The Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA) recently completed the two summer RV shows, one in West Palm Beach and the other in Tampa, Fla. The West Palm Show was on record pace through Saturday but rain on Sunday kept the attendance just under a new record. The Tampa Bay Show had a little rain on Friday afternoon but set a new record for attendance in spite of the rain.
The West Palm Beach Summer RV Show took place over Mother’s Day weekend in May at the South Florida Fairgrounds. With eight participating RV dealers and a handful of booth exhibitors, the show opened to huge crowds the first three days of the show.
“We were on pace to set a new summer show record then we woke up to rain on the last day of the show,” said Patty Flanagan, FRVTA show coordinator. “It’s the worse day to have rain in that you cannot make up the attendance loss.”
Just about every dealer did very well and many reported better than average sales.
“Our summer show really helps us keep the ‘selling season’ going a little longer,” said Brian Copley of Copley’s RV Center. “While not as strong as our winter show, this show allows us to focus on our year-round residents.”
The Tampa Bay Summer Show took place at the Florida State Fairgrounds with the majority of the show in the air-conditioned Expo and Entertainment Halls. Held over the weekend of June 7-10, the ideal weather and the fact that there wasn’t a lot of competing events that weekend, added up to a new record attendance for this show.
More than 7,100 people attended the show, and many were eager to take advantage of the deals being offered.
“Every dealer I talked to had a great show,” said FRVTA Region 3 President Deanna Pearce. “The marketing, including having Channel 10 morning news at the show on opening day, hit the target of the local RV market.”
More than 31 suppliers fill every available booth with RV parts, accessories, awnings, cleaners and lots of other crowd-pleasing products.
The bottom line coming out of these two Summer RV shows is that the local market is still very interested in the RV lifestyle.
For more information on these or any other FRVTA events, contact the FRVTA State Office.