(Nov. 20, 2008) -- According to Chris Baum, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Little Guy, "There has been talk of a recession, but we just aren't seeing it. Sales of our teardrops counter-trend current economic conditions. Teardrop camper trailers have a minimal impact on the fuel economy of the tow vehicle."

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(Nov. 20, 2008) -- The Junior League of Bakersfield will host Wine Fest on Saturday evening in the Stier's RV Center showroom.
The dealership will roll its inventory out the door to make room for chow from local and chain restaurants. The event will feature a sports lounge with two big-screen TVs blazing college football, silent and live auctions and a cigar bar to benefit programs for women and children in Kern County.

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(Nov. 19, 2008) -- “Coach-Net is the recognized leader in roadside and technical assistance for the RV industry,” said RVDA President Mike Molino. “RVDA’s Board of Directors is pleased to acknowledge Coach-Net’s ongoing support for RV dealers and their customers through this endorsement. Using this program helps keep RV travelers on the road and improves both customer satisfaction and loyalty.”

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(Nov. 19, 2008) -- Dale Broome’s RV Center will shut its doors this month because owner Leeds Foyil said would-be customers can’t secure financing for purchases. High gas prices hit the business earlier in the year, Foyil said, but a poor national economy was the final nail in the coffin. About one in 25 customers who are interested in purchasing a recreational vehicle have their purchases financed, Foyil said. “I just can’t run a business like this,” he said.

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(Nov. 18, 2008) -- Danny Graham, general manager of Sun City RV, crawled into an RV suspended 40 feet in the air today, and he'll call it home for up to three days -- or until the dealership receives 500 frozen turkeys which will be donated to a local food bank. A flight nurse with the local AirEvac is spending time with Graham, who is also afrid of heights.

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(Nov. 18, 2008) -- Under provisions of Chapter 11, the companies will continue their sales, service and other operations. CEO Thomas P. Sylvester stressed that the company continues to enjoy the support of major vendors and the lender that provides financing to cover inventory. The Chapter 11 filing was necessary, Sylvester said, to protect operations from the demands of lenders holding the secured debt on real estate and structures which house Beaudry operations. The banking crisis has resulted in this impasse with these lenders, he added.

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(Nov. 18, 2008) -- Seventh Heaven Recreation, a company that sells RVs, consolidated its operations to its Nampa office, Managing Director Andy Meyer said Monday. The move put Seventh Heaven, which had a lot at 39th and Chinden streets, closer to the Interstate, he said.

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(Nov. 17, 2008) -- “We have the financial resources to run our operations as we normally would as we approach our selling season. Our primary concern is the outlook for the medium and long-term should RV sales remain depressed for a protracted period. Rather than wait for such a situation and have to respond in a reactionary way, we have elected to be pro-active and address these important issues with our bondholders at this time,” said Randy Lay, chief financial officer for Lazydays.

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(Nov. 17, 2008) -- "All the seminars are free and packed with important information dealers can take home and put to use in their business immediately," said Sheril Vergara, with RH Power and Associates. "Our forums will provide you with the latest marketing weapons and tactics needed to overcome economy-related issues, battle the competition and win the war of selling RVs in 2009."

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(Nov. 17, 2008) -- RV Industry News has learned that GE Commercial Distribution Finance has suspended the floorplan financing for RV dealers nationwide, at least through the end of the year. Friday afternoon, dealers and manufacturers alike received word that GE "has frozen flooring for every dealer, regardless of account status, until January for all manufacturers."

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(Nov. 17, 2007) -- The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and Camping World today unveiled the logo for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The new look was revealed as the latest step for the series’ transition to Camping World as the new title sponsor beginning in 2009, after 14 years of sponsorship by Craftsman. NASCAR and Camping World announced a seven-year partnership agreement on Oct. 23.

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(Nov. 14, 2008) -- Affinity Group posted a net loss of $129.5 million compared to a net loss of $3.8 million for the same period in 2007. The company was forced to write off $47.6 million in goodwill after it was determined the carrying value of the Camping World brand exceeded its fair market value. Although the company improved its gross profit margin at its retail stores, retail revenues fell 8.7 percent in the third quarter. Same store sales fell 14.3 percent compared to the same period in 2007.

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(Nov. 11, 2008) -- All RV dealers and their employees are cordially invited to attend the free to play, free to drink and free to eat Systems 2000 $2,000 blackjack tournament Dec. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m.

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(Nov. 11, 2008) -- A recent lawsuit filed against Keystone by Cooper’s RV Center in Murrysville, Penn., serves to highlight the conflicting opinions on this subject. According to Keystone President and CEO Ron Fenech, “Over the past 3 years our Internet advertising policy has evolved as we have considered a wide spectrum of dealer positions. We recognize this is a very sensitive issue to all our dealers. What we have found works best is to ultimately consider the retail customer and what puts them in the best position to have a long term positive experience with Keystone products, including service after the sale.”

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(Nov. 10, 2008) -- Thor Industries announced today that it is re-launching Thor Credit to provide retail fmancing for recreation vehicle customers of Thor dealers. Thor Credit will finance new Thor RV products and used products of its dealers. The new business will be led by former Thor Credit employees Ed Arienti, Margaret Gandolfo, and Nancy Hartmann, utilizing their decades of industry retail finance expertise.

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(Nov. 10, 2008) -- R. David Paulison, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, announced he could not in good conscience place people into travel trailers knowing they may contain formaldehyde. Instead, the federal agency opted to go with a mobile home and/or an apartment program.

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(Nov. 6, 2008) -- According to the statement, many issues important to the RV industry remain in play in Washington, including:
* Expanding credit opportunities for RV purchases
* CAFE standards that protect the availability of tow vehicles
* Protecting the second home mortgage interest deduction for RVs
* The Travel Promotion Act to boost tourism
* The Employee Free Choice Act which will impact unionizing efforts

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(Nov. 5, 2008) -- Harold Young was the owner and founder of Young's Mobile Homes & Travel Center in Fremont. He started the mobile home business in 1947 and built his first community, Colonial Acres, in 1953. Harold was active in the business up to his death. Harold was an avid Ross Sports fan and Ross Boosters supporter. He was a member of the Ohio Manufactured Housing Association, the RV Dealers Association and the Great Lakes Dealer Association.

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(Nov. 5, 2008) -- By using ILOG’s BRMS to categorize revenue from products that do not have a stock-keeping unit (SKU) number such as memberships, rentals and fees, Camping World has used ILOG’s BRMS to extend their business analytics to a broader range of products to better measure revenues and understand successful programs.

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(Nov. 4, 2008) -- The RVDA dealer-led brand committee process got off to a strong start with 13 brand committees meeting face-to-face with executives from 11 RV manufacturing companies during the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo in Las Vegas Sept. 23-26. Brand committee meetings are similar to the Partners In Progress meetings that occurred during previous convention/expo gatherings, except that brand committee leaders will maintain year-round contact with the manufacturers to insure that both parties fulfill the commitments made to each other. As a result, each brand committee’s steering committee will make an effort to contact their manufacturer at least once per quarter.

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