The expo floor was abuzz Monday evening and Tuesday morning with dealers checking out new products and suppliers entering orders. As RV unit sales soften in comparison to the past couple years, attendees of the NTP-STAG Expo in Denver, Colorado, seemed to have an optimistic outlook.
Bill Rogers, president of NTP-STAG, said he felt the show started off great with positive feedback for their new opening night reception, keynote speakers and RV University (RVU) learning sessions with suppliers.
“Until you get here and kind of talk to everybody, you’re a little uncertain, you know the economy is a little uncertain. I was much encouraged after listening to the people here,” Rogers said. “Everybody seems ‘glass half full,’ upbeat, much more so than I would’ve thought. They were telling me sales of units that they’ve had in recent shows that they’ve put on at their dealerships over the last month, and really, pretty positive numbers on unit sales, which I was surprised.”
Breakfast With Joe
That attitude was evident this morning as attendees arrived at breakfast, ready for another day of talking business. Yesterday they were pumped up by a breakfast keynote address by former NFL coach Bill Billick, and Tuesday morning’s motivating speech by former Washington Redskins quarterback and sports commentator Joe Theismann was equally engaging.
Seeing change as an opportunity is paramount, Theismann said, in finding success.
“I’ve never had a failure in my life, only an educational experience that didn’t go my way,” he said.
One way of building an atmosphere of success in your organization is to focus on the three Es – a method he learned from New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick – environment, expectations and execution. Creating an environment for personnel to do well, setting expectations and executing your plan go hand in hand.
Theismann also reminded the audience that “leadership is as much about who you surround yourself with as what you know.” Mentoring others to come up behind you and take the reins is an important consideration in business, he said.
Attracting the Next Generation
Monday’s educational track featured 30 RVU seminars in the Professional Retail Organization (PRO) curriculum – many with standing-room only. Dealers learned about new products and initiatives, such as an opportunity to increase the industry’s technician force. Following a successful pilot course in 2022, the RV Technical Institute (RVTI) and RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA)’s session spotlighted its women-only training program, launching nationwide this year.
Women currently make up 2% of the industry’s technicians, RVWA President Susan Carpenter said. Recruiting from this relatively untapped demographic, and attracting people from outside the industry, offers a major opportunity for all market segments.
Last year, the two organizations’ pilot class trained 24 women as Level 1 certified RV techs. The course garnered nearly 120 applications – 50% of which submitted by ladies outside the industry, including a school teacher and federal government workers. Even better, 75% of trainees stayed in the industry following the class, including as mobile techs and dealership personnel.
2023 will offer five more opportunities for women to join the all-female tech class:
March 6-10 – Dallas, Texas: 3129 Bass Pro Dr.
May 15-19 – Tualatin, Oregon: 19801 SW 72nd Ave.
July 10-14 – Elkhart, Indiana: 3333 Middlebury St.
Aug. 14-18 – Jacksonville, Florida: 8813 Western Way
Oct. 23-27 – Camp Hill, Pennsylvania (PRVCA): 4000 Trindle Rd.
RVWA said each course will host 12 women for a more intimate learning experience, with scholarships available. The two organizations plan to expand the course into Canada in the near future. Read more about the pilot class and course curriculum here.
