Reflections on the Louisville show
Another National RV Trade Show is in the books. Each year, I’m amazed at the level of innovation that comes out of companies in the RV industry – and this year was no different. As the RV Trade Digest staff walked the floor, there were several things that caught our eyes.
First of all, Fleetwood deserves kudos for its new innovative units. Seven of the 18 motorhomes on display in Louisville were new since the company held its Dealer Days event in Las Vegas 90 days earlier. In fact, Fleetwood met its pre-show order goal on Day One and they met their entire show goal for their new Jamboree entry level Type C in just three hours. This is a company that has clearly turned the corner.
National RV introduced a telescoping slideout room which gives RVers the same amount of space inside the bedroom when the unit is extended, but much more space to move around the bedroom with the slideout retracted.
Whoever came up with the idea to give away fishing poles at the CrossRoads display deserves a big bonus. On the busiest day of the show, those things could be seen everywhere. I later learned the company passed out only 500 poles, but it seemed like 5,000 people were carrying them around the show.
Robin Industries “Fifth Wheel Barrow” promises to make it much easier for one person to install and remove a fifth wheel hitch. The company will soon introduce a universal adapter allowing it to be attached to any hitch. Users simply twist the handles to extend a wheel which allows them to easily transport the hitch from the truck to the storage area.
Gulf Stream’s SuperNova Type C offers an amazing 15,000-pound towing capacity and blurs the line between Type A and Type C units. With an exclusive arrangement to build the unit on an International chassis, they should be able to score big with this unit for some time. The curved euro-style cabinets and three-zone living areas with 7-foot interior height will make it a market buster.
Mighty Winnebago will make waves with its new entry-level Type A motorhomes, the 2007 Vista and Sunstar. These moderately-priced units offer a look and feel of mid-price units with exceptional storage. In fact, by raising the bed, the company has created a storage cavern in back. They also offer a child seat tether anchor in the dinette, something I’ve not seen before in a motorhome.
Carefree of Colorado’s Paramount awning adeptly slides up and over slideout rooms. It can be partially extended to protect a slideout, extended further to keep sunlight out of the living area or fully extended to create an outdoor patio. Best of all, wind sensors detect movement of the awning before retracting the device rather than relying upon a wind dial on the roof.
As usual, the Outlook breakfast was a star-studded event that provided a great review of the current Go RVing program and the RVIA’s exceptional public relations effort – both of which are helping to cement RVing as a family-friendly experience in the minds of millions of Americans. The staff did a great job of busting several myths that raise unwarranted objections in the minds of consumers.
But, in talking with others, several people commented that although an appearance by Timmy and Lassie was fun, there needs to be more industry outlook in the Outlook breakfast. They feel the event would be an ideal opportunity to address long-term market, economic and demographic trends in greater detail. Several who also attended RVIA’s annual meeting suggested using a single, motivating keynote speaker to get the troops pumped up for the show and the year ahead.
It has become painfully apparent, however, that 70 percent of the business done at the show is completed in the first 8.5 hours. Another 25 percent of business activity takes place on Day Two. Many people – especially those paying for exhibit space – feel something needs to be done about Day Three.
Attendance has dwindled so much on the last day that time that most chief executives and senior managers leave the show entirely. Some companies even bring in the tear-down staff early to collect business cards from the dozen or so people who may stop by and inquire about products.
Day Three is mostly an opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers to check out competitive products. The return on investment of time, effort, energy and money for an extra day at the show is limited.
Perhaps RVDA and RVIA can join forces to create a compelling educational program for Day Three on par with the Learning Center agenda offered at the RVDA Expo in Las Vegas. That would give East Coast dealers an incentive to send more staff to major trade show and it would increase attendance to the point booth staff would actually have something to do besides endure the agonizing wait to the closing bell.
What did you think of this year’s National RV show? Sound off in the RV Trade Digest forums by clicking here.
December 11th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
I think the show would be much better attended if it were moved out of Louisville. Everyone has been going there for years and have done and seen everything there is to see in the area. The local Hotels are getting very rundown and getting into and out of the City by air is not the easiest. The weather generally gets very ugly that time of the year also so maybe this year people left early because of all of the snow that was going to hit the area, I know we did. Move it around some, Maybe Las Vegas one year Orlando the next Louisville the third. I know I did not even want to go this year. After going 20 years and mostly the same place it gets old. And if it is to stay in Louisville have someplace decent for people to sit and eat, something besides a $5.00 dog. I am for moving it around so it can gain some excitement again. I like to relax and see different areas of the county while I am away.
December 8th, 2006 at 10:37 am
In responce to the three day show we take the first days to visit our current suppliers and take a quick look at anything different. After meeting with my staff we will take day three to meet with anyone that we are concidering so we can get a better look and feel for the product.
Having other scheduled meetings and setting in on other seminarsthe time passes very swiftly. The seminar on advertising which was a two part meeting I found to be very interisting.
After
December 5th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
I agree with Dave Brown. I have been mystified for years as to why participation in the show falls off so dramatically during Day Three. As I have often said, in order to spend just five minutes at each booth or RV display would require more than 33 hours — and the show is open only 23.5 hours. But, if what Dave says is true and dealers really invest a great deal of time and money to attend the show, where are they on Day Three? And without the dealers, many of the exhibitors’ top managers and CEOs leave early, too. Is this a Catch 22? The smart move would be to skip the crowds on Day One and walk the displays on Day Three when exhibitors can provide their undivided attention.
December 5th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
I think you are putting way to much emphasis on the day 1, 2, and 3 sales activity. Most atendees have come a long way and spent a considerable amount to attend. With this in mind what is the rush? We are there to plan our entire year ahead with new products and services. It could be that some super people can do it with a snap of the finger but I will bet the vast majority of dealers think long and hard prior to any major decision and they may even call the manufacturer after the RV show is over.
December 5th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
FYI, The Carefree of Colorado ‘Direct Response’ system (used on the Paramount awning) uses an actual motion sensor (no wind sensors are used) to directly measure the amount of awning movement as part of its patent pending Auto-Retract system.
Also, the new Paramount controls allow the awning to provide true slide-out protection. When excessive motion is detected, the awning will first retract to (and stop at) the slide-out cover position. The controls then switch to a much higher motion sensitivity setting to allow the awning to keep the slide covered during adverse weather conditions.