Members of the Recreational Vehicle Aftermarket Association (RVAA) were honored at the 29th Annual Executive Conference Banquet held at the Hyatt Regency River Walk, San Antonio, TX. The Awards Banquet was held on October 13, 2002, during the Annual RVAA Executive Conference. The Banquet was an opportunity to acknowledge companies and individuals who have made major contributions to RVAA and the aftermarket industry. The recipients of the awards were determined by votes by their customers, including members from the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) U.S., RVDA of Canada, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), all three divisions of RVAA membership - Distributors, Suppliers, and Manufacturers' Agents, and Bj Thompson Associates, who judged the Catalog of the Year (Best and Most Improved) and the Web Excellence Awards. 

Advertisement Retirement Homesites Magazine Click Ad to pop-up full view

Each year RVAA awards two plaques for excellence for production of distributor catalogs. These awards are: "Best Catalog of the Year," and "Most Improved Catalog of the Year." 

The criteria for Best Catalog of the Year Award includes quality of printing and illustration, clarity of product description, overall organization, ease of navigation, aid to the reader in production, selection and successful incorporation of manufacturer and distributor product information. The criterion for the "Most Improved Catalog of the Year" evaluates the changes in these values from one year to the next. Pantera Sales, Inc., Ft. Worth, TX, won the Most Improved Catalog of the Year for 2002. The Best Catalog of the Year Award was presented to Keller Marine & RV, Port Trevorton, PA. 

Following the catalog presentation the prestigious RVAA "Distributor of the Year" Awards were presented. The awards are based on evaluation forms submitted by RVDA, U.S., RVDA of Canada, and RVIA. The criteria for the awards are focused on distributor performance and service to their dealer/customer. Three awards are given (eastern, western, and Canadian) to the best distribution companies. The following companies that received the award are not only winners to the RV aftermarket industry, but also most importantly, winners to their customers. The eastern winner in the U.S. was Stag-Parkway, Atlanta, GA. The Distributor of the Year Western winner U.S. was The Coast Distribution System, Morgan Hill, CA, and the Canadian Distributor of the Year, The Coast Distribution System, Morgan Hill, CA. 

The 2002 "Supplier of the Year" Award is presented to the RVAA supplier member firm for outstanding achievement in their overall marketing programs in the RV aftermarket industry. This year 88 companies were evaluated and rated by their RVAA distributor customers regarding their quality of product and service. The 2002 Supplier of the Year was Dicor Corporation, Elkhart, IN. 

The next award is to honor the "Manufacturers' Agent of the Year." The criterion for this award is the rep company returns calls promptly, courteously, and is helpful and available when needed. Knows the product line and its application, along with current policies and programs. Avoids wasting time, and makes effective use of sales calls. Assists their customers in solving order, delivery, warranty, and territory problems. Provides marketing and merchandising sales aids and advice to customers, and is dependable and supports the two-step distribution system. The winner of the 2002 Manufacturers' Agent of the Year was Lubin Sales, Oldsmar, FL. 

A new award was added for the first time to the award program. The award honors excellence and ingenuity in web site design. As in the Catalog of the Year awards the marketing firm of Bj Thompson Associates was hired by RVAA to judge this new award in both membership categories - Distributor, and Supplier. The criteria for the award is conciseness of product description, efficient use of online real estate (white space), good organization of the site, contact information availability, length of time that replies are answered, up-to-date information, and the efficiency of working links to the site. 

Overall, the above criteria should demonstrate strong content, accurate information, good use ability and navigation with an attractive theme and design. The distributor winner of the Web Site Excellence Award was Brad's Trailer Service, Rochester, NY. The supplier winner was ITT/Flojet, Foothill Ranch, CA. The awards ceremony is typically the highlight of the RVAA Executive Conference.