Comments on: What will Buffett Munch on Next? http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/ Welcome to RV Weekly where the editor of RV Trade Digest will be updating you on the latest news, trends, and products important to the RV industry. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:42:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Lee Christensen http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-75 Lee Christensen Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:13:21 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-75 NATIONAL RV needs a buyer or they'll become extinct. It'll have to be Warren Buffet or Thor! NATIONAL RV needs a buyer or they’ll become extinct. It’ll have to be Warren Buffet or Thor!

]]> By: loretta http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-72 loretta Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:39:10 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-72 If you want to go with some alphabetical logic, start with "A" for Alfa Leisure. Alfa really needs the kinks jerked out. The company has a good concept, but not the leadership or engineering qualities to follow thru. If you want to go with some alphabetical logic, start with “A” for Alfa Leisure. Alfa really needs the kinks jerked out. The company has a good concept, but not the leadership or engineering qualities to follow thru.

]]> By: chuck schwartz http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-70 chuck schwartz Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:54:37 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-70 I think that WB interest in the RV business is a strong positive. This industry needs to have fresh ideas on both sides of the aisle. The programs that R66 is adding to the dealers is just one great example of how much can be done with some thought to our future growth, and not just talking about the present day problems. These problems are important but should have been addressed long ago and then we now would be ahead of the stalled gap between the RVIA and the RVDA body. Lets hope he we will bring a great amount of thoughts to both sides. Lets hope that the thought by Mike Ingram will fall on death ears that wuld be a major down turn for our future. I think that WB interest in the RV business is a strong positive. This industry needs to have fresh ideas on both sides of the aisle. The programs that R66 is adding to the dealers is just one great example of how much can be done with some thought to our future growth, and not just talking about the present day problems. These problems are important but should have been addressed long ago and then we now would be ahead of the stalled gap between the RVIA and the RVDA body. Lets hope he we will bring a great amount of thoughts to both sides. Lets hope that the thought by Mike Ingram will fall on death ears that wuld be a major down turn for our future.

]]> By: Dennis Haddix http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-69 Dennis Haddix Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:39:32 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-69 This is all Dollars and very little Sense. Considering the RV industries archaic methodology of maintaining life long customers. The manufacturers generally are only concerned with the selling of the major units. The RV consumer is a very knowledgable and educated consumer that is very tech savvy and service expectation oriented that will become the demise of the majority of manufacturers whoever is the principal owner managing or investing in this industry. This is all Dollars and very little Sense. Considering the RV industries archaic methodology of maintaining life long customers. The manufacturers generally are only concerned with the selling of the major units. The RV consumer is a very knowledgable and educated consumer that is very tech savvy and service expectation oriented that will become the demise of the majority of manufacturers whoever is the principal owner managing or investing in this industry.

]]> By: Gene Seider http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-68 Gene Seider Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:21:39 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-68 It is certainly true that Mr. B has the financial resources to become a "swinger" in the RV manufacturing business. Yet, I see a big difference between linking Mr. B's investment in GS's Fairmount Homes and an RV Manufacturer. Reasons: 1. Manufactured homes are permanent structures that attract a portion of the population to that lifestyle. These folks are generally easy to please once their home is set up and operating properly. They tend to stay put and not move very frequently. 2. RVers, on the other hand, demand and rightfully expect, that their investment in a new MH or towable, be the best that they can afford. A manufacturer who does not hear this message will soon find out that their Service Bay is full, or that their warranty expenses are going out the roof. On this point, I doubt that Mr. B can fix that problem unless he decides to take a very active involvement in listening to what the RV Community really expects. I agree with a previous writer, the RV Product is an entity until itself. It is certainly true that Mr. B has the financial resources to become a “swinger” in the RV manufacturing business. Yet, I see a big difference between linking Mr. B’s investment in GS’s Fairmount Homes and an RV Manufacturer.

Reasons:
1. Manufactured homes are permanent structures that attract a portion of the population to that lifestyle. These folks are generally easy to please once their home is set up and operating properly. They tend to stay put and not move very frequently.

2. RVers, on the other hand, demand and rightfully expect, that their investment in a new MH or towable, be the best that they can afford. A manufacturer who does not hear this message will soon find out that their Service Bay is full, or that their warranty expenses are going out the roof. On this point, I doubt that Mr. B can fix that problem unless he decides to take a very active involvement in listening to what the RV Community really expects.

I agree with a previous writer, the RV Product is an entity until itself.

]]> By: Mark Primeaux http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-67 Mark Primeaux Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:09:26 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-67 After beginning my retail career in the mobile home business and ending up(Thankfully) an RV dealer, I have followed the Clayton Homes purchase and then the Forest River purchase by Buffet. Buffet is brilliant in his acquisitons, if people doubt him, it's because of their unfamiliarity with Buffet's ability to make strategic acquisitions and then expand them. I wholeheartedly believe Buffet will acquire the likes of Fleetwood and blend the mobile home business into the Clayton organization and the motorhome business into the Forest River group. Then, the ability to duplicate the build-finance-insure model of the Clayton powerhouse in the RV business would dominate the RV industry. Anyone who thinks this is not possible then they are just not familiar with who's involved. After beginning my retail career in the mobile home business and ending up(Thankfully) an RV dealer, I have followed the Clayton Homes purchase and then the Forest River purchase by Buffet. Buffet is brilliant in his acquisitons, if people doubt him, it’s because of their unfamiliarity with Buffet’s ability to make strategic acquisitions and then expand them. I wholeheartedly believe Buffet will acquire the likes of Fleetwood and blend the mobile home business into the Clayton organization and the motorhome business into the Forest River group. Then, the ability to duplicate the build-finance-insure model of the Clayton powerhouse in the RV business would dominate the RV industry. Anyone who thinks this is not possible then they are just not familiar with who’s involved.

]]> By: Mike Ingram http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-66 Mike Ingram Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:40:52 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-66 How about some alphabet logic? FRL! Forest River - Liegl. Freedom Roads - Lemonis. That would spark some lively conversation. How about some alphabet logic? FRL! Forest River - Liegl. Freedom Roads - Lemonis. That would spark some lively conversation.

]]> By: chris king http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-65 chris king Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:06:15 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-65 YES-Warren B. DID buy Forest River. EST purchase price via Elkhart "street talk" was $800 Million. (Hard to believe!) In my 30+years as an OEM RV Rep. I have seen many "outside" companies come into the industry to "buy" and "fail". (Harley Davidson IE: Holiday Rambler)for example. They just do not get the idea of what the industry is all about. And they do not understand how the sales Cycle relates to the heart beat of the retail customer. I doubt that Mr. Buffet is any different. YES-Warren B. DID buy Forest River. EST purchase price via Elkhart “street talk” was $800 Million. (Hard to believe!) In my 30+years as an OEM RV Rep. I have seen many “outside” companies come into the industry to “buy” and “fail”. (Harley Davidson IE: Holiday Rambler)for example. They just do not get the idea of what the industry is all about. And they do not understand how the sales Cycle relates to the heart beat of the retail customer. I doubt that Mr. Buffet is any different.

]]> By: ggerber http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-63 ggerber Mon, 30 Oct 2006 22:44:32 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-63 Indeed he did, and buying one of these other companies would certainly be another feather in that cap! - Editor Indeed he did, and buying one of these other companies would certainly be another feather in that cap! - Editor

]]> By: chris beh http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-62 chris beh Mon, 30 Oct 2006 21:32:04 +0000 http://www.rvtradedigest.com/interactive/2006/10/30/what-will-buffett-munch-on-next/#comment-62 Didn't Buffett already buy Forest River? Didn’t Buffett already buy Forest River?

]]>