RVBusiness, September/October 2019
Weve had four or five record years in a row said Grand Design President and CEO Don Clark At some point in time that euphoric growth is going to level off for a period of time and settle in But it doesnt mean its doom andgloom for our industry I n an effort to monitor the State of the RV Industry on the doorstep of the 2019 Elkhart RV Open House and the 2020 model year RVBusiness managed to snag an hour long interview with busy Don Clark president and CEO of 6 yearold Grand Design Recreational Vehicles Why lead off this pulse of the industry editorial package with Clark who also doubles as a vice president of Grand Designs parent firm Winnebago Industries Inc the legendary Iowa based RV builder that acquired Grand Design in 2016 from Clark and partners Ron and Bill Fenech Clark was a logical choice as the point man in this issue in our view because of the simple fact that his company has rather deftly navigated through some unsettling economic times in an industry in which wholesale shipments are currently off more than 20 year to date Indeed Grand Design a 1740 employee towable manufacturer now occupying more than a million square feet of office and production space at its 10 building complex on Indiana 13 north of Middlebury Ind has apparently managed to keep its balance having consistently grown its market share physical plant and revenues while appreciably contributing to the financial performance of its parent company As a matter of fact Clark noted that Grand Design through May was up 206 in overall market share and 314 in travel trailers Furthermore its Reflection and Solitude fifth wheels ranked No 1 and No 5 respectively and its Momentum fifth wheel was the top selling toy hauler fifth wheel according to Grand Rapids Mich based Statistical Surveys Inc Heres the crux of what Clark an occasional golfer and committed family man had to say in his RVBusiness interview in mid July at the companys bustling headquarters just north of the Indiana Toll Road On Grand Designs consistent gameplan since its launch in January of 2013 Based on other experiences Ron Bill and I had in more than 30 years in the industry we wanted to create something new something different something the industry we felt was lacking and the STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 2019 Grand Designs Clark Sees Plenty of Upside in the RV Market Despite Headwinds the Industrys Encountered BY SHERMAN GOLDENBERG PHOTOS BY SHAWN SPENCE 78 RVBusiness S E P T E M B E R O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 Don Clark president and CEO of Grand Design RV
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