RVBusiness, September/October 2018

Some Key Initiatives that Should Secure the Industrys Interests This growth over the last eight years has been fueled in large part by the Millennial generation a new customer to the RV industry with different wants and needs than the Baby Boomers T he RV Industry continues to set new sales and shipment records That being said the industry has had its ups and downs over the years historically speaking expanding for six or seven years before slowing down and coasting for a few years before starting the process all over again In fact the 1973 oil crisis triggered as members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries proclaimed an oil embargo all but shut the industry down Californians for example would wait in lines for hours just to get gas for their cars A gas guzzling RV was the last thing a gallon of gasoline was going to fuel in 73 Yet another oil shock occurred in 1979 And years later the Great Recession hit the industry hard and drove wholesale shipments to lows not seen for decades hitting bottom in 2009 with only 165700 units shipped to dealers As in the past the industry proved its resiliency and turned the corner in a positive direction in 2010 For the next eight years in fact shipments posted year overyear gains annually before achieving last years record high of 504600 units shipped from manufacturers to dealers Its been an exciting ride and most industry leaders agree that there is a lot more road ahead for growth in the coming years if we continue to build products that excite our customers with the most innovative features built to meet consumers quality expectations This growth over the last eight years has been fueled in large part by the Millennial generation a new customer to the RV industry with different wants and needs than the Baby Boomers that were the largest segment of RV owners for the last 30 plus years Millennials grew up with computers smart phones iPads cars with built in GPS and many other gadgets The recreational vehicles of today and for sure tomorrow must be smart Wi Fi equipped and able to be online anywhere at any time Oh and most Millennials do not like to tinker with or repair things like so many Boomers do They expect them to work the first time and every time so quality is no longer a wish Its a given Service after the sale is a given getting service in a timely manner and getting the issues diagnosed and repaired right the first time is a must If we cant service what we build and sell this generation will find another outlet for its recreation spend and there are many other options The industry has a fantastic opportunity with the Millennial generation just getting into RVing If they have a great experience the world will know it through social media if they dont ditto So as an industry lets make sure we provide them the best possible RV experience Looking Forward to RVX as We All Adjust to Imminent Change The all new completely reimagined RVX The RV Experience is designed to promote the RV lifestyle by bringing the industry together to show off the latest products while highlighting and showcasing new technologies and educational opportunities for dealers that should help grow the industry to new heights Hosted by the RV Industry Association RVIA RVX will take place March 12 14 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City Utah opening up with a new take on RV trade showmanship called The Reveal on March 12 prior to the opening of the exhibit hall OEMs suppliers dealers and media can expect to see the unveiling of the best of the best industry products according to RVIA with the newest and Dave Schutz is senior vice president of RV OEM sales for North America at Dometic Corp He previously was director of sales and marketing for Atwood Mobile Products He also has served on a number of committees and boards for both the RV Industry Association RVIA and the Canadian RV Association and currently is on the RVIA Board of Directors as well as numerous committees overseeing a number of pertinent issues In 2016 Schutz was the recipient of the RVIA Special Award for his services to the association and the industry 36 RVBusiness S E P T E M B E R O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 BY DAVE SCHUTZ most innovative ideas on display The March timing of this event is designed to generate consumer excitement and interest just before they plan spring and summer vacations and getaways At the same time RVIAs plans call for this novel event to migrate to three different locations around the country Salt Lake San Antonio and Indianapolis although not necessarily in a regular sequence By rotating the location to three key destinations in different regions RVIA believes the industry will be able to better serve all stakeholders by making it closer and more convenient for those who found it difficult to visit Louisville the traditional home of the National RV Trade Show every November Proposed RV Technical Institute is a Step in the Right Direction The newly formed RV Technical Institute will be located in Elkhart Ind where OEM and supplier product training and technical expertise are readily available This will enable the industry through RVIA and the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association RVDA to not only train RV technicians but to also monitor customer owner satisfaction RVIA also has implemented the RECT Repair Event Cycle Time metric which is used by many other industries to monitor customer service feedback and service experiences In addition to its new headquarters in Elkhart the RV Technical Institute will develop a regional network of training partners to provide hands on accredited curriculum training and assessments as close to major service centers as possible to make it easier for current service techs to get recertified For the RV industry to continue to grow and prosper it must provide the absolute best experience for its customers and the RV Institute is truly a major step in the right direction for our industry RVB RVBUSINESS 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