RVBusiness, September/October 2018

TOPof theNews RVIAs Ochs Testifies at U S Trade Representative Hearings On two separate occasions about a month apart Mike Ochs director of government affairs for the RV Industry Association RVIA testified at United States Trade Representative USTR hearings on matters of key interest to the RV industry On Aug 22 he spoke regarding the impact of proposed 10 to 25 tariffs on 200 billion worth of Chinese products These tariffs are a result of the 301 investigation into the acts policies and practices of the Government of China related to technology transfer intellectual property and innovation In his comments Ochs said the proposal to include trailer tires propane tanks and steel and aluminum wheels as items subject to the Section 301 tariffs would severely impact supply chains artificially raise costs to produce an RV and could even negatively influence sales of RVs At a USTR subcommittee hearing in mid July Ochs requested that the agency Jeff Cripe Sabre Product Manager Sabre Bryan Walczak Arctic Product Manager Arctic General Manager John Quake Kourtney Chupp Wolf Pack Product Manager Not Pictured Brad Short Vengeance Product Manager Collin Spickler Cherokee Product Manager 16 RVBusiness S E P T E M B E R O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 approve a Competitive Need L i m i t a t i o n CNL waiver for tropical hardwood plywood from Indonesia If approved lauan will once again be eligible for dutyfree import under Mike Ochs the Generalize System of Preferences GSP program Since October 2015 the loss of GSP eligibility has cost the RV industry more than 1 million per month RVB Arrow Distributing Readying for Two Key Trade Events Arrow Distributing Inc is asking RV dealers from around the country to mark their calendars for two upcoming events as the company is readying for its first Elkhart RV Open House gathering followed by the annual 2019 Exhibitors Showcase in January Arrow President Andy Mullin told RVBusiness that its Indiana branch would be welcoming dealers from noon to 5 p m Sept 25 at 1312 Westwood Drive in Elkhart during the Open House Guests who stop by will meet Arrow Distributing staff enjoy food and refreshments and receive an exclusive event T shirt while checking out Arrows lineup of RV parts and accessories This is the first year for our Elkhart Open House event Our goal is to show appreciation to all our dealer customers and allow them the opportunity to visit our facility here meet staff and take advantage of some great deals on products while they are in town Mullin said After having been in Biloxi Miss the previous two years Arrows annual Exhibitors Showcase is slated for Jan 15 16 at Ballys Hotel Casino in Las Vegas Mullin said its a true VIP experience as dealers are picked up in a limo at the airport and given snacks and beverages on the way back to Ballys It is a buying event and we are known for having some of the best prices of the year available to support RV dealers for the 2019 show season We will also have our second annual poker run with some real hot items at extremely low prices hourly These deals alone are worth attending our Exhibitors Showcase Mullin said adding that dealers would also enjoy educational seminars and witness the unveiling of new products RVB See all the 2019 Cherokee towables Sept 24 27 at the E X P O Innovation never stands still Neither do we Within the Cherokee towables group weve innovated our products every year and that philosophy of constantly pushing the envelope in design and engineering is what has kept us on top in all of our product segments When youre talking high end features in the toy hauler youre talking about Vengeance When youre talking entry level toy haulers Wolf Pack hasnt cut any corners in its ability to deliver what customers want and need When youre talking about max square footage for your dollar and a unique modern farmhouse feel then youre talking about Sabre When youre talking about the half ton towable fifth wheel and travel trailer market Arctic and Alpha are right on the money as far as weight and balance and towability And when youre talking about innovation that excites the eye youre talking about Cherokee where the only thing entry level about it is pricing And we continue to lead At the Forest River Expo well introduce the first Cherokee laminated product and the full introduction of the Alpha Wolf line Spend the day discovering what change looks like Cherokee is a division of Forest River Inc www forestriverinc com