By Lorraine Mariotti on 1/30/2009 12:49 PM

 The current lending environment is obviously challenging for all of us due to lenders exiting the industry and tightening credit guidelines. I am sure most dealers are seeing that sales are down and profit margins are tightening. Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic potion or wand that I can give you to make it all better.

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By Greg Gerber on 1/30/2009 10:50 AM

I posted a few stories recently that rankled several readers who accused us of publishing rumors and pushing negative news out to the industry. We also published a story or two that was positive in nature, causing readers to question if we were owned by Camping World or just pushing out fluff.

So, to be in the middle of both extremes tells me we are right where we need to be. But several readers did raise the issue of when we consider news to be news.

As a general rule, here is how I handle stories and differentiate them from rumors.....

As I have said before, we will post all the news that's fit to print. Unlike print publications which can only print the news that fits within the confines of their limited editorial space.

In that regard, I consider it a duty to readers to make sure we aren't posting rumors, but I will leave it up to them to decide whether a story is fluff or not. And we will continue to post ALL the news, not what some editorial gatekeepers think the industry needs to know.

Like Fox News, we'll report, you decide.

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By Carl Sconnely on 1/30/2009 9:47 AM

When I think of the words and phrases “strong commitment”, “loyalty”, “decreased overhead costs” and “stability” they remind me of the core values of a family run business. It’s no wonder that most RV Dealerships are family run businesses and always tend to weather and bounce back from economic down turns. To further support this theory, Texas A&M University has performed a study to compare the competitiveness and stability of family run businesses compared to non-family run businesses. The results of the study, which was conducted by Professor Jim Lee, showed that family businesses do indeed tend to experience higher employment rates, revenue growth, and are more profitable than non-family businesses.

It’s my experience that family run businesses don't stop at closing time. They continue 24/7, from dinnertime to family outings, and other get-togethers. At some point the conversation always turns to the business side of things....

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By Greg Gerber on 1/29/2009 1:23 PM

Hollywood stars know that any publicity is good publicity because it keeps the star's name before the public, which helps promote "the brand."

Today, an RV dealer in Oklahoma is enjoying the benefits of notoriety as well, following the excitement of a high-speed police chase over icy roads that culminated in a crash and manhunt at the dealership early yesterday morning.

With an ice storm pounding the area, I am certain that staff members at Floyd's RV who dared to make it into the business yesterday were grumbling one minute about the weather and the prospects for a very boring day and, a few minutes later, wondering why dozens of squad cars, armed police officers and helicopters were hovering overhead.

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By Greg Gerber on 1/28/2009 8:18 AM

Reading the news last night, it has become very apparent that the "stimulus" package being invented by President Obama and Congress has morphed itself into a "porkulus" package filled with billions of dollars of wasteful spending to support pet projects and advance an ideology rather than jump-starting the economy.

Congress has already tried to earmark millions to pay for contraceptives, $4 billion to support community organizing groups, nearly $50 billion to help local schools, more than $1 billion for Amtrak, $400 million for a NASA climate change study, etc., etc., etc. And the silly bill hasn't even come to the floor of the House of Representatives or the Senate where billions more will be added to buy votes.

That's why I'm introducing the Gerber Economic Recovery Act of 2009.  It's simple in its design and it is certain to have an immediate impact on the economy. Here's how it works.

Borrow $1 trillion from the Chinese, the same group buying most of our federal debt today anyway. Then, divide the $1 trillion by 300 million people living in America and send a check to each person in the amount of $3,333.

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By Bob Zagami on 1/26/2009 11:48 PM

It’s been a long time since the frustration level of the American worker and taxpayer has been at the boiling point they are now approaching. Consumers feel helpless against the ineptness and stupidity of our elected officials and corporate executives.  They are losing their homes, their jobs, and question if there is anything that can bring happiness back into their lives.

And that is where the RV industry comes into sharp focus. We have the solution to their woes and we have products that will make them feel good, spend quality time with their families, and take their minds off all this nonsense around them! Sell them sanity soon – please!

 

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By Mike Whitty on 1/26/2009 5:00 PM

Becoming a Sales Manager is an achievement in itself. It shows a certain level of competence and earned trust. It doesn't indicate that there is nothing else to learn.

Training the Sales Manager can be a great boost to dealerships who are keen to improve their bottom-line. Not only are good Sales Managers more productive than their counterparts, but an effective Sales Manager who also shows good leadership skills, can have a major impact on both their department and indeed their salespeople.

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By Greg Gerber on 1/26/2009 3:09 PM

One thing was clearly obvious as I walked through the vendor displays at the StagParkway show last week.
People are happier and more optimistic than they were just seven weeks ago at the National RV Trade Show.

In early December, people were writing off 2009 entirely. "It's done, put a fork in it," was the common sentiment back then. Most people were predicting the industry wouldn't rebound until June 2010 at the earliest.

But, last week, even the most pessimistic people were saying the industry wasn't coming back until June of this year. In fact, most people were predicting a rebound in March or April -- which is only four to eight weeks away.

More than several people thought that the RV industry has historically roared back from recessions. In the past, the industry has seen two years of a down cycle, followed by a year of massive rebounding. Many are predicting 2009 will be that year -- and the evidence supports the claim.

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By Chuck Marzahn on 1/26/2009 7:59 AM

This isn't the time to stop advertising.  There is an time when advertising will actually hurt you.  During the current climate there are some real bargains in media.  You may want to be sure your house is in order instead of inviting guests to see how messy it is.

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By Mike Whitty on 1/24/2009 7:35 PM

I understand and appreciate the challenges that turnover creates. Turnover causes a drop in productivity, lower profits, inconsistent performance, and certainly creates work overload in taking care of customers on the showroom floor. In addition, turnover results in a lack of motivation, a lack of enthusiasm, apathy, and a lack of teamwork. But here’s the question…

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