Month: August 2024

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Inc. revealed today that Blue Compass RV is once again one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, according to a release from the nation’s second-largest dealer group. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment — its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Blue Compass RV has continued to rapidly grow as a powerful brand within the recreational vehicle industry with revenue growth of 94% in the last three years.

“We are honored to be recognized by Inc 5000 for the second year in a row for our tremendous growth, ranking as the No. 1 RV retail company on the list. Since we launched the company six years ago, we’ve grown to over 100 stores in 33 states to serve RV customers from coast to coast,” said Blue Compass RV Founder, CEO and President Jon Ferrando. “We celebrate this honor with our incredible associates, customers, manufacturer partners and vendors who have all contributed to our amazing growth and success.”

The Inc. 5000 class of 2024 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year’s top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate is 1,637 percent. In all, this year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 874,458 jobs to the economy over the past three years.

“One of the greatest joys of my job is going through the Inc. 5000 list,” says Mike Hofman, who recently joined Inc. as editor-in-chief. “To see all of the intriguing and surprising ways that companies are transforming sectors, from health care and AI to apparel and pet food, is fascinating for me as a journalist and storyteller. Congratulations to this year’s honorees, as well, for growing their businesses fast despite the economic disruption we all faced over the past three years, from supply chain woes to inflation to changes in the workforce.”

For complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, location, and other criteria, go to www.inc.com/inc5000. All 5000 companies are featured on Inc.com starting Aug. 13, and the top 500 appear in the new issue of Inc. magazine, available on newsstands beginning Tuesday, Aug. 20.

About Blue Compass RV:

Blue Compass RV is the fastest growing RV retail company in the United States with a mission to provide an exceptional sales, service, and RV ownership experience for its customers. Blue Compass RV has over 100 RV stores in 33 states. Blue Compass RV is led by Jon Ferrando, founder, chief executive officer and President. Jon Ferrando was instrumental in building America’s largest automotive retailer from start-up to over $20 billion in revenue. Blue Compass RV’s leadership team has over 300 years of automotive and RV retail industry experience.

The post Blue Compass RV Named to 2024 Inc. 5000 Annual List first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

RV consumers are converging today (Aug. 14) in about 700 motorized and towable RVs, including both members and non-members of the sponsoring Cincinnati-based Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), on the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Ore., in preparation for the startup of FMCA’s 109th International Convention & RV Expo.

The anticipated crowd for the Aug. 14-17 “Adventure Peaks”-themed Oregon rally, the anchor sponsor for which is Oregon’s Beaver Coach Sales, amounts to about 1,500 people, according to FMCA Director of Events Doug Uhlenbrock.

And while he says the general buzz remains strong for the rally in general, FMCA’s first in Redmond in 10 years, Uhlenbrock told RVB.com that the total crowd size was a bit less than FMCA’s own projections.

“We would like to see a whole heck of a lot more (coaches),” he said. “We were counting on maybe about a thousand. But the 700 families who have decided to come and join us are going to be treated to a great time. We’ve got all kinds of fun things planned for them including about a hundred seminars plus exhibit halls and RV displays.

“Beaver Coach Sales, our title sponsor, has got a full complement of RVs out there, so it’s going to be a good show for those who are here pretty much in the tradition of FMCA,” said Uhlenbrock, whose consumer club bills itself as the world’s largest nonprofit association for recreation vehicle owners. “And we try to add new things to every event and do some things a little differently. But we always have our standard seminars, exhibit halls and RV displays. Those are the staples of everything we do.”

Among the topics for the roughly 100 seminars on tap for the 125,000-member not-for-profit organization’s Oregon event: chassis maintenance, RV solar systems, full-time RVing and convection microwave cooking.

Also part of the overall picture at FMCA’s central Oregon consumer rally – along with displays of more than a hundred new manufacturer coaches – have been some rather hazy skies thanks to rampant California wildfires. “It’s a beautiful area,” he said on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, we got a little smoke from the wildfires out here, but the weather’s really nice right now so everything’s kind of moving along just as we expected.”

The “RV Expo” display of new OEM units, more motorized than towable, gets underway at 1 p.m. today and runs through the show’s close at 3 p.m. Saturday for FMCA, which is currently being overseen by a management committee made up of several officers in the aftermath of the recent departure of CEO Chris Smith.

Uhlenbrock says FMCA anticipates the naming of a permanent replacement for Smith in the relatively near future.

The post FMCA Kicks Off 109th International Convention in Oregon first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

SALISBURY, N.C. – After breaking ground on a 71,000-square-foot Supercenter last year in Salisbury, General RV Center is now interviewing local candidates for up to 150 jobs with an average salary of $65,000.

With an expected opening this October, positions needing to be filled include sales associates, technicians, service advisors, parts representative positions and more. As the nation’s largest family-owned RV dealership, General RV will host a two-day hiring event for its first location in North Carolina.

The hiring event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 14) and Thursday (Aug. 15) at the Hampton Inn at 1001 KIlumac Road in Salisbury.

To learn more about available jobs and to register, visit generalrv.com/hiringnc. Sign-up is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome to attend.

The post General RV to Hire Up to 150 at New Supercenter in N.C. first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ELKHART, Ind. – This Sept. 23-25, in conjunction with the Elkhart Dealer Open House, the RV/MH Hall of Fame will once again host the industry’s suppliers, offering an opportunity to show in front of the wholesale side of the industry, according to a release from the Hall of Fame.

To ensure participation in the 2024 show, all registrations and payments are required to be submitted by Aug. 31.

This event has been refered to as “The premiere supplier exhibition to show in front of dealers, manufacturers, and others.” For 2024, the Hall has once again expanded the show with the addition of a 36,000 square foot Eastern Wing that has been designed with this event specifically in mind. Indoor booths are still available as of August 13th, but you must act quickly to ensure your place in the show. Pre-registration for attendees of the show is up significantly over previous years.

“If you have not registered, please secure your spot as soon as possible because booth space is going quickly. Click here to visit the website for the brand new show layout, registration forms, and other information important for exhibitors,” the release stated.

 Standard booth price for 2024 is $3,500 per indoor booth and $2,500 per outdoor booth with specialty booths available upon request.

When submitting a registration, Show Director and Hall of Fame President Darryl Searer will assist in selecting a booth. For questions or help registering, contact Searer at 574-903-3850.

The post RV Hall Supplier Show Registration, Payment Due Aug. 31 first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

VAIL, Colo. – Harvest Hosts, a membership program offering RVers access to 9,000+ unique RV camping locations, announced today its acquisition of Escapees RV Club, one of the oldest RV organizations providing community, events, education, discounts and resources to support and enhance the RV lifestyle. This expansion reflects Harvest Hosts’ commitment to creating safe, memorable, and community-focused experiences for RVers throughout North America, according to a release.

EDITOR’S NOTE: RVBusiness first reported on this acquisition on July 18 (See: “Harvest Hosts Takes Lead Mgt. Role in Escapees RV Club”) and a follow-up story on Aug. 6 (See: “Harvest Hosts’ Holland Reviews the Escapees Acquisition”).

Founded 46 years ago by Joe and Kay Peterson, Escapees RV Club has long been a pillar of RV travel. With its vibrant support network, the club has become an essential resource for RVers, offering a wide array of services and fostering a strong sense of community. Harvest Hosts is honored to carry the torch moving forward, ensuring a robust RVing experience for newcomers and lifelong travelers alike.

As part of the deal, Harvest Hosts has acquired the Escapees membership platform, including memberships, events, education and community services. Travis and Melanie Carr, Co-CEOs of Escapees RV Club, will continue to operate the mail service and campgrounds without interruption, and Escapees members will continue to receive their associated member benefits as normal. The acquisition aims to enhance the RV lifestyle and create a more comprehensive network by leveraging the strengths and resources of both companies.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Escapees RV Club into the Harvest Hosts family,” said Joel Holland, CEO of Harvest Hosts. “With a shared passion for enhancing the RV lifestyle through exceptional experiences and a vibrant community, it was a natural fit to bring the two organizations together. This allows us to dedicate more resources towards expanding the offerings for both memberships while reinforcing our commitment to building the greatest RV club in the world.”

As part of the transition, Harvest Hosts has retained the Escapees RV Club staff, ensuring jobs are preserved under the new leadership. This continuity will allow members to receive the same level of service from the people they have come to know and trust.

“We are immensely proud of the legacy and values that Escapees RV Club has built,” said Travis and Melanie Carr, the former President/Co-CEO and Vice President/Co-CEO of Escapees RV Club. “With Harvest Hosts, we have found a partner whose vision and dedication to the RV community aligns with our own. We are confident that under their leadership, our members will not only continue to receive the exceptional service they expect, but will also find value in the expanded opportunities this brings.”

This union benefits the members of both organizations and strengthens Harvest Hosts’ footprint in the RV community. With shared resources and expertise, Harvest Hosts is poised to offer the most comprehensive network of experiences and superior services for RVers, nurturing a more connected and supportive community. Both companies are committed to maintaining high standards for their members, who are the heart of everything they do.

About Harvest Hosts

Harvest Hosts, the largest private RV camping network in North America, provides a complete network of offerings to streamline the road travel and camping experience – with a collection of companies that includes Boondockers Welcome, a community of RVers allowing guests to stay overnight on their property for free; CampersCard, a campground discounts and benefits program; CampScanner, an alert service to book sold-out campgrounds; and Brit Stops, a membership connecting motorhome tourists in the UK and Ireland with small businesses for overnight stays. The company’s mission is to advance the technology and accessibility of the RVing and campground industry, making traveling while supporting national parks, local small businesses and communities easier than ever.

To learn more, visit: www.harvesthosts.com, www.boondockerswelcome.com, www.camperscard.com, www.campscanner.com, www.britstops.com; download the Harvest Hosts app on iOS here and Android here.

About Escapees RV Club

Since 1978, Escapees has been a leader in supporting those who pursue the RVing lifestyle. The club was founded by full-time RVers, Joe and Kay Peterson, at a time when there was no support group for full-timers. Today, the club continues to grow and transform itself according to the needs of its members, supporting them through benefits, educational and social opportunities. Learn more about what is available to Escapees RV Club members at www.escapees.com.

The post Harvest Hosts Announces Acquisition of Escapees RV Club first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

The “Big Truck Big RV YouTube channel does a walk-through tour of the 2025 Wildwood Grand Lodge 42 Veranda by Forest River.

The post OEM Showcase: FR’s Wildwood Grand Lodge 42 Veranda first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

TAMPA, Fla. – Lazydays Holdings, Inc.  (NasdaqCM: GORV) will announce its second quarter 2024 financial results no later than before the market opens on Aug. 16. A conference call to discuss the results is scheduled for the same day at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

The conference call may be accessed by telephone at 877-407-8029 / +1 201-689-8029. To listen live on the Lazydays website or for replay, visit www.lazydays.com/investor-relations.

The post Lazydays Schedules Release of Second Quarter Results first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an excerpt of an article by Gordon White for Truck Camper Magazine.

nuCamp RV has rocketed its technology to the next level and brought fully automated lamination in-house. nuCamp now has some of the most advanced technology we’ve ever seen in a camper factory. The impact is nothing less than a sea change.

This past June, we visited the nuCamp RV headquarters in Sugarcreek, Ohio. This was our sixth time visiting the company since they launched the Cirrus line of truck campers in 2015. During each of those visits, we saw factory and manufacturing improvements and evolutions, but nothing like what we saw this year.

When we first walked the Cirrus production line in 2015, they were sourcing their exterior wall laminations from an outside vendor. This was fantastic for efficiency as the camper walls were shipped to nuCamp ready to go. After installing the windows and decals, the walls were sent to the production line and fastened to units.

The downsides to this approach are cost and control. An outside vendor requires a markup for profitability, and they are in control of production scheduling and quality. Nearly every camper company that works with outside vendors would rather bring production in-house, especially during economic peaks and valleys.

It should be no surprise that nuCamp has now brought their exterior wall laminations in-house. And they didn’t just purchase the ubiquitous hot melt applicator and pinch roll lamination machine. nuCamp has invested millions into state-of-the-art Morbidelli machining centers, a C.R. Onsrud CNC machine, and Edge Automation motorized NORD Drivesystems, and more. We’re talking about a major technological sea change at nuCamp, and it was on display everywhere in the plant.

Click here to read the full report by Truck Camper Magazine.

The post ‘Truck Camper Magazine’ Showcases nuCamp Technology first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

WASHINGTON — Wholesale price increases in the United States eased in July, suggesting that inflation pressures are further cooling as the Federal Reserve moves closer to cutting interest rates, likely beginning next month, according to an Associated Press report.

The Labor Department reported Tuesday that its producer price index — which tracks inflation before it reaches consumers — rose 0.1% from June to July. That was down from a 0.2% rise a month earlier. And compared with a year earlier, prices were up 2.2% in July. That was the smallest such rise since March and was down from a 2.7% year-over-year increase in June.

The July wholesale figures reflect a broad and steady slowdown in price increases, which peaked at a four-decade high in mid-2022 but are now moving toward the Fed’s 2% inflation target. On Wednesday, the Labor Department will release the most well-known inflation measure, the consumer price index.

Click here to read the full Associated Press report.

The post US Wholesale Inflation Cooled in July; Rate Cuts Next? first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

The 2024 RVBusiness Top 50 RV Dealer Awards program has entered its next phase, as more than 220 dealerships have been nominated by RV manufacturers – which is believed to be a record amount.

Those nominated dealers, in turn, have been invited to complete their respective entries and return them to Barb Riley, ([email protected]) of BJ Thompson Associates, which coordinates the Top 50 program each year. Entries must be postmarked by Aug. 23.

Now in its 14th year, the RVBusiness Top 50 program celebrates those North American RV dealerships that, in the eyes of an esteemed panel of independent judges, best exemplifies dealer excellence in customer and community service. An announcement of the 2024 Top 50 winners will be made closer to the RV Dealers Convention/Expo, and winners will be presented at a special Nov. 13 reception during the RV Dealers Convention/Expo at Paris Las Vegas,

As part of the process, emails were sent in June to RV manufacturers, inviting them to nominate their dealer partners for Top 50 consideration. OEMs were asked to carefully consider their selections, as the ideal nominees for this program are not necessarily their largest dealers, but those who promote best practices in all aspects of their businesses, including customer service, operational innovation, employee training and certification, charitable outreach and general excellence in overall business practices.

In turn, those nominated dealers will be asked to submit an application, which are due by mid-August so that a panel of high-profile industry representatives can review them and finalize selections during a two-day in-person session in early September at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Ind.

Once again, the Top 50 roster will include five exemplary “Blue Ribbon” dealerships plus three special distinctions — the Gaylord Maxwell Innovation Award recognizing creative business strategies, the Arthur J. Decio Humanitarian Award bestowed upon a U.S. or Canadian dealer who has excelled at charitable endeavors, and the Sherman Goldenberg Award for Excellence in Digital Marketing. The specialty awards are sponsored by Airxcel Inc., Wells Fargo DF, and RV Trader, respectively.

“We’re delighted to have received so many nominations, and we’re encouraged that so many dealers have taken the time to complete an entry,” said Rick Kessler, publisher and executive editor of G&G Media Group LLC, the Elkhart-based source of RVBusiness and Woodall’s Campground Magazine.

The post Entry Deadline Looms for RVB’s Top 50 Dealer Awards first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.