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SERVING CANADA’S RV INDUSTRY SINCE 1971 VOL 51 NO 1 268 - 44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 RVRV DealerNEWS CANADA’S FOREMOST RV INDUSTRY MAGAZINE TM TM TM TM WCANADIAN RV DEALER OF THE YEAR Canadian RVDA Updates CRVA News Go RVing Canada Reports ANDY THOMSON Can-Am RV Centre RVDN 51-1 Bue.indd 1RVDN 51-1 Bue.indd 12022-04-12 12:54 PM2022-04-12 12:54 PM• Creditor Life, Disability & Critical Illness Insurance • Mechanical Breakdown Plans • Appearance Protection Products We provide protection to Canadian families for when “what if?” becomes “what now?”. F inancial G r oup 320 Sioux Rd, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3X6 Trevor Smolski Director - Business Development 780-819-3271 • tsmolski@firstcanadian.ca Justin Sood Director - Business Development 416-400-4418 • jsood@firstcanadian.ca Phone: 780.467.9575 • Fax: 780.467.4016 • Toll Free: 1-800.561.3242 Untitled-1 1Untitled-1 12022-04-13 9:57 AM2022-04-13 9:57 AM3 Volume 51 Number 1 | RV Lifestyle Dealer News contents 26 10 38 26 COVER STORY: Andy Thomson, the 2021 Canadian RV Dealer of the Year… Canada’s RV dealers can be proud to celebrate the many achievements of Andy Thomson, of CanAm RV Centre, London, Ontario – the 32nd recipient of the Walt Paseska Memorial Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award. IN THIS ISSUE: 6 Transitions Appointments, promotions, and milestones from the personalities who energize the North American RV industry. 10 Marketing - Keys to Generating More Leads We asked the Ben Leighton, Content Marketing Specialist with Kenect, to describe how this smartphone app and dealership software can help you stay in touch with new and established clients. INDUSTRY UPDATES 14 RVDA of Canada Report Eleonore Hamm brings us up to date on the issues of interest to Canadian RV dealers. 18 CRVA Update 30 INDUSTRY NEWS Leisure Days Group is Growing! Trauma Showcases Aventa Roof Air Winnebago Celebrates 500,000th Motorhome! L Catterton Acquires Taxa Outdoors THOR Reveals Electric RVs And much more… 32 Live RV Shows are Back! A special report from the Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show 38 Spotlight on the 2022 Models – Look What’s New for ’22… A sampling of the cool new RVs for 2022. 44 New Products 46 RV Shows and Events Calendar Events of interest to Canadian RV dealers Looking for late-breaking news of interest to the Canadian RV industry? Check out the RV Dealer News website – www.rvldealernews.com Contentspub page.indd 3Contentspub page.indd 32022-04-12 12:56 PM2022-04-12 12:56 PM4 RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 51 Number 1 TM TM TM TM RV Dealer NEWS CANADA’S FOREMOST RV INDUSTRY MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS MESSAGE A Time of Challenges and Opportunities As the pandemic seems to be fading across North America, the RV industry emerges from two very “interesting” years with a new series of challenges and opportunities. With so many people seeking a safer alternative to family vacations, the massive increase in RV prospects is a welcome “silver lining” in the Covid-19 cloud… when supply chain logistics catch up with the demand, and manufacturers of RV components are able to ship products, the industry stands to benefit from a substantial increase in prospective buyers. Two very important aspects of the increased demand have not been noted by the industry gurus. First, the influx of full-time RV families is putting a major stress on the expected durability and longevity of the RV units – vehicles designed for 30 – 45 days of camping during the year are being used 365 days a year by families who are loading all of their possessions into the RVs. This sub- stantially increases the load and the wear and tear on the vehicle, and warranty coverage intended for rec- reational units may not be sufficient to cover “residential” applications. Second, the number of well-worn second-hand RVs that we can expect to see entering the marketplace will affect the used RV business for years to come – this will no doubt have an impact on the projected new unit sales – by the time the supply chain logistics are resolved, we could face an overstock situation… careful plan- ning and build projections would seem to be the order of the day. Perhaps the RV industry should consider a two-tier warranty program – basic coverage for recreational use units, and extended coverage for units that will be used for six months or more each year. And a very important milestone… This issue marks the begin- ning of our 51st year of service to the Canadian RV industry, and we are delighted to kick off our second half-century by celebrating a major accomplishment by one of Canada’s most distinguished RV dealers – Andy Thomson, of Can-Am RV, London, Ontario, who was named the 2021 Canadian RV Dealer of the Year in December. As a family- owned business, Can-Am RV sets a fine example for mid-size dealerships across the country, contributing to the RVDA, the industry, and the com- munity at large. A hearty congratu- lations to Andy, his family, and the staff at Can-Am RV, who make all of us proud to be part of the Canadian RV industry. W Bill Taylor, Publisher VOLUME 51 NUMBER 1 Publisher William E. Taylor Associate Publisher Melanie Taylor-Wallis V.P. Special Projects/Editorial Director Norm Rosen Technical Director Garth Cane Production Coordinator Giselle Bansal ADVERTISING SALES Norm Rosen Melanie Taylor-Wallis Todd Taylor ADMINISTRATION William E. Taylor President Melanie Taylor-Wallis Group Publisher Norman Rosen VP/Special Projects Nancy Mueller Accounting EXECUTIVE OFFICES Toronto: 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel: 905-844-8218 Fax: 905-844-5032 Montreal: Tel: 514-856-0788 Fax: 514-856-0790 Vancouver: 1745 Rufus Drive North Vancouver, BC V7J 3L8 Camping Canada’s RV Lifestyle Dealer News is published by Camping Canada Magazine Ltd. Reproduction of any mate- rial appearing in this magazine in any form is forbidden without prior consent of the publisher. Advertising rates available on request. Camping Canada Magazine reserves the right to refuse any and all advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements of facts made by its advertisers or independent columnists. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #43638025 Undeliverables to: 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 MONTREAL, QUEBEC © 2022 CAMPING CANADA MAGAZINE PRINTED IN CANADA aaaa Contentspub page.indd 4Contentspub page.indd 42022-04-12 12:56 PM2022-04-12 12:56 PMMass_NRG_GreyLine_Inset_OuterMask_CMYKCongratulations to the 2021 Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Andy Thomson Can-Am RV Centre On behalf of our entire sales and service team, RBC® salutes you for your outstanding dedication and contribution to the RV industry. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. VPS109441 30075 (01/2022) RBC.indd 1RBC.indd 12022-04-13 10:01 AM2022-04-13 10:01 AM6 TRANSITIONS integrated organization will provide a critical alignment between engineering and manufacturing to deliver seamless new product transition to the rate produc- tion and enhance design for manufactur- ability and producibility efforts. Mark Davis has been promoted to Business Unit Manager. In this role, he is responsible for leading product development strategies, revenue growth efforts, the execution of sales strategies and developing key partnerships across all market channels. Erin Cable has been promoted to Aqua-Hot’s Senior Manager of Supply Chain. Leading the Supply Chain Management Organization team, she continues material procurement, ware- house and supplier relationships, and takes on optimizing supply chain pro- cesses including SIOP workflow. Geoff Powell will continue to lead the Finance Organization team as Aqua-Hot’s Controller. His respon- sibilities include finance, benefits and Human Resources. “Aqua-Hot has always been known for delivering an exceptional ownership experience by providing high-end cli- mate systems and services,” says Selma Salihagic, Aqua-Hot General Manager. “But we want more. Our restructur- ing allows for execution with greater speed, efficiency and capabilities in a fast-changing world. Strategic product innovations can now drive Aqua-Hot forward, and our team from operations to call centers to sales is structured and RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 51 Number 1 ATLAS TRAILERS John Tamming (JT) has been appointed to the position of Branch Manager, head office Calgary, taking over from Ken Puddifant, who retired December 31. JT’s responsibilities will be to ensure the Atlas commitment to a high level of customer service, to branch operation, and continue to serve the company’s Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba customers. JT has more than 35 years of expe- rience, and a wealth of knowledge in the RV Industry. He is well known and highly respected throughout the industry. In making the announcement, Garry Bewernick, President of Atlas Trailer Coach Products, included the following comment: “We thank Ken for all these years of loyalty and dedicated service, and we wish him the best for many years to come. Ken has left some big shoes to fill, but JT’s size is ‘11’ and he will do just fine! Please join us in congratulating JT to his new position”. AQUA-HOT Aqua-Hot, an Airxcel brand, has realigned its corporate structure with the creation of four organizational teams and the naming of existing personnel as lead- ers for each. The change provides the foundation for the company to execute projects with greater speed and efficien- cy. Gary Miller has been named Director of Engineering and Manufacturing operations. This new L-R: Mark Davis, Erin Cable, Geoff Powell and Garry Miller ready for operational excellence.” Part of the Airxcel family of trusted companies, Aqua-Hot Heating Systems has manufactured innovative hydronic heating solutions for RVs since 1984. Highly adaptable to a wide range of applications, its products run on die- sel, gasoline or propane fuels. www. AquaHot.com. About Airxcel, Inc.: Airxcel is head- quartered in Wichita, Kansas with 11 facilities across the U.S. and Europe. It is the leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of the most critically functional products for the RV industry. www.Airxcel.com. NEW APPOINTMENTS AT GRAND DESIGN RV Grand Design Recreational Vehicle Company continues to attract accomplished personnel to enhance its well-known culture, company values and code of ethics. One most recent hire includes a new Vice President of Human Resources (HR), Mary Minix. Minix joins the team with an abun- dance of HR experience within the Customer Service sector. She not only recognizes the vital function human resources plays in building connections and enforcing principles within a com- pany but also personally connects to the Grand Design culture and community. Living in Shipshewana, she appreciates the lifestyle, values and needs of many members within our strong skilled work- force. JOHN TAMMING Transitions-51-1.indd 6Transitions-51-1.indd 62022-04-12 12:58 PM2022-04-12 12:58 PM7 Volume 51 Number 1 | RV Lifestyle Dealer News “Mary has an outstanding reputation within the Human Resource Profession,” says Don Clark, CEO of Grand Design RV. “As we continue to grow, Mary and her team will provide a foundational, for- ward-thinking approach needed in today’s business environment.” Minix joins the Grand Design leader- ship team and will work with all members of management and broader community Winnebago, the legacy brand in the premium portfolio of outdoor life- style product manufacturer Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO) announced that Niles Whitehouse has been promoted to Vice President, Sales and Service for the Winnebago Motorhome business. MARY MINIX DON CLARK In his new role, Whitehouse will advance a holistic sales and service strat- egy to Winnebago’s distribution channel partners. He will continue to direct the evolution of existing programs, as well as activate new tools to enhance both dealer and customer experiences. Whitehouse has a long career in the RV business with sales and manage- ment experience at both the dealer and manufacturer level. He began his career with Winnebago Industries as Western Area Sales Manager of Winnebago Motorhomes and for the last nine years, has served as Director of Sales. In that role, Whitehouse was instrumental in strengthening the Winnebago Motorhome dealer network. “Niles is an effective collaborator who has successfully influenced our business and product strategy and is an important and valued member of the senior leader- ship team,” said Huw Bower, President of Winnebago Outdoors. “I look for- ward to working with Niles as we build on the legacy and forward vision of our Winnebago brand.” JAYCO ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS OF KEY EXECUTIVES The Jayco® Family of Companies has announced the promotion of several key executives in Sales and Marketing. With all of the Jayco companies growing their footprint in sales and elevating their level of customer care, it is important to have key people in the right spots; to do so, the company has announced the fol- lowing promotions: • Nic Martin, former General Manager for Jayco and Entegra Coach® motorized group, has been promoted to Vice President of Sales for Jayco Motors & Towables and Entegra Coach. • Brion Brady, former General Manager of Highland Ridge RV® and Starcraft RV®, has been pro- moted to Vice President of Sales for Highland Ridge and Starcraft. • Ryan Eash will backfill Nic Martin’s position of General Manager of the Motorized Group from his prior role as Director of Product Development. • In addition, as customer experience and marketing have become such an integral part of the day to day opera- tions, the company is taking steps to ensure that these areas are properly represented as part of the executive staff. Therefore, Trey Miller will now assume the position of Vice President of Marketing from his current role as Director of Corporate Marketing. “With the promotion of these talent- ed, trusted leaders, I am confident that the structure of the Sales and Marketing organizations will properly align the company to assist in reaching our aggres- sive targets, while focusing on quality, dealer relations and employee relations. I am very proud of this group and their understanding of the Jayco culture, which drives our commitment to dealers and customers,” stated Ken Walters – President of Jayco BIOGRAPHIES Nic has been with Jayco for over 6 HUW BOWER NILES WHITEHOUSE KEN WALTERS Transitions-51-1.indd 7Transitions-51-1.indd 72022-04-12 12:59 PM2022-04-12 12:59 PM8 RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 48 Number 2 February of 2018, Ryan was once again promoted to Director of Product Development for Jayco Motorized and Entegra Coach. Ryan is married to his wife Kelcy and they are the parents of two children, Brooklyn and Micah. Trey is a 22 year veteran of the RV industry starting in aftermarket distribu- tion with DTI® as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Stag-Parkway® as the Vice President of Marketing Services, before moving into the supplier side of the business with Atwood® and Dometic®, in various roles including, Vice President of Marketing – Americas. Trey joined Jayco in 2020, in the position of Director of Corporate Marketing. Trey is married to his wife Kari and they are parents to two children, Cameron and Hanna. GARY CONLEY NAMED NEW VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, LANCE® CAMPER Lance Camper, manufacturer of high-quality, ultra-lightweight compos- ite-built truck campers and travel trail- ers, announces the appointment of Gary Conley as Vice President/General Manager. Conley will report to Mike Lanciotti, President, REV Recreation Group. “We are very pleased to be able to promote Gary to the leadership position at Lance Camper. Gary has been an inte- gral part of the legacy brands success of the past 40 years and has the experience to take Lance to the next level,” states Lanciotti. Conley began his career at Lance nearly four decades ago, working as a sales manager and store manager at Lance Camper Sales & Service. Then appointed as a Purchasing Manager where he estab- lished the first digital purchasing system for the company. For the last 29 years, Conley held the role of National Sales Manager and established a dealer network as well as helped to design new products. Conley studied Marketing and Finance at California State University and has vast volunteer experience, including serving as President of the Highlander Booster Club, a community-based volun- teer organization that raised money and supported activities for the nation’s largest Charter High School in the country. INDUSTRY NEWS years, starting in November 2015 as the Assistant Product Director in Motorized. That role led him to serve as National Sales Manager for some time, followed by the position of Product Director for all motorized gas products, before assum- ing the General Manager role for Jayco Motorized and Entegra Coach in 2018. He is married to his wife Kelli, who coaches collegiate softball. Brion is an 18 year veteran of the RV industry with extensive time spent in both motorized and towables. He started in the business as a District Sales Manager for Winnebago®, before moving to Indiana from Seattle in 2015 when he took over as GM at Winnebago towables. Brion began his career at Jayco in January of 2017 as general manager of Jayco motor- ized, to GM of Entegra and then the GM at Highland Ridge and Starcraft. Ryan joined the Jayco family in 2015 as the Marketing Brand Manager for the motorized group. In 2016 he was pro- moted to Regional Sales Manager, where he held a territory in the mid-west. In GARY CONLEY NIC MARTIN RYAN EASH MIKE LANCIOTTI BRION BRADY TREY MILLER RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 51 Number 1 Transitions-51-1.indd 8Transitions-51-1.indd 82022-04-12 12:59 PM2022-04-12 12:59 PM9 Volume 51 Number 1 | RV Lifestyle Dealer News OUTDOOR RECREATION ROUNDTABLE ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) announced its new eight-member executive committee today. The executive committee is charged with guiding ORR’s strategic direction and supporting the organization in carrying out its three-year strategic plan. The exec- utive committee is comprised of leaders from across the outdoor recreation indus- try and includes the following members: • Frank Hugelmeyer – ORR Chair and president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). • Glenn Hughes – ORR Vice Chair and president of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). • Erik Pritchard – ORR Treasurer and president of the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC). • Mary Ellen Sprenkel – ORR Secretary and president & CEO of The Corps Network (TCN). • Lise Aangeenbrug – At-Large Member and executive director of Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). • Chris Edmonston – At-Large Member and president of the BoatU.S. Foundation. • Jay Landers – At-Large Member and vice president for govern- ment affairs with the RV Industry Association (RVIA). • Phil Ingrassia – ORR Past Chair and president of the RV Dealers Association (RVDA). “Outdoor Recreation Roundtable is lucky to be guided by some of the best minds in industry with our board and new executive committee,” said Jessica (Wahl) Turner, president of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “The committee has already been hard at work helping ORR develop our new strategic plan and ORR looks forward to ways we can drive the recre- ation economy with their support in the coming years.” W FRANK HUGELMEYER CHRIS EDMONSTON NEW! 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