RV Industry News
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| November 2004 | Volume 30 - Number 4 | |
RV Industry News | ||
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National RV Holdings, Inc Sells Travel Trailer Business
Brad Albrechtsen, CEO of National RV, stated, “With increasing demand for Class A motorhome products, we have decided that we could better serve our shareholders, as well as our motorhome dealers and customers, by focusing all of our attention and resources on our motorhome business where margins are better”. Commenting on the deal with Warrior, Albrechtsen continued, “We are very pleased that we were able to reach an agreement on our toy-hauler business with the company that virtually invented that business. We believe that Warrior is the perfect company to take over our brands and further enhance their value for the customers and dealers. Once we decided it was in the best interest of our shareholders to focus all of our resources on motorhomes, our main concern was in finding someone who could preserve the brand value for our dealers and owners -- and we feel that we accomplished that,” concluded Albrechtsen. National RV announced that the sale was effective immediately, but went on to state that it will continue to service and fulfill the original warranty obligations of the travel trailer products currently on the road. Sales of trailers have represented less than 5% of revenues for National RV Holdings. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Dates Set For Quartzsite
Show
North America's Largest Consumer Attended RV Show
One of the largest and most popular of the local venues is the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show. This huge show takes place in the "BIG TENT", just 1/2 mile South of Interstate 10 on State Highway 95. The dates for the 22nd Annual Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show are January 22nd through January 30th. There is no charge for admission or parking at this spectacular event that is now touted as the largest consumer attended RV Show in the US. The attendance for the 2004 show was estimated at well over 150,000 and the numerous RV related exhibits included the "who's who" of the RV Industry. There were several hundred new and used RV's on display along with a dozen service bays offering immediate installation, repairs & service on many of the items that were exhibited at the show. T he 2005 show looks like it will be even bigger with exhibit space selling at a record pace. For more information call 800-969-5464 or visit www.quartzsitervshow.com. Carriage Implements New RV Dealer Advisory Council
The council will meet regularly, by phone and in person, to discuss topics affecting the RV industry and Carriage. “It is critical to our success that we have a true understanding of our dealers’ markets and that they have a better understanding of Carriage’s business and general direction”, stated Dave Lawson, VP of Sales and Marketing. The first council meeting took place on September 13 – 15 in Cancun, Mexico. “We really walked away with some great input and suggestions from our dealers”, stated Kathy Fuller, Marketing Manager. “Not only was the meeting successful, but we really got a chance to get to know the dealers a little better as well. Hurricane Ivan kept a few of them away, and we also got to experience a little of what hurricanes can do.” During the meeting Carriage revealed the details of the “New Generation Royals” to be unveiled in December at the Louisville Show in Kentucky. “The New Generation Royals International” combines high-tech with high comfort, offering Carriage’s loyal legion of customers the best of the best,” according to Greg Kitson, Director of engineering. The council members were determined by nominations from Carriages’ regional sales team and include Snuffy Smith, Country Creek RV, Jim Wagner, Village RV, Terry Marshall, Marshall’s RV, Darlene Leavitt, Trafford’s RV, Steve Wagers, Wager’s Trailer Sales, and Ken Stumpe, Lazy Day’s RV Supercenter. The Carriage members are Dave Lawson, VP of Sales & Marketing, Kathy Fuller, Marketing Manager, Greg Kitson, Director of Engineering, Jeff Miller, CEO and Glenn Cushman, Chairman of the Board/Owner. RV/MH Heritage Foundation Kick’s Off Santa’s Sweepstakes
A maximum of 2,500 entries will be sold at $100 each. One entry in 25 will receive a prize at some level. The proceeds of the raffle will help to support the operations of the industry’s national hall of fame, museum, and library in Elkhart, Indiana.
The RV/MH Heritage Foundation has honored leaders of the industry since 1972 in the RV/MH Hall of Fame and maintains a museum of antique products going back to 1913, and the world’s larest library of industry literature and photos. Midwest Products Owner Roger Gifford Passes Away Roger Truman Gifford, age 69, passed away recently at his home in Corning, Iowa.
Roger was the owner of Midwest Products, Inc., and its predecessor, Dexter RV, since 1982. Roger was truly an entrepreneur, having owned two service stations and a tractor trailer operation prior to starting Dexter RV. Although he grew up in Masachusetts and Rhode Island, Roger also lived in California before moving to Iowa. He enjoyed being involved in the various communities in which he lived, and was a big supporter of comminity development.
Midwest Products, Inc.
The majority of the company stock was left to the employees and Roger’s family. Bob Badger, Jr. will succeed Roger as President. John Kelly will continue on as Senior Vice President and Ramona Lynam will continue as Secretary/Treasurer. The company is currently run by the Board of Directors.
FRVTA Board Establishes Hurricane Assistance Fund
The Florida RV Trade Association’s (FRVTA) Board of Directors, during a conference call held on September 17, 2004, voted to establish a hurricane assistance fund to help those FRVTA members and employees that suffered damage due to the high number of hurricanes that have hit the state.
A fund of $20,000 was established and will be distributed based upon a number of criteria:
In addition to the Hurricane Assistance Fund, the FRVTA Board of Directors also voted to make a contribution to both the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army in the amount of $5,000.00 each to be earmarked for Florida disaster relief.
“We felt with the high number of hurricanes that have hit Florida and the cancellation of the FRVTA State Convention, we could use those funds to assist our members and their employees impacted by these storms,” said FRVTA President Scott Schmidt.
For more information, contact the FRVTA State Office at (813) 741-0488 or write to FRVTA Hurricane Fund, 10510 Gibsonton Drive, Riverview, FL 33569.
Fleetwood Launches NASCAR-
Licensed Special Edition Package
Fleetwood RV, one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles, announced today the launch of its NASCAR-Licensed Special Edition (SE) package at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC and at RVIA’s California Show in Pomona, CA. Already a favorite brand with many NASCAR drivers and fans, Fleetwood now has a NASCAR-licensed SE package that includes almost everything NASCAR fans need to fully enjoy race weekend in their RV. Package highlights include: racing and NASCAR-themed exterior graphics, a checkered flag awning, exterior RVQ (BBQ), Fleetwood-branded chairs, NASCAR-branded blanket and entry mat, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series flag and mounted pole.
The NASCAR SE package went on sale Friday, October 15 nationwide and will initially be available on Fleetwood’s Expedition, Bounder (gas), GearBox, Terry, Prowler and Wilderness models. “RVing is part of the NASCAR culture, both for its fans and drivers, so we feel this will be a very popular option for our customers,” said Chris Braun, Executive Vice President, Fleetwood RV. “The heart of Fleetwood's long-term strategy is to develop partnerships that continue to bring innovative RV products to our consumers and to our valued dealers. Our relationship with NASCAR is another example of Fleetwood’s continued commitment to that strategy.”
As part of the launch, Fleetwood’s 2005 NASCAR-Licensed SE Expedition and Bounder (gas) took part in the pre-race parade laps leading up to the start of the UAW-GM Quality 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Saturday, October 16, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Park Cabins, Inc. Gears Up
for Expansion >Park Cabins, Inc. plans to move into a larger facility later this year and double its workforce by the middle of 2005, thanks to rising demand for recreational park trailers or “park models.”
“We can’t build them fast enough in our existing space,” Park Cabins President Mike Fannon said of the affordable 400-square foot cabin-style cottages, which consumers are increasingly using as vacation homes. “We basically had to slow down because we didn’t have the space to keep up with customer demand.”
But Park Cabins’ pace of production will change later this year, when the Cairo-based company relocates from its current 12,000-square foot facility at 460 4th Street SE to a 40,000-square foot plant in the Industrial Park of Cairo. The move will enable the company to double its workforce to 40 or 50 employees, while doubling or tripling its park model production, Fannon said.
Park Cabins’ growth reflects rising consumer interest in park model products across the country. National shipments of recreational park trailers were up 27.5% during the first six months of 2004, compared to a year earlier, setting an all time industry record, according to the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA) in Newnan, Ga.
“We’ve never seen demand like this before. It’s unprecedented,” said William Garpow, RPTIA’s executive director. “Virtually every park trailer manufacturer is reporting record orders and backlogs, and there’s no letup in sight.” |
