RV Business Management
Articles on best practices, business strategies and solutions for RV business people who manage their companies. See all Business Management Articles
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Dealer had record sales in 2011 on the strength of Keystone RV's Cougar fifth wheel.
Dave Barry, owner of Barton Lake RV, says both his business and the Jellystone campground, operated separately by his parents and family, rely upon each other in different ways. But, it...
Friday, December 30, 2011
Ally Financial promotion aims to attract dealers to online vehicle auction service.
RV dealers wanting to buy and sell used inventory online now have an additional option, SmartAuction, by Ally Financial.
Ally, formerly known as GMAC Financial and previously a division of...
Canadian dealership proves that you can be big without sacrificing the personal touch
For years in the United States RV market, an unfortunate (and generally inaccurate) perception existed about Canadian dealerships. Many Americans believed that their north-of-the-border...
A strong focus on parts and service is also a key to success.
When Guy and Joan Diandriole bought their very first trailer, a Serro Scotty aluminum-sided camping trailer in 1962, little did they know the impact it would have on their careers and the future of their three...
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Sometimes, the best way to combat a business slump is to go back to what works.
Some strategic acquisitions, several new products focused on the entry-level market, and the addition of new key managers are paying dividends for the
La Grande, Ore.-based RV manufacturer....
Friday, August 12, 2011
Offering thoughts on what to expect from the RV manufacturer moving forward.
(Above) William H. Osborne speaks to dealers during the recent Monaco Dealer Congress in Dallas. Osborne has spent much of his time connecting with dealers since taking the reins of...
Agents fill a unique role in getting products before dealers.
Perhaps surprisingly, John Roba is quick to admit that there are a number of circumstances in which suppliers don’t require the services of manufacturer’s rep firm like his.
For example, he says,...
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
RV manufacturer’s ‘Operation Appreciation’
(above) Army Staff Sgt. Robert Ross, his wife Kim, and three children are pictured in front of the CrossRoads RV Hampton park trailer. The Ross family was the first military family to stay in the park trailer....
The president talks about the company’s new product mix.
Don Clark doesn’t skip a beat when asked what’s changed at Dutchmen RV in the past two years.
“There’s a renewed sense of life within these walls. People are now walking with a bounce in their...
Dealer Trends
RV dealerships and RV parks have always had a symbiotic relationship, with many dealerships recommending favorite parks, and many parks recommending preferred dealerships. But for some RV dealers, they don’t simply partner with parks – they own them...
Friday, September 3, 2010
With the industry constantly evolving, proactive RV dealers are turning to 20 Groups to help them navigate challenges they face in their businesses.
For the unfamiliar, 20 Groups are a collection of dealers (usually 20, hence the name) who meet in person or via...
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Dealer Trends
Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Hearing those words may cause a few RV dealers to scratch their heads in confusion. But, for some Internet-savvy dealers, the rise of those social media Websites offers a new way to connect with customers.
Still, in interviews...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
I headed to the dealership looking for my first wake boarding boat. I made the job easy for the sales person. I had my family with me, so no “thinking about it” or “asking my wife for permission” excuses. It took about 2 hours to buy the boat and get...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Faced with its own shortfall of RV technicians and other key employees, RVDA of Canada has developed recruiting materials it hopes will bring new talent to the RV industry. There’s no plan to adopt the materials in the U.S. currently, but officials here say the...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
In today’s market, it’s not enough just to have a website. Steps must be taken to drive business to the website and to turn viewers into buyers.
Everybody tells you that you must have a website, but hardly anybody tells you what it takes to have one...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on making friends with Internet search engines. This first article deals with search engine traffic and keywords and key phrases. The second article will talk about the importance of keywords in website...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Taking some simple steps can help your dealership generate more leads and sales while saving money.
What is the most common reaction in a challenging market? Hiring freezes, layoffs, and of course marketing budget cuts – whether traditional or...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
An amazing 85 percent of Sutton RV’s sales are Internet generated, most from outside its local market. The Eugene, Ore.-based Airstream dealership credits multiple online sources – including Go RVing – for generating leads that keep the...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Web logs are an emerging, important way for businesses to communicate with their customers. Implementing a couple of simple strategies can increase the chances that the web log will be an effective tool.
In today’s wired world I know that I don...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
A few years back several RV manufacturers began producing videos that highlighted their respective products. They had thousands of them burned to DVDs and sent out to their dealers where, unfortunately, they would usually collect dust on a shelf.
At the time,...