Cover Story

A Foundation for the Future

Jim Mellow, President, Draw-Tite

Not many companies in our industry have been around for 50 years, so marking a golden anniversary is cause for celebration. And this year Draw-Tite, the largest hitch and towing accessory manufacturer, is celebrating its fiftieth birthday. As the Draw-Tite management team, lead by Jim Mellow, president, looks at this milestone, it's with a good deal of pride and satisfaction because longevity reinforces their knowledge that their products have evolved to keep pace with customer expectations and remain viable. Yet, to them, history is only a foundation on which to build Draw-Tite's future.

A few weeks ago, RV News visited Draw-Tite's headquarters in Canton, Michigan, and met with Mellow and his management team.

Commenting on the anniversary Mellow said, "We've had some good years. When we talk about the next 50 years, we think they will be even more exciting. Even so, we never want to lose track of our inherent strengths -- what got us here. And what really got us here was taking a good product - an excellent product - and putting some support behind it. And that includes treating customers nice. What a concept. And oh, yes -- maybe listening to them too.

"When I joined this company in 1982, there were not very many people here listening to the customer. We have changed that whole atmosphere. Not only the marketing people, but everybody is customer oriented. As times change, we will be at the forefront of what those customers want because we listen to them.

Roger Wilson Vice President Marketing and Sales

"We don't install hitches every day of our lives - - we make them. We have to listen to the guy that has to put them on."

One of the ways that Draw-Tite listens to its customers is what has become known as Hitch Pro meetings. Mellow said, "In 1983 we invited ten customers from around the country to come in and talk. Eight showed up. That has now grown into a base of 150 customers; 400-500 people attending the meeting each year. They come in on a Friday, work all day Saturday and leave on Sunday. What is really neat in the Hitch Pro meetings is that our customers love to share their successes with other dealers." Continued