RV Industry News
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| August 2004 | Volume 30 - Number 1 | |
RV Industry News | ||
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Hall of Fame Class of 2004 to be Inducted this Month The board of Directors of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation has announced that the RV/MH Hall of Fame class of 2004 will be inducted at a gala dinner and ceremony in Elkhart, Indiana on Monday, August 2, 2004. Those to be inducted, at the invitation only program which will bring approximately 400 RV and manufactured housing industry leaders to Elkhart’s Matterhorn Restaurant, include:
The RV/MH Heritage Foundation, founded in 1972, has honored over 250 industry leaders from all aspects of the RV and manufactured housing industries with induction into the RV/MH Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame, located in Elkhart, Indiana, includes a public museum of industry products dating from 1913 and a library containing the world’s largest collection of industry related literature. For more information contact the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, 801 Benham Ave. Elkhart, IN 46516, telephone 574-293-2344. Blue Ox Introduces Tow Bar Trade In Program
Consumers now have the opportunity to get something back when they trade their used tow bar into a new Aventa II or Aladdin tow bar. Any tow bar – any brand - is eligible to trade in for the program. This program is designed to allow consumers to use their current tow bar as a method in reducing their cost when looking at a new system. “The average RVer buys or trades their towed vehicle every 2 to 3 years. The average RVer buys or trades coaches every 5 to 6 years. The problem is the average RVer still has the same tow bar they started with or at least have owned their current bar longer than one or both of their vehicles” says Mark Penlerick, Blue Ox Engineering Team Leader. When you buy a new tow car, you trade – why not your tow bar? Blue Ox encourages consumers to consider trading as a means to keep their towing system up to date. For more information on the Blue Ox tow bar trade-in program and complete line of Blue Ox® towing, braking, steering controls, and weight distributing hitch systems, carriers, and accessories, contact Blue Ox®, One Mill Rd., PO Box P, Pender NE 68047; phone (402) 385-3051; Fax (402) 385-3360; e-mail info@blueox.us RV Tech Training Program Wins “Florida’s Best” Award
The award was presented to the FRVTA at a luncheon held at the Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World on Friday, June 18. Representing the RV Satellite Program were FRVTA Executive Director Lance Wilson, FRVTA President Frank Crum, Training Director Jim Carr, Lynn Rejniak from the University of South Florida, Dr. Chuck Hall from Lake City Community College (LCCC) and On-air training coordinator Steve Roddy. This program grew out of the need for trained RV technicians. RV dealers and service centers could not afford the cost or time to send their technicians to factory and/or industry sponsored training clinics. LCCC formed a partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) to provide satellite uplink capability and broadcast studio support. The recent training program that ended on July 9th was the fifth 40-week satellite broadcasting session. The distance learning, satellite-delivered RV service training program has successfully trained and certified over 600 technicians and anticipate another 300+ being certified at the July test date. For more information about the Satellite Technician Training Program, contact Jim Carr at the FRVTA State Office, 800-330- 7882. Dan Gamel’s RV Centers Commits to Fleetwood
“Dan Gamel’s RV Centers is one of the industry’s leading high-volume dealerships and we are very excited to expand our current business relationship,” said Dan Martin, Vice President of Sales and Service for Fleetwood RV. “For many years, he has delivered tremendous results and we look forward to supporting him in the future success at all of his RV centers.” Dan Gamel has sold Fleetwood RVs since 1982, winning numerous dealer awards, including the highly coveted “Circle of Excellence” award as well as the industry’s dealer of the year award. Dan Gamel is currently Fleetwood’s largest multi-location dealer. “Fleetwood is the largest manufacturer of quality products in the world, and we are thrilled to be an exclusive dealer,” said Dan Gamel, owner of Dan Gamel’s RV Centers. “Their commitment to supporting the growth of our industry with innovative products and superior customer service is unmatched and are great assets as we continue to expand our business.” Dan Gamel RV Centers’ in Chico, Fresno, Modesto, Morgan Hill, Redding and Rocklin dominate the northern and central California RV markets. Recently, Gamel opened his eighth RV center in Yuma, AZ. Florida RV Supershow Named to top 200 Shows The Florida RV Trade Association's (FRVTA) Florida RV SuperShow has been named to Tradeshow Week's top 200 largest tradeshows in the United States for the eighth straight year. 200, the 2003 Florida RV SuperShow ranked number 16. The RVIA Louisville Show is ranked number 12 and the Pennsylvania RV & Camping Show is ranked number 11. "We're happy to get the recognition," said FRVTA Executive Director Lance Wilson. "The FRVTA is committed to making the Florida RV SuperShow not only the largest but the most profitable and successful show for our exhibitors, and the 2005 SuperShow is already looking like another record breaker." The 2005 Florida RV SuperShow will be held at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. Industry Day is Tuesday, January 11th with Public Days running Wednesday, January 12th through Sunday, January 16th. For more information on exhibiting or attending the 2005 Florida RV SuperShow, contact the FRVTA State Office at 401 N. Parsons Avenue, Suite 107, Brandon, FL 33510 or call (813) 684-7882 or visit www.frvta.org. Don Wallace Named Entrepreneur Of The Year Don Wallace, founder and CEO of Lazydays RV Center, the nation’s number one recreational vehicle dealer, was named Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” for 2004. The award was presented to the founders of eight companies in the state of Florida. Mr. Wallace won in the Consumer Products and Services category. “It is a great honor to accept this distinguished award,” said Don Wallace. “I consider myself to be truly blessed to live in this wonderful country, which afforded me the opportunity to build a company like Lazydays. I also want to thank the 675 talented and dedicated employees of Lazydays who work so hard every day making Customers For Life.” Coast Distribution Posts 20% Sales Gain in 1st Quarter Net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 increased 20% to $48,697,000 from $40,631,000. Operating income increased 55% to $2,713,000 from $1,746,000 in 2003. Net earnings in the first quarter this year were $1,459,000, or $0.30 per share, as compared to $836,000 or $0.19 per share in the same quarter of 2003. “I would be less than candid if I didn’t tell you that the entire Coast team is proud to report these results. We can never know with any certainty what may be around the corner, but we can tell you that we’re committed to continued improvement in all areas of our business. 2004 should be a good year for Coast,” stated Thomas R. McGuire, Chairman of the Board. Lazydays Named #1 Carriage Dealer Nationwide Lazydays RV SuperCenter (“Lazydays”), the nation’s number one RV dealer was recognized by Carriage, Inc. as the #1 Carriage dealer in the nation for model year 2004. This is the fifth consecutive year that Lazydays has had record-breaking performance in all Carriage product lines. “Lazydays has represented Carriage for over a decade and is a vital partner in our dealership network,” said Dave Lawson, Carriage VP of Sales and Marketing. “We are proud to be part of their winning team.” In addition to the #1 Carriage dealer award, Lazydays received the C.T. Yoder dealer award for the third consecutive year. The C.T. Yoder award is highly recognized throughout the industry for the philosophy from which it was derived. To qualify, a dealership must possess and utilize the highest business values of honesty, integrity and taking care of customers. Harrah’s Casino Drives Modern-Day Services into New RV Park Modern amenities are no longer exclusive to high-end luxury hotels. This summer, Harrah’s Prairie Band Casino is providing travelers with everything they need to transform their recreational vehicle into well-equipped resort accommodations. Harrah’s Prairie Band Casino is located just 15-minutes north of Topeka, Kansas. Harrah’s will open the area’s first stateof- the-art RV Park on August 1. The new professionally landscaped facility is surrounded by Las Vegas-style entertainment. The park will be available to patrons all year round. Harrah’s Prairie Band RV Park, which features paved interior roads, will offer 67 easy pull-through spaces with power and septic hook-ups. The area contains two shower facilities and laundry capabilities, as well as 24-hour security. The facility boasts optional cable TV, phone and high-speed Internet access. Guests staying in the park also can benefit from the 24-hour Shuttle Service to and from the casino. People can begin to book their spots by calling 1-877- 2RVPARK. "Harrah's new RV park will allow our customers to experience Las Vegas-style action and entertainment while enjoying the familiar surroundings of their recreational vehicles," said Patrick Browne, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's Prairie Band. "By combining the best aspects of a high-end resort with the comfort of home, we're offering our visitors a truly unique vacation experience.” Harrah’s Prairie Band has more than 1,000 slots, including penny and nickel machines. It offers a large selection of table games such as Blackjack, Craps and Roulette as well as daily poker tournaments. The 12,000 sq. ft. convention center and meeting spaces are equipped with full catering and banquet service. Dining offerings include a large selection of international foods and traditional classics, along with special themed night dinner buffets in the Fresh Market Square Buffet and a high-end steakhouse. Harrah’s also offers Fresh Market Express - open 24 hours a day for those who are looking for a quick snack. More information about Harrah's is available at www.harrahs.com. Carriage, Inc. 2005 New Product Show Exceeds Expectations Pheasant Run Resort & Spa, located in St. Charles, IL, played host to Carriage, Inc., for its 2005 New Product Show, June 17th- 19th 2004. New product design and new decors were featured along with a short premier for the new Royals International, to be unveiled in December at the Louisville Show. Thursday, dealers and several suppliers/ vendors were greeted at an evening reception to review product. Friday was business, while spouses enjoyed a day of shopping in Chicago. The evening ended with dinner and a show. Saturday was a day of fun which ended with an awards banquet and evening with “Lady Luck” at the “Carriage Casino.” Several awards were presented which included; the C.T. Yoder Award, presented to Lazy Days RV Super Center, for Quality, Integrity, Service, and Performance. The Len Ropp Award was presented to Marshall’s RV for Outstanding Service, and the Chairman’s Award was presented to Giant RV for being a Valued Partner. Carriage staff personnel were also presented with awards, they were, Len Ropp (Salesman of the Year) and Scott Kolves (Presidents Award). “Sales were up 20% from the 2004 Show” according to Dave Lawson, VP Sales/Marketing. Dealers were upbeat about the new décor colors, floor plans, and presentation of the new 2005 product. “The 2005 New Carriage Product is by far some of the best product to come from Carriage, they continue to be the top in their class, with innovative floor-plans and design” stated Ken Stumpe, Lazy Days Super Center. Six new floor plans were introduced, including, two each for the Compass and Cameo LXI lines, as well as, one each for Carri-lite and Carriage. Highlights for the Compass and Cameo lines were the 35 SKQ (Sunken Kitchen Quad), a rear kitchen emphasized floor plan. Carriage, Inc., which revealed the first five-slide fifth wheel at Louisville in 2002, which is still unmatched today, introduced the Carri-Lite SLX5 (Sunken Living Room 5 Slide), the sunken living concept, with a rear entertainment area, with French doors separating the living room and kitchen area. The new Carriage floor plan, which features a new bed/bath area, complete with an island vanity, and a floor to ceiling mirror positioned on the reverse side of the vanity. Segway LLC Recruiting RV Dealers for National Network Segway LLC today announced that in response to growing use of its Segway Human Transporters (HTs) by RV enthusiasts, the company is recruiting RV dealers to join its expanding U.S. sales network. Segway LLC is recruiting qualified RV dealers to distribute, market and sell the company’s line of products in major metropolitan markets.
"The Segway HT is the perfect transportation complement to the RV lifestyle,” said Gary Pietruszewski, vice president of North American sales and customer support. “We’ve received enthusiastic feedback from RV owners about the versatility and ease-of-use of the Segway HT, and we are eager to establish relationships with successful dealers who can present the fun and excitement of our products to the RV community.” Segway LLC is seeking RV dealer partners who can provide the appropriate management, capital, facilities and local marketing capabilities to represent the Segway brand. RV dealers who wish to be considered for the program are encouraged to contact Bill Stone, Director of Commercial Sales, at 1-866-4SEGWAY. Segway LLC is a Manchester, NH based business founded by renowned inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen to provide alternative fuel solutions to short-distance travel. The company has created the Segway™ Human Transporter (HT), the first self-balancing, electric-powered transporter designed to enhance the productivity of people by increasing the distance they can travel and the amount they can carry. For additional information about Segway and to find dealer or rental locations, please visit www.segway.com. Tucci Engineering’s Planned
Hotrod RV
Tucci Engineering is currently building one of the first true Hotrod RVs. Several companies are involved and totally sponsoring the project. Among them are Onan Generators, PPG Paint, Alutex Awning Systems, Mauro's Glass, and Avanti Home Entertainment. Above is a rendering of the Hotrod RV. Tucci is looking for RV shows and events that are willing to display the Hotrod, which will be finished in September, as a feature vehicle. If you have any contacts contact David P. Tucci Sr. at 888-TEI-RODS or visit http://www.tuccihotrods.com. Safety Vision Announces Acquisition of OPV and Entry into Police Video Market Safety Vision is pleased to announce its entry into the law enforcement mobile video industry with its asset purchase of On Patrol Video (OPV) out of Ontario, OH. “It’s a tongue-and-groove fit,” explains Bruce Smith, President & CEO of Safety Vision, “when you consider the close match up of products offered and industries served.” For nearly a dozen years, Safety Vision has provided total mobile video solutions, including rear- and side-vision cameras as well as digital and analog recording systems. They enjoy a solid standing in public service industries, most notably in fire and government fleets. And OPV had been providing police departments with in-car video systems for about 15 years. Says Smith, “OPV’s rugged yet officer friendly systems have consistently won points for reliability and ease of installation. With our acquisition of these desirable assets, Safety Vision now offers unmatched breadth and professionalism in the mobile vision marketplace.” Safety Vision is the largest manufacturer and distributor of mobile vision and surveillance equipment in North America. Contact 1-800-880-8855 or visit www.safetyvision.com. Blue Ox teams with Driver Ward Burton for Charity Pheasant Hunt
Blue Ox and Ward Burton are partnering to raise money for the Ward Burton Foundation and a children’s charity. On November 3rd Ward Burton will head to the prime hunting land of South Dakota for a 2-day event. The hunt will include one day of hunting on the 3rd followed by a banquet with Ward Burton, then another day of hunting on the 4th. This opportunity is limited to 100 people with a charitable contribution of $1000 per person. Half of the proceeds will be given to the Ward Burton Foundation. Their mission is to promote an awareness of the need for wildlife conservation, habitat enhancement, and proper stewardship of our natural resources through preservation and education. The other half will be given to a children’s charity that will be chosen by Ward Burton. “South Dakota is the place to be if you enjoy pheasant hunting, anyone who decides to join us will not be disappointed”, says Jay Hesse, president of Blue Ox. “We’re looking forward to an exciting 2 days; the most important issue is knowing that the proceeds will go towards preserving our land and caring for our children.” If anyone would like to join Ward Burton and Blue Ox, please contact Blue Ox directly at (402) 385-3051 or e-mail laurapenlerick@ blueox.us. Blue Ox has teamed up with Ward Burton, driving the “0” NetZero, Monte Carlo and Bristol Motor Speedway sponsoring the Blue Ox Campground, where each “neighborhood” road is named after a Blue Ox product. Jayco’s Expandable Dinette Featured on 2005 Jay Flight
Jayco® Inc. has announced that it will offer an expandable dinette feature on 2005 Jay Flight™ and Eagle™ travel trailers and fifth wheels equipped with a super slide-out. The expandable dinette was first introduced in 2004 as an option on one Jay Flight model and soon became a customer favorite. “The expandable dinette was pretty well accepted when it was introduced,” said Paul Gardner, senior product manager for Jayco. “Families appreciate the feature because it allows for more dining space. Parents are able to sit at the table with their kids instead of having to eat their meals on the sofa.” The expandable dinette feature adds an extra 20 inches of usable space, for a total dinette area of 62 x 72 inches. Potomac RV Produces 500th Unit Potomac RV celebrated as the 500th unit rolled off their assembly line. The milestone unit was their recently introduced 5435 RLES quad-slide floorplan. “We are extremely excited to see the 500th unit produced in just a little over one year of production,” states Jim Johnson, President of Potomac RV. “The 500th unit roll-off is consistent with our business plan of controlled growth that allows us to maintain our high quality standards and to serve our dealers and customers.” Incorporated in October of 2002, Potomac began shipping units in February of 2003. Potomac’s lineup of travel trailers and fifth wheels quickly gained the reputation as a high-quality product with a residential feel at extremely competitive prices. “Our vision since day one has been to provide a quality product backed by a level of service and responsiveness unlike anything in the industry. Seeing the 500th unit roll out of our plant, is a testimony to Potomac’s employees and their commitment to that vision,” add Johnson. Canadian Football League Ottawa Renegades Receive a New Roadtrek Community Cruiser
Home & Park Motorhomes delivered to the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League a new 2004 Roadtrek 190-Versatile class B motorhome (camper van) featuring a unique team graphic package. This Roadtrek, based on the 3500 Chevrolet Express van, displays the logo of the team along with those of the CFL, Grey Cup and includes a full size image of the Renegades Quarterback Kerry Joseph in action. The Ottawa Renegades/Roadtrek Community Cruiser will be on display during all home games at the Frank Clair Stadium and at all away games in the Eastern Conference. TheRenegade/Roadtrek will be a regular sight in the Ottawa area attending charity events, tailgating activities and team promotions. “We're thrilled to have the Renegades/ Roadtrek Community Cruiser as part of our marketing plan for the 2004 season and for the 2004 Grey Cup. It's a wonderful vehicle that has already caught the attention of people all across Ottawa", commented Brad Watters, President of the Ottawa Renegades. “This partnership is a new direction for Roadtrek. It allows us to broaden our market reach and penetration allowing new generations to understand what Roadtrek is all about. With the introduction of our 30th Anniversary Silver Special Edition earlier this model year we have had people of all ages very excited about the new look of Roadtrek. The Renegades/Roadtrek is a logical next step in positioning our product as an excellent RV or second vehicle choice. We are very excited about this partnership and look forward to forging new relationships and finding new potential customers”, stated Andrew Knowles, Director – Sales & Marketing, Home & Park Motorhomes. 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 at 1-888-ROADTREK (762-3873) or andrewk@roadtrek.com. Newmar Honors Customer Service Award Winners Newmar Corporation honored Customer Service Award winners in June at its annual Dealer Seminar. Two different types of awards were given to those dealers who excelled in different areas of Customer Service over the past year. The first award presented was the Customer Service Champion Award. This award was presented to dealers who scored in a pre-determined percentile based on results from customer surveys. Twenty-six Newmar dealers earned this coveted award by providing excellent customer service to Newmar customers receiving warranty work. The 2004 award winners are: American RV & Marine, Anthony, TX; Ansley RV, Duncansville, PA; Beggs RV Center, North Canton, OH; Bob’s Camper & RV Inc., Williamstown, MA; Camper Coaches RVs, Lubbock, TX; Capital RV Center, Bismarck, ND; Coachlight RV Sales, Carthage, MO; Dave’s Claremore RV, Claremore, OK; Dave’s RV Center, Danbury, CT; Farber Motors, Columbus, OH; Harold’s RV Center, Bath, PA; Harper Camperland, Great Bend, KS; Herold Trailer Sales, Indianola, IA; Horn’s RV Center, Sheboygan, WI; Howard RV Center, Wilmington, NC; Independence RV Sales, Winter Garden, FL; Leisure Tyme RV, Mary Esther, FL; Midtown RV LTD, Penticton, BC; Midway Motor Homes, Grand Rapids, MI; Modern Trailer Sales, Grand Rapids, MI; Mountain Road, Sabattus, ME; North Trail RV Center, Fort Myers, FL; Outdoor Living Center, Russellville, AR; Rich & Son’s Camper Sales, Grand Island, NE; Stenzel’s Campers, Elmore, MN; and Walker Trailer Sales, Nora Springs, IA. “Newmar feels this award is important because we value how our mutual customers are treated and that the service experience is a positive one,” said Newmar’s Vice President of Service Operations, Matt Utley. “Naturally, our goal is for our customer's not to require warranty service, but when they do we want it to be as pleasant of an experience as possible. The Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) helps us monitor this. The goal is not the CSI score itself or simply customer satisfaction, but CEE, Customer's Expectations Exceeded. We are pleased that twenty-six dealers have received this award and we look forward to awarding an even greater number next year.” Newmar also recognized three dealers with a Transient Customer Service Award. This award is given to dealers who have gone above and beyond in providing excellent customer service to transient customers. Transient customers are those customers who did not buy their RV from the servicing dealer, but are in the area and are in need of service work. Those winners include Independence RV Sales and Service, Winter Garden, FL; North Trail RV Center, Fort Myers, FL; and Wheeler’s Las Vegas RV, Las Vegas, NV. “This award is given to encourage dealers to service all Newmar customers regardless of where the coach was purchased, which is a requirement to be a Newmar dealer,” added Utley. Fleetwood RV and Caterpillar Team Up to Offer Dealers New Customer Service Opportunity Fleetwood RV, one of the nation's leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles, has announced to its motor home dealers that they can now become authorized Caterpillar service centers. The program, part of Fleetwood’s recent partnership with Caterpillar, gives dealers the opportunity to provide greater customer service, while increasing their profit potential.
“This is yet another example of Fleetwood’s continued commitment to dealer satisfaction,” said John Davis, Vice President of After Sales Services for Fleetwood RV. “This program benefits dealers and our valued Fleetwood owners alike. By becoming an authorized Caterpillar service center, our dealers will have a chance to offer a more complete level of service to their customers, and enhance their parts and service department’s earnings potential. This will move our dealers along the path to becoming a one stop service shop, something customers truly value.”
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