Many of us have seen the full page ads in the airline magazines for “The ten best steakhouses in America” or the “Ten best sushi restaurants.” The ad cost is then split among the ten establishments that participate in the ad.

I think you should make such a page available to the regional distributors and however many want to participate would then split the cost. The message on the ad could promote the capabilities of the regional distributors (personal service, local warehouses, same day or early next day delivery, etc.)

This would lessen the burden of costly full page advertising and they would the have an opportunity to compete on the same level as the larger national companies. You get a full page of ad revenue and then you’ll have a good reason to promote the regional distributors as well as the national players.

The burden is on the regional guys though … they have to start working closer together with a common message to the dealers that will allow them to grow their business and earn the business of new customers.

Just an idea, but it might level the playing field if they see merit in it and are willing to spend a few dollars to make it happen.

However, we never turn down good news stories, articles about business expansion, information about trends, personnel changes,etc. We’ll post news on our website for any company, regardless of whether the firm is an advertiser.

Have a dealer who is doing an exceptional job selling aftermarket products? Then pass along his or her name. Has your company made a signifcant investment in a new building or new way of moving products? Then let me know. Are sales up for your company this quarter? We’ll let the world know. I’ll always find a way to publish a good story.

Along those same lines, I try my best to attend every show/event to which I am invited, provided it fits in my travel schedule and budget. I had planned to visit the Bell show in Wisconsin Dells earlier this month, but wound up at the Consumer Electronic Show instead. My assistant editor did attend the Bell show.

I have often suggested that the regional distributors form their own little association and take the best ideas of the group and share best practices to retain their vitality in the marketplace. Why aren’t the regional distributors joining forces on one catalog instead of many individual projects? Why aren’t the regional distributors making combined purchase decisions that will allow them to work with the margins of the large national companies?

I believe in small business driving great success when they work within their capabilities and provide outstanding customer service to their dealers. Sometimes I think the regional distributors don’t want you to know just how successful they are.

It would be interesting to hear from some of the regional distributors and see what their viewpoint is. And they should certainly take Greg up on his offer to be included in press releases, product information and regional shows.

This has always been a problem for this industry. Many companies are their own worst enemy because they don’t know how to work with the press to maximize exposure and get some free PR along the way.

Have to stop typing now … my arm still hurts!

Having attended my first Stag show I will respectfully correct my friend Bob on his reference to arm twisting as a method to supply products to RV Dealers as simply untrue.

We certainly appreciate your kind words and reference to some of our initiatives. Ultimately, each distributor must decide which business model works best for them. For us, we know that consolidation is occuring in the market. Independent RV dealers are asking for more training - product and business! If we (distribution) don’t step up to the plate and assist at some level, we will ultimately lose … ALL DISTRIBUTION!

I do take issue with some of the blog comments that reference us as the “big guys”. Keep in mind we were a small regional distributor for much of our existence. We made the decision over a decade ago to listen more carefully to our customers and to become more involved in the success of the industry we serve. We chose a business model based on mutual success for all of our trading partners - suppliers and dealers.

That may mean they are doing the same positive things I see at Stag and NTP, but I’m just not aware of it. If there are any outstanding regional distributors doing the right things, please let me know who they are and what they’re doing. They deserve a place in the spotlight, too.

Companies don’t have to be rich or big to be a player in this industry, but they do need to be active. It’s hard for me to judge or promote what other warehouse distributors are doing when they’re not telling their own stories — and their dealers aren’t publicly singing their praises either.