The SuperShow in Tampa is not the only RV show happening this week.
The Inland Northwest RV Show & Sale was one of the few events that got off and going in 2020 just before the coronavirus caused most gatherings and businesses to shut down.
While organizers were disappointed in 2021 to cancel the show, which generally kicks off the sales season, many area dealers powered through with record sales for the year. The 2022 show starts Thursday and runs through Sunday at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center.
Jason Poole, the market vice president for Blue Dog RV in Post Falls, said nearly every trailer was sold last year before it even arrived at the lot. It was the biggest year he’s seen for sales in 29 years in the business.
“We have never had sales to this level,” Poole said. “This was a monster compared to anything that was even close. In 2005 and 2006, we had a little, but not even close to what we see today.”
Thure Ahlquist, RV manager at Parkway RV of Deer Park, said the Inland Northwest RV Show, in its 34th year, has traditionally been a major draw for his customers.
“Normally, the show for us anyway, accounts in the long run for about 50 percent of our sales,” he said. “We sell at the show, and people all year-round bring in brochures they got from the show.”
Ahlquist said he’s finally been able to fill half his lot after sales cleaned out virtually every model last year.
“Before, we were always able to get whatever we wanted,” he said. “A lot of times (last year), I was down to one or two trailers. And a lot of sales were out-of-state. We were selling a lot in Colorado and California.”
Click here to read the full report from Thomas Clouse at the Spokesman-Review.
