RV Industry News
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| December 2004 | Volume 30 - Number 5 | |
RV Industry News | ||
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Coast Distribution Reports 72% Increase in Third Quarter Earnings
Coast reported net sales of $43.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, compared with net sales of $42.8 million for the same period last year. Net earnings grew to $1.3 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2004, compared to $758,000, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the same quarter of 2003. Coast said gross margin for third quarter of 2004 improved to 19.2%, compared with a gross margin of 17.2% for the same quarter in 2003. "Increased margin contributions from our proprietary products, along with continued gains from our recently revamped distribution systems, helped drive earnings ahead of sales in the quarter," stated Thomas R. McGuire, chairman and CEO of Coast. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, net sales increased 10% to $144.4 million as compared to net sales of $131 million in the same period of 2003. Net earnings for the current nine month period increased 68% to $5.4 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, compared with earnings of $3.2 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, in the same period of 2003. "This was another strong quarter for us and continued evidence of the profitability we can generate through our improved distribution infrastructure," said McGuire. "We are benefiting from the internal improvements we initiated over the last several years. Our continued focus on the expansion and quality of our Coast family of brands has helped us grow our sales and margins. Our investments in systems and operations are also paying off with better fill rates for our customers as well as lower costs for the Company." Fleetwood Canada Rolls Out 100,000th Travel Trailer 2005 Ultralite Handed Over to Dealership and Customer
At the event, Pat Thompson, General Manager of Fleetwood Canada, Ltd., ceremoniously handed over the 2005 Pegasus to Urs and Eric Beuchin of Heidi’s RV in Hawkestone, ONT. “We want to thank all of the Fleetwood associates for the hard work that they put in every day,” said Thompson. “This milestone travel trailer demonstrates the continued strength of Fleetwood’s commitment to the RV lifestyle.” “This is a very significant milestone for Fleetwood and our dedicated associates in Lindsay, Ontario” said Chris Braun, Executive Vice President of Fleetwood RV. “It demonstrates a level of manufacturing experience that helps us deliver innovative products and superior quality year after year.” Fleetwood Canada, Ltd. began producing travel trailers in early 1973. Since then the facility has grown to include a second Ontario location with a total of 450 Fleetwood associates. This is the third Fleetwood travel trailer facility to achieve this milestone. Fleetwood’s Riverside, CA facility celebrated its 100,000th trailer in early October and Fleetwood’s Longview, TX facility hit the mark last year. Carriage, Inc. Using Multimedia to Reach RV Buyers Carriage Incorporated has begun adopting new multimedia presentations as part of its marketing campaign to RV consumers.
A Carriage product CD-ROM recently won a Communicator Crystal Award of Excellence. The Communicator Awards is an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding work in the communications. Judges chose the winners from nearly three thousand entries in the video category. Video and Sound Productions worked with Carriage to integrate pictures, on-location video footage, brochures, voiceovers, and music to produce the award-winning CD-ROM for Carriage. Carriage is using the presentation for industry trade-shows, sales meetings, and distribution to dealers and consumers. The presentation showcases the Carriage line of fifth-wheel recreational vehicles. "We decided to use more multimedia for the ease of our dealers and customers," said Kathy Fuller, marketing manager for Carriage Incorporated. "We are able to show our product and construction in a way that customers can get the whole story before stepping foot on a dealers lot. They become more educated on our product and quality before they start to look for an RV," Fuller added. Loyal customers travel from North Pole & across U.S. to visit world’s largest RV dealership
Anthony and Lorraine Martin of North Pole, Alaska recently purchased an RV from Lazydays, the world’s largest RV dealership in Tampa, Florida. Lured by its reputation for selection and value, the Martins ultimately chose Lazydays because of its unique brand of customer service. “We found Lazydays on the Internet,” said Lorraine Martin. “With its overwhelming selection and great financing deals, we determined Lazydays to be the best. Our sales consultant was easy to work with and, ultimately, that was the deciding factor.” Lorraine explained that the sales consultant was accessible and hands-on and did a lot of research and footwork whenever they had questions or inquiries about specific products. Raising the bar on customer service is a trademark of Lazydays. With its mission “Making Customers for Life”, Lazydays continues to attract customers from around the world, no matter how far the distance. Today Lazydays now has RV customers from all 50 states, and the dealership continues to draw customers from all corners of the map:
“All of our 700 employees are dedicated to providing an experience unlike any other in the RV industry,” said Stewart Schaffer, Chief Marketing Officer. “Our 160 sales consultants undergo daily product and customer service training which is why we’re able to offer our customers the most complete information available.” Quite a distance from Alaska, the Martins plan to pick up their new RV at Lazydays right after Thanksgiving. A fun filled family vacation packed with seeing sites along the way, they will travel over 3760 miles back to their home in North Pole, Alaska. The Big 3 Goes Quiet Look for domestic automakers to increasingly turn to a new sound-dampening metal called Quiet Steel to deal with one of driver's biggest complaints: Interior noise. Ford thought enough of Quiet Steel to use it as a major selling point in its recent round of F-150 ads and both Daimler-Chrysler and GM have plans to ramp up use on some of their 2006 models. The automotive body panel, produced by Material Sciences Corporation (NYSE: MSC) has yet to catch on with European or Japanese carmakersbut that could change soon with MSC's recent pact with international steel giant Arcelor. Quiet Steel offers tangible benefits to both drivers and car manufacturers. Quiet Steel consists of two layers of steel laminated between a sound dampening viscoelastic polymer. Placed most often in the automotive dash panel, and other selected parts of a car's frame, Quiet Steel can reduce interior noise by up to 3 decibels. For car manufacturers, it allows them to use a part that is INTEGRATED into unibody construction. In the past carmakers, have resorted to post-production add-ons such as rubbers, foams and mastics, that add weight, cost, and more steps in the manufacturing process. Premiere RV gets things rollin’ at grand opening Friends, family, customers, and staff gathered at the ribbon cutting of Premiere RV Service and Performance recently. The 20,000 square foot facility, located on Highway 90, between New Iberia and Lafayette, Louisiana “is the largest RV parts, service, performance, and accessories center in the state,” says owner Billy Thibodeaux. 1972 Airstream Bambi Loaned to Heritage Foundation Museum The RV/MH Heritage Foundation, Elkhart, IN, has received for exhibit, a 1972 Airstream 16’ Bambi travel trailer courtesy of the Airstream division of Thor Industries, Jackson Center, Ohio. The new exhibit will be on display in the museum for a minimum of two years in honor of Airstream founder and RV/MH Hall of Fame member Wally Byam. The Airstream unit will be displayed in conjunction with a 1913 travel trailer (the World’s oldest) also displayed courtesy of Thor Industries. The unit was delivered from Airstream headquarters in Jackson Center to the museum courtesy of Classic Transport of Elkhart. The RV/MH Heritage foundation museum, associated with the RV/MH Hall of Fame, is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday year around, and on Saturdays in the summer months of June, July, and August. Over 25 units representing the growth of industry technology from 1913 through the 1960s are on exhibit. The museum is supported by membership contributions from industry companies, associations, and individuals. The RV/MH Heritage Foundation and its hall of fame, museum, and archival library will be breaking ground for a $6 million new home in early 2005, and should be located in the new quarters adjacent to the Indiana Toll Road in Elkhart before the end of the year. For more information contact the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, 801 Benham Ave., Elkhart, IN 46516, phone 800-378- 8694. Webb Wheel Increases Capacity for Aftermarket Brake Drums Webb Wheel Products, as part of their on-going re-organization to focus resources to the unique requirements of specific heavy-duty industry segments, has recently purchased CNC machining centers to increase aftermarket drum capacity. When the equipment is fully operational, Webb Wheel will realize a sizable increase in their drum production capabilities. For more information visit: www.webbwheel.com. RVN
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