s good for the paddlesports industry as well as the RV parks and campgrounds, but most important, our consumers reap the benefits and the rewards.” ARVC, www.arvc.org, represents more than 3,600 commercial RV parks and campgrounds throughout the US and Canada. The association is located in Falls Church, Virginia. PPA, www.propaddle.com, represents more than 1300 paddlesports businesses, including canoe, kayak and raft rentals, retailers, liveries, outfitters, manufacturers, and distributors. The association is located in Springfield, Virginia. Thousand Trails Sold In early May it was announced that Kohlberg & Company, a private equity firm, agreed to buy Thousand Trails, Inc. for $113 million. Thousand Trails shareholders will receive $14.50 a share in cash. Thousand Trails, based in Frisco, TX was started in 1969 and has 112,000 members at 59 campgrounds in 17 states and British Columbia. Jerome Kohlberg started Kohlberg & Company with his son Jim after leaving Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company in 1987.
Coachmen’s American Home The Quarry, a planned residential community in Toledo, Ohio, marks the first phase of a new strategic business plan for All American Homes, LLC, according to Steve Kerr, President of the Fort Wayne, INbased Company. All American Homes is a subsidiary of Coachmen Industries (NYSE: COA). Working with a developer, Kerr said the Company will sell the lots and build the 58 homes to go on them. Already widely recognized and respected for the systems-built homes they construct on rural and/or scattered lots, becoming a subdivision homebuilder is viewed as a logical component of the Company’s long-range growth plans. “We want to change the way our Company is viewed. We’re known as an ‘on-your-lot’ builder of high quality homes, and this is the first step towards building entire subdivisions, planned communities and other large homebuilding projects. We plan to become more aggressive in the market, and provide more opportunities for homeowners to enjoy the quality and cost advantages of systems-built homes,” said Kerr. In The Quarry, Kerr said All American Homes will build single-family homes that will fall into the $199,000 to $350,000 retail price range, depending on the extent of customization chosen by each homeowner. The Company will offer five different floor plans ranging from 1600 sq. ft to 2400 sq. ft., including two ranch models, two two-story models and a Cape Cod model. In addition, each floor plan will have a choice of three different “looks” for the front of the home. For information contact Jack Julo, Director of Business Development, All American Homes, Phone 260-724-8044, email: jjulo@allamericanhomes.com.
The 2004 ExcelRT
One of the fastest-growing categories in the RV industry is the “trekking unit” — an RV designed for extended live-in use and rough road travel. Peterson Industries, Inc., maker of the well-respected Excel fifth wheel RV, has brought its knack for design and engineering innovation to the brand new ExcelRT (Excel RV Trekker) line — a lineup of trekker RVs. Excel engineers and designers have designed the ExcelRT with the kind of rugged features that keep you comfortable over the rough and tumble back roads that mark the trekking experience. The ExcelRT has a tougher exterior, heavy duty box tube frame, and well-built interior to stand up to the rigors of trekking. It also sports features that appeal to trekkers — like a large shower and generator box. The ExcelRT is available in models that include two and three slide-outs. The 28TRW features twin recliners and a walkthrough bath in the popular 28-foot length. The 30PKE is highlighted by Excel’s innovative peninsula kitchen, and has an enclosed bath; and the 32SKW features a spacious slide-out kitchen and walk-through bath. All three RT models feature Excel’s popular bay window. Peterson Industries has been manufacturing RVs since 1966 that are sold by a dealer network that stretches from coast to coast. Lazydays Achieves Best June Ever Lazydays RV Super-Center, the nation’s leading RV dealer, delivered 778 RVs in June resulting in total revenue of approximately $60,000,000 during its I-4 Tent Sale. This represents a 33.9% improvement over prior year and a record month for June throughout the entire 27-year history of the dealership. “Our record sales for the month of June come on the heels of setting a record for the month of May. I am very pleased that these positive sales trends are continuing into the summer, which is traditionally a slow period for us. I attribute this excellent performance to the focus of our employee-owners on our number one goal of making customers for life,” says Lazydays’ Founder and CEO, Don Wallace. Winnebago Expands Hardwoods Facility Winnebago Industries, Inc. has announced the expansion of the Company's Hardwoods Facility in Charles City, Iowa. Construction will begin this month to add an additional 37,500 square feet to the facility. Fifty additional employees will be needed within the Hardwoods Facility when the expansion project is complete. This new addition will facilitate the increased demand for solid wood residential style cabinetry within the Company's new motor homes. Winnebago Industries introduced its new 2004 models to the Company's dealers July 27 - 30, 2003 in Las Vegas. The new addition to the Hardwoods Facility will include automated equipment such as computer numerically controlled routers and automatic chop saws, saws, emphasizing Winnebago Industries' focus on technology to continually improve quality and productivity. Also new to the existing Hardwoods Facility are a large cabinet frame finish system and a 3,000 square foot state-of-the-art stain mixer room, both of which went into operation early in July. Total cost for the addition and updates to the current Hardwoods Facility is approximately $3.9 million.
Advanced Air Hitch to Craig Kaplenski, President of Advanced Air Hitch, announced the signing of an agreement to expand the marketing of Advanced Air Hitch products to a national network of distributors and dealers. “After successfully completing the design and development of our new generation of hitch technology, it is now time to roll our products out in a national marketing effort,” said Kaplenski. “The success of our products and their acceptance in the market place has been outstanding. To accelerate our growth of market share and to introduce our products to the widest possible audience, it is time for a national marketing program.” “Our agreement with Continuous Solutions, Inc. will build a national network of distributors and dealers in 2003 and 2004. By 2004 we will be expanding rapidly into international markets,” he continued. “I would like to thank all of you who have been supportive of our efforts to develop this revolutionary air hitch technology. I especially want to thank all of you who have purchased Advanced Air Hitch products and who have helped us prove that AAH hitches are simply the finest technology available. AAH will continue to stay in contact with AAH hitch users and other interested parties through periodic email updates.” For more information on becoming a distributor or dealer, visit www.csi4biz.com/Advanced AirHitch.htm, call 407-566- 0798 or email lstegemann@csi4biz.com.
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