Dometic Group AB, a global market leader in the mobile living industry, today announced that “weakened market conditions” are expected to impact Dometic’s financial performance in the third quarter, the report for which will be released Oct. 23, 2024.
The current macroeconomic situation and market conditions, including high interest rates, lower consumer spend and customer purchasing patterns, are having a negative impact on net sales, according to a release from the Sweden-based company. As a result, organic net sales for the third quarter are expected to decline by approximately 15% compared to the same period previous year, with an EBITA margin before items affecting comparability in the range of 8-9%. Supported by a continued robust operating cash flow, officials expect the net debt to EBITDA leverage ratio to be approximately 3.1x, compared to 2.9x at the end of the second quarter 2024.
“Long-term trends in the Mobile Living industry are strong. However the current macroeconomic situation, market conditions and customer purchasing patterns have a negative impact on the business in all sales channels, which is expected to remain throughout the year,” stated Juan Vargues, president and CEO of Dometic. “Demand visibility has turned shorter than normal and the situation has worsened during the third quarter as customers are cautious building inventories as the low season approaches.
“In this challenging environment we continue to drive our strategic agenda and are strengthening the sales organizations in future growth areas, such as Outdoor Standalone Products and Mobile Power Solutions,” he continued. “We continue to invest in product innovation strategically, in particular in service intensive product areas, while continuing to reduce cost and increase efficiency. We are proactively adjusting capacity and we are today 1,600 fewer FTEs (full-time equivalents) than two years ago and will continue to take mitigating actions to remain agile and efficient.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a News & Insights article by the RV Industry Association (RVIA).
In a move aimed at protecting American consumers, workers, and businesses, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced new actions targeting de minimis shipments — small, low-value imports that often evade tariffs and regulatory scrutiny. The administration’s goal is to address concerns about unsafe products and unfair trade practices that have impacted various U.S. industries, including the RV aftermarket sector.
Under the de minimis rule, goods valued at $800 or less can enter the U.S. without facing tariffs or rigorous inspections. This provision, originally designed to expedite small, low-risk imports, has been increasingly exploited by foreign manufacturers, particularly in countries like China, to ship large quantities of goods without oversight. Many of these products are seen as undermining U.S. businesses by avoiding safety standards and circumventing tariffs, posing a risk to both consumers and American manufacturers.
The new measures will strengthen enforcement against de minimis shipments that include unsafe or non-compliant products. The administration is also working to close loopholes that allow companies to misuse the de minimis threshold to gain an unfair advantage over domestic industries. Key actions being taken are:
Precluding Products Subject to Section 301 Tariffs from De Minimis Eligibility: One of the major actions is excluding products that are subject to Section 301 tariffs from being eligible for de minimis treatment. These tariffs are primarily applied to goods from China in response to unfair trade practices. By removing this exemption, the administration ensures that products subject to these tariffs can no longer bypass them by being shipped under the de minimis rule, closing a loophole that has undermined the effectiveness of U.S. trade policies.
Targeting Unsafe and Non-Compliant Products: The administration is cracking down on de minimis shipments that fail to meet U.S. safety standards or other regulatory requirements. This effort will protect consumers from potentially harmful products entering the market without proper oversight, while also holding foreign companies accountable for meeting U.S. regulations.
Improving Enforcement of Customs Laws: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is being tasked with enhancing its enforcement capabilities, ensuring that de minimis shipments are properly scrutinized for compliance with U.S. laws. This includes ramping up inspections and tightening the process for assessing shipments to ensure that they meet all necessary standards.
Closing Loopholes in the De Minimis Threshold: The administration is also looking at closing loopholes in how the de minimis threshold is applied. This includes addressing situations where large volumes of goods are split into smaller shipments to avoid tariffs and oversight, which has been a growing issue, particularly with products coming from China.
For the RV industry, these changes could be significant. With foreign competition rising in sectors such as RV parts and accessories, the stricter enforcement of de minimis rules may help level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers, ensuring that imported products meet the same safety standards and trade regulations as those made domestically. Additionally, cracking down on tariff avoidance can help support American jobs in the RV manufacturing and supply chain, fostering growth in this critical sector of the outdoor recreation economy.
The New York Times ran a piece on Friday highlighting de minimis and the state of play in Washington DC. The article included a quote from RV Industry Association member Mike Hesse, CEO of Blue Ox:
Mike Hesse, the chief executive of Blue Ox, a Nebraska manufacturer of tow bars and other equipment for recreational vehicles, said his company was proud its products were American made. But he said the tariff exemption was helping Chinese copycat versions of his products enter the country cheaply through Amazon, damaging his brand and risking consumers’ safety.
“You’re talking about these 45-foot motorhomes towing 10,000-pound vehicles,” he said. “They’re a safety issue, plus the consumer is being duped into thinking they’re buying an American-made product. That’s how de minimis is affecting me.”
While the full impact of the administration’s actions will take time to unfold, industry leaders are optimistic that these measures will curb unfair trade practices and enhance the competitiveness of American-made products in the marketplace. For more information, please contact Samantha Rocci, Director of Federal Affairs at [email protected].
Amber Dillard, Chief Operating Officer of Lazydays.
TAMPA, Fla. — Lazydays Holdings Inc. (NasdaqCM: GORV) today announced that Amber Dillard, Vice President of Operations has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer, reporting to Ron Fleming, who on Monday, Sept. 16, was named Lazydays Interim CEO.
Ron Fleming, Interim CEO of Lazydays said, “I have worked with Amber for over a decade and am extraordinarily pleased to see her continue to exceed expectations and further extend her contributions to Lazydays. In her new and expanded role, Amber will continue to lead our work with our OEM partners and dealership General Managers to drive operational performance and meet the needs of our customers.”
Dillard said, “it has been a privilege to continue to grow within the Lazydays organization. Over the last thirteen years I have had the pleasure of working across most of the functions in our business and with all of our OEM partners as we adapt to and meet the needs of our customers.”
Dillard joined Lazydays in 2011, and has worked across the organization in various capacities including accounting, supply chain, vehicle purchasing, inventory management and dealership operations. Prior to joining Lazydays, Amber worked in public and non-profit accounting, with an emphasis in Internal Audit. Amber sits on the board of the Lazydays Employee Foundation, which is dedicated to contributing to at risk children in the communities we serve. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Florida State University, and furthered her education at the University of South Florida. Additionally, Amber was named to the inaugural class of the RVIA 40 under 40 award winners in 2017.
About Lazydays Lazydays has been a prominent player in the RV industry since its inception in 1976, earning a stellar reputation for delivering exceptional RV sales, service, and ownership experiences. Our commitment to excellence has led to enduring relationships with RVers and their families who rely on us for all of their RV needs.
Our wide selection of RV brands from top manufacturers, state-of-the-art service facilities, and an extensive range of accessories and parts ensure that Lazydays is the go-to destination for RV enthusiasts seeking everything they need for their journeys on the road. Whether you’re a seasoned RVer or just starting your adventure, our dedicated team is here to provide outstanding support and guidance, making your RV lifestyle truly extraordinary.
Lazydays is a publicly listed company on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker “GORV.”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO) has announced the appointment of Mike Neal and Mark Abate to the company’s senior leadership team and the Retail segment senior leadership team.
“We are excited to welcome Mike and Mark to Brown & Brown’s senior leadership team,” said Powell Brown, president and chief executive officer. “They bring extensive experience in their respective specializations, and their contributions will support our ongoing mission to be the world’s leading provider of risk management and insurance solutions for our customers.”
Barrett Brown, executive vice president and president of the Brown & Brown’s Retail segment, added, “Mike and Mark’s experience and knowledge will help us broaden our capabilities and allow us to develop innovative solutions to enhance our customer experience. They will bring added strategic guidance to support the continued growth of our Retail business.”
Mike Neal is a 30-plus-year industry veteran. He is an executive vice president within Brown & Brown’s Retail segment and president of Brown & Brown Dealer Services, a division devoted to auto and RV dealer training and F&I products. Mike began his career with Brown & Brown in 2008 when his previous insurance agency, which provided commercial insurance to dealers in RV, used auto, powersports and manufactured housing, was acquired by Brown & Brown.
Mark Abate brings over 35 years of employee benefits experience, specializing in developing health and welfare strategies to meet customers’ unique organizational and workforce priorities. He leads Brown & Brown’s Southborough, Massachusetts office and oversees certain Brown & Brown pharmacy and audit solutions operations. Mark joined the organization in 2015 when Strategic Benefit Advisors was acquired by Brown & Brown.
About Brown & Brown Inc.
Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm, delivering risk management solutions to individuals and businesses since 1939. With approximately 16,000 teammates and 500+ locations worldwide, we are committed to providing innovative strategies to help protect what our customers value most. For more information or to find an office near you, please visit bbinsurance.com.
The founders of Remote Vans have been logging lots of miles on their adventure vans as of late, showing off their newest models at RV shows and overland expos across the U.S. to generate consumer buzz and support their growing dealer network.
“We just launched … our 2025 van series, so this roadshow had a couple of goals. One was just to make sure all our customers, potential customers and dealers knew all of the exciting changes on the 2025 series models,” said co-founder Tony Alexander. “It was also done to help train the dealership salesforce. We take that very seriously. We just want to make sure that — especially as a new-ish van builder that’s still expanding our footprint in the country — that we’re not just shipping these units out there into a vacuum. We want to know every single salesperson that is out there advocating for our products.”
Next up for the camper van maker: Elkhart Open House Week.
Remote Vans come equipped with the Vanhalla Seat, a two-person swivel seat offering 90-degrees of turn, allowing it to face forward, face toward the van door, or to recline to become a bed.
The Cincinnati, Ohio-area based company is actively looking to expand its dealer network. Currently, Johnson RV in the Pacific Northwest, Vogt RV in Texas and Campers Inn, with locations across the U.S., are retailing the company’s Class B models, which includes the Friday, the Oasis and the Aegis, with 2025 base MSRP pricing ranging from $189,500 to $244,500.
“We’ve got our production line really tuned in and working nicely and our customer base is growing quickly,” Alexander said. “So, we’re hoping that Elkhart is part of that puzzle to (helping us grow) and we’re looking forward to meeting quite a few of the major dealers around the country.”
As of late last week, Remote Vans was still firming up plans for a specific exhibit location, but it had confirmed meetings with representatives for about a dozen dealerships, he added.
Remote Vans occupies a fairly unique space within the luxury adventure van segment, offering premium features with a specific focus on power, comfort and connectivity. In particular, Alexander touts the company’s Cyber Shower, a recirculating, stowable shower system capable of offering seven 10-minute showers on its 32-gallon freshwater tank; the Vanhalla Seat, a two-person swivel seat offering 90-degrees of turn, allowing it to face forward, face toward the van door, or to recline to become a bed; the MoPoWa Power System, featuring a 51-volt Lithionics NeverDie power system and 16.8 kWh 100% reusable battery storage; and a 48-volt Nomadic Cooling A/C, which the company says is the most compact and efficient system in a Class B adventure van. Additionally, all Remote Vans come standard with a Starlink satellite system, allowing high-speed internet service from almost anywhere in the country.
Beyond that, company co-founder Daryn Hillhouse said Remote Vans has made a number of specific upgrades to its all of its models for 2015, including an upgraded suspension system featuring a heavy-duty leaf spring pack plus newly designed 17” wheels.
“Our vans have gotten a lot more beefy, as a whole, so it was important to improve the ride for the customer,” he explained.
Other 2025 Remote van model updates and improvements include an upgraded hydronic heating system; an updated MoPoWa housing system providing easier access to the water and power components; an upgraded stainless-steel kitchen sink with collapsible faucet; and an updated Pennyworth Van Control System, which now includes a “Lighthouse” safety mode feature that turns on all of the van’s external lighting.
Even with those many features and upgrades, Alexander said Remote Vans has been able to price its models competitively, where they would come in $10,000 below a comparably featured model.
All of Remote Van’s models are built on the premium Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis and the company produces its own upholstery, cabinetry and soft goods in-house.
“We vertically integrated almost our entire supply chain. We either do things in-house or we go directly to a trusted fabricator partner that builds to our specs,” Alexander said. “It’s been a harder road and it’s obviously been a more expensive road, but I think what that allows us to build is a much better van than the competition.”
Jason Michael Obendorf, 42 of Bristol, Ind., passed away on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at Elkhart General Hospital after a brief illness. The president of ObeCo Inc., an industrial sewing services and commercial sewing solutions provider serving the RV snd other industries, Jason was born on April 29, 1982 to David and Melinda Obendorf in Elkhart, Ind.
He was the owner of ObeCo, Inc. and was a partner of Modern Buggy. Jason enjoyed golfing with his friends, watching movies and weight training. He also enjoyed hosting events and cooking for them. He was an avid Michigan, Chicago Cubs and Colts fan. Jason had a love of fast cars, something he inherited from his father. He enjoyed coaching little league baseball and Barkley basketball and sponsoring several recreational sports teams. Jason was a philanthropist and was very generous about giving of his time, talents and donations. Most of all Jason loved to spend time with his family and friends.
Jason is survived by his fiancé Annie Hunsberger of Bristol, Ind., his father and step-mother, Dave (Tammy) Obendorf of Elkhart, Ind.; children Johonna Obendorf and Micah Obendorf; siblings, Christi (Erik) Smith of Granger, Ind., Jenna (Jordan) Mansfield of Goshen, Ind., and Chris (Kaylee) Obendorf of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and his grandma Marilee Obendorf of Butler, Ind. Surviving Jason are also 6 nieces and nephews, 2 dogs, Diesel and Dobby, and a cat Richard. Jason is preceded in death by his mom, Melinda Bair and his grandparents, Robert Obendorf and Joseph & Janeth Ball.
Kyle Kwasny, president of Heartland, Cruiser, DRV, joins Rick Kessler and Sherm Goldenberg of RVBusiness for a capitol Talk discussion on the latest goings on at the THOR Industries subsidiaries.
The RVBusiness Capitol Talk video series is sponsored by Airxcel Inc.
OCALA, Fla. – Optimum RV, a leading recreational vehicle retailer, today announced that it is set to acquire Oklahoma RV Center in Oklahoma City, marking a significant step in its geographic expansion strategy. The transaction is anticipated to close within 30 days and will increase the company’s nationwide location count to 12 across six states.
“We’re excited to welcome Oklahoma RV Center into the Optimum RV family,” said Denver Beck, Optimum RV Founder & CEO. “This acquisition reflects our commitment to geographic expansion and sustainable growth. We’re excited about the opportunity in the Oklahoma market, and look forward to announcing more geographic expansions in the near future.”
Individuals interested in applying for a position with Optimum RV may visit OptimumRV.com/Employment
About Optimum RV:
Optimum RV is a leading recreational vehicle retailer headquartered in Ocala, Florida. Founded by Denver Beck in 2006, Optimum RV has grown from a modest single-site dealership to a multi-state enterprise. For nearly 20 years, Optimum RV has helped thousands of families realize their dreams of outdoor adventure and travel.
With 11 locations across five states, Optimum RV offers RVers the lowest prices, top selection and best experience.
For more information about Optimum RV brands, services, and locations, visit www.optimumrv.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the latest list of RV recalls compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Per strict NHTSA protocols, manufacturers will next notify its dealer partners of the recall notice. Each notice will include details of the affected vehicles as well as the appropriate remedy.
Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling 269 2024 Airstream Trade Wind travel trailers, equipped with certain GE air conditioners. The air conditioner soft start device may fail and overheat. The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 11. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at [email protected], 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-611 ext. 7401.
ELKHART, Ind. – Ultra-Fab Products announced its leveling blocks now have a lifetime warranty.
“Ultra-Fab routinely says that we have the longest warranties and here is another example”, stated Raymond Padgett, the vice-president of sales & marketing for Ultra-Fab. “We have long known that our blocks outperform all the competitive product on the market, but we have done a very poor job of communicating that. We did a review and found that issues on Leveling Blocks are practically non-existent, so it made sense to back them with a Lifetime Warranty. I believe that there are no other brands of Leveling Blocks backed by a Lifetime Warranty.”
He went on to say “There will be no changes to pricing, item numbers or UPCs. Shortly all our packaging will show the Lifetime Warranty. All product currently being shipped from our facility have a “Lifetime Warranty” sticker affixed over the previous warranty’s graphic. If anyone needs a few of these for their current stock, please let us know.”
He concluded “Ultra-Fab is known for quality products and having the longest warranty. This is a prime example of us applying that standard.”
For more information on Ultra-Fab Leveling Block or any other Ultra-Fab products, Raymond invites you to email him at [email protected] and he will supply detailed information as well as recommending sources to purchase your supply today. Also, you can download a Profit Information Sheet from their website by going to https://ultra-fab.com/product-information-sheet-leveling-blocks-2024-09-16/.
