According to a report from The Evening Sun, Commerce Chenango is proud to name Oliver’s Campers the 2026 Small Business of the Year.
This award specifically recognizes this local business for six decades of service, deep roots in the Chenango County, New York, community and continued evolution across three generations of family leadership.
Oliver’s Campers has been part of the Norwich community since 1966, when Bob and Shirley Oliver launched the business as a side venture from their yard. Bob was a manager at Norwich Pharmaceuticals with a modest vision: a fun retirement project built around a shared love of the outdoors.
Today, Oliver’s is a multilocation sales and service dealership specializing in towable RVs and campers. The business sells and services new and used trailers from a range of manufacturers and, since 2014, has operated a secondary venture renting RVs to large events and music festivals. From a side yard on West Hill to a dealership with a presence in the Syracuse market, the dealership’s growth has been steady and deliberate.
Ownership passed to Bob and Shirley’s middle son, Jim Oliver, in 1991. Jim moved the business to a standalone location and spent decades building it into the operation it is today. His wife, Marilyn Oliver, has been a constant presence inside and outside the office.
Their oldest son, Andrew Oliver, now manages day-to-day operations, representing the third generation of family leadership. Other family members, Jordan Oliver, who was integral in the expansion to the Lafayette and Syracuse markets, and Tyler Oliver, who helped shape the business’s employment structure and workplace culture, have each left a lasting mark on the company.
Andrew Oliver states, “What has kept customers returning to us across generations is our business model built on honesty and integrity. Rather than chasing monthly sales quotas, we focus on building lasting relationships.”
Click here for the full report from The Evening Sun.
