Month: November 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE: The full article can be found in the November/December issue of RVBusiness, the print edition of which should be arriving in subscribers’ mailboxes this week. Click here to read the digital edition.

Manufacturing — in any industry — is usually fueled by a new player coming in with the professed ability to produce and deliver a product faster, cheaper or better than anything else available. Those that score the proverbial “hat trick” by meeting all three objectives tend to find quick acceptance; even hitting two of three often gives companies a foothold.

Focusing on just one, though, is a gamble — which makes the performance of Brinkley RV all the more impressive.

Established less than three years ago by a handful of veteran industry executives who have collectively spend decades in the RV industry — Nate Goldenberg, Micah Stanley, Ryan Thwaits and Bill and Ron Fenech — the startup was founded upon neither speed nor cost. Instead, it was intent upon building “better” — combining new concepts coupled with a drive towards eliminating many of the design drawbacks the partners were all too familiar with while working at other RV companies.

That intent was encapsulated first in Brinkley RV’s Model Z fifth-wheel, which earned a spot among finalists for the RVBusiness 2023 RV of the Year, and again last year, when it’s Model G fifth-wheel toy hauler was one of just 10 RVs considered for the 2024 honor. And since no startup company had previously witnessed its first two models ranked among the RV industry’s best, it’s a safe bet that none has ever followed up in quite the manner Brinkley has with its Model I travel trailer.

The Brinkley RV Model I travel trailer is, by wide acclaim among the RVBusiness staff, the 2025 RV of the Year.

“Until now, our focus has been fifth-wheels and higher-end trailers; this gets us into the ‘meat’ of the market, allowing an average buyer to get into a Brinkley,” said Thwaits, who led the Model I’s design team. “Because of the way we build our product and the quality of the equipment we use, we’re never going to be the cheapest, but it serves as our ‘entry level’ product for campers that want to get into a lightweight or have had a laminated trailer and want to step up to one with nicer amenities.”

The post RVBusiness Names Brinkley Model I the 2025 RV of the Year first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

PHOENIX – Cove Communities announced today that the organization appointed James R. Goldman as Chief Executive Officer on Sept. 29. Goldman joins Cove with more than 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry and expertise in niche real estate sectors including manufactured housing communities.

Most recently, Mr. Goldman served as Chief Executive Officer of Goldman & Company, a real estate advisory company serving family offices, institutional investors, and real estate owner/ operators in the manufactured housing community, RV resort, marina, and parking sectors. From 2003 until mid-2018, Mr. Goldman served as Vice Chair (since 2009) and Chief Investment Officer of Green Courte Partners. Green Courte’s portfolio company in the manufactured housing community sector, American Land Lease, owned 59 communities with over 19,000 home sites when it combined with Sun Communities in 2014.

“At the conclusion of an extensive search process, we are extremely excited for Jim to join the Cove Leadership team as Chief Executive Officer. Jim’s extensive experience within the manufactured housing community sector, combined with his acquisitions, operations, capital markets, and strategic planning expertise, will be greatly valued as Cove positions itself for future internal and external growth,” said Murray McCabe, Managing Partner of Montgomery Street Partners (“MSP”). MSP is Cove’s General Partner.

Prior to his career in real estate private equity, Mr. Goldman served as an investment banker with Alex. Brown & Sons, PaineWebber, and others; a corporate & securities and tax attorney with Piper & Marbury (now DLA Piper); and a certified public accountant with Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young).

Mr. Goldman attended the University of Virginia, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University, and earned a Juris Doctor from William & Mary Law School.

Cove was founded in 2017 to acquire and operate a best-in-class portfolio of manufactured housing communities and RV resorts. Since its founding, Cove has aggregated a portfolio comprised of 38 properties with over 13,000 sites in the United States and Canada.

The post Cove Communities Names New CEO to Bolster Growth first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

OHI, the member-driven national organization dedicated to serving and advancing the RV parks, campgrounds, and glamping resorts that shape the Outdoor Hospitality Industry, has announced an integration with Spot2Nite to revamp and power instant bookings on its proprietary campground database, GoCampingAmerica.com, according to a press release.

For the past 60 years, OHI (formerly National ARVC), has equipped outdoor hospitality owners, operators and their teams with a community, resources, discounts, professional development, marketing tools and legislative advocacy, as well as exposure to millions of campers researching places to stay on the OHI-produced website, GoCampingAmerica.com, which is also the engine for finding a campground on GoRVing.com.

As part of OHI’s continual effort to maximize exposure and profitability for its active membership of 3,300 and growing throughout the U.S. and Canada, they have selected Spot2Nite, a software designed for seamless outdoor accommodation reservations, to power the booking engine behind GoCampingAmerica.com.

While this website has always provided a database to help campers research RV parks, campgrounds, and glamping resorts, this integration with Spot2Nite now provides instant booking capabilities – lowering the barrier of entry to campers by avoiding website redirects and offering the most efficient way to find and instantly book the perfect RV site, lodging, tent site, or glamping rental, while simultaneously driving revenue for listed OHI-member properties.

Spot2Nite’s technology leverages application program interface (API) connections with top property management systems (PMS) to display real-time campsite availability and pricing, as well as advanced search preferences, including filters for RV equipment, amenities, and experiences – all of which will be available on the revamped GoCampingAmerica.com.

OHI member properties utilizing a PMS that is integrated with Spot2Nite, including Checkfront, Firefly Reservations, Good Sam Campground Solutions, Indio, MYSites, Newbook, Premier Campground Management, ResNexus, ResortForward, RezExpert, RMS, RoverPass, and Staylist, can now receive instant bookings directly on GoCampingAmerica.com. OHI member operators utilizing a PMS that is not integrated with Spot2Nite can continue to drive traffic through a website redirect.

“Our partnership with Spot2Nite enhances the GoCampingAmerica.com experience, making bookings easier for campers while driving revenue for our members,” said Paul Bambei, OHI President and CEO. “This integration supports our mission to help member parks thrive and offer campers seamless access to our member parks when they are planning their next outdoor adventure.”

For more information on GoCampingAmerica.com or to claim your listing,  visit ohi.org/gocampingamerica.

The post ‘Spot2Nite’ to Power Bookings on GoCampingAmerica.com first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

FREMONT, Calif. – Pebble, a California-based startup defining a new way to work, live, and explore from anywhere, announced the appointment of Chi Miller as Chief Financial Officer. With over three decades of experience in financial leadership and a proven track record with tech industry giants, Miller will lead Pebble’s financial strategy as the company pioneers a new standard for sustainable, tech-enabled RV travel with the Pebble Flow, according to a release. 

Miller brings extensive experience from Apple, Intel, Ampere Computing, and most recently as CFO at Merlin Solar, where he drove topline growth and led a Series B funding round. As a founder of Ampere, he served as both CFO and COO, raising foundational capital and establishing scalable infrastructure. During his over two-decade tenure at Intel, Miller provided financial leadership for large-scale manufacturing, scaled a software business, supported dozens of Intel Capital investments, and ultimately oversaw finance of the Platform Engineering Group, which develops cutting-edge semiconductors.  At Apple, he served as Senior Director of Finance for product development.

“Chi’s exceptional track record of scaling operations and driving strategic growth in the technology sector makes him the ideal financial leader for Pebble as we continue to scale,” said Bingrui Yang, CEO and Founder of Pebble. “His experience in managing complex supply chains combined with his deep understanding of hardware development cycles will be essential as to the next phase of our business.” 

In his new role, Miller will drive financial strategy and capital initiatives to support Pebble’s continued expansion. He will oversee all aspects of the company’s financial operations, including fundraising, investor relations, financial planning and analysis, and other business functions to accelerate Pebble’s growth in the electric RV market.

“The RV industry is at an inflection point, and Pebble is perfectly positioned to lead its transformation,” Miller said. “What excites me most about Pebble is its potential to open up the outdoors to a broader audience through a combination of advanced technology, refined design, and sustainable living solutions. Having scaled multiple hardware companies, I’m excited to help build Pebble into the defining company for modern RV travel.”

About Pebble

Pebble is a California-based startup defining a new way to live, work, and explore with a 100% electric, hassle-free RV. Built by a team of experts from Apple, Tesla, Rivian, and Zoox, Pebble combines electrification with cutting-edge automotive technology for an RV experience that removes the hassles RV owners have struggled with for decades. Learn more at pebblelife.com.

Follow Pebble on Social

To receive real-time updates and learn more about Pebble, subscribe to the newsletter at pebblelife.com or check out the team on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Discord, and Youtube.

The post Pebble Welcomes Chi Miller to Leadership Team as CFO first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ELKHART, Ind. – Patrick Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: PATK), a leading component solutions provider for the Outdoor Enthusiast and Housing markets, will participate in Baird’s 2024 Global Industrial Conference on Nov. 12, according to a company release.

CEO Andy Nemeth and Kip Ellis, President – Powersports, Technology and Housing, will participate in a fireside chat as well as engage in one-on-one meetings with institutional investors and analysts. The conference will be held at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.

Please contact Baird for attendance information and additional details. 

About Patrick Industries, Inc. 

Patrick (NASDAQ: PATK) is a leading component solutions provider serving the RV, Marine, Powersports and Housing markets. Since 1959, Patrick has empowered manufacturers and outdoor enthusiasts to achieve next-level recreation experiences. Our customer-focused approach brings together design, manufacturing, distribution, and transportation in a full solutions model that defines us as a trusted partner. Patrick is home to more than 85 leading brands, all united by a commitment to quality, customer service, and innovation. Headquartered in Elkhart, IN, Patrick employs approximately 10,000 skilled team members throughout the United States. For more information on Patrick, our brands, and products, please visit www.patrickind.com. 

The post Patrick Industries to Participate in Upcoming Baird Conference first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

GENEVA – SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has awarded EcoFlow, a clean energy solutions provider, with an SGS Performance Tested Mark for its new DELTA 3 Plus mobile energy storage unit in recognition of the safety and speed of its charging capability.

The breakthrough product, which offers consumers a green alternative to diesel generators, is designed to provide users with a robust energy solution for any scenario, from backup emergencies to outdoor leisure use.

Through its third-party independent product testing, evaluation and verification certification, SGS awarded five-star certification in validation of EcoFlow’s product claim to offer the fastest charging time for a 1 kWh mobile battery energy storage system (mobile BESS). Utilizing EcoFlow’s X-Stream lightning-fast charging technology, the unit requires only 56 minutes to fully charge with AC power. In addition, the product’s built in battery intelligent management solution for comprehensive safety control was recognized as ensuring the health of the battery.

Mark Lohmann, Global Chief Certification Manager at SGS, said: “Congratulations to EcoFlow on becoming the world’s first company to receive SGS Performance Tested Mark five-star certification for fast and safe charging for a mobile energy storage product. For those bringing new products to market or wanting to differentiate existing goods, the SGS Performance Tested Mark ensures products stand out from the competition and provides peace of mind to consumers.”

SGS based the DELTA 3 Plus Performance Tested Mark Product Certificationon analysis of the charging characteristics of mobile energy storage products and user charging needs. It undertook a customized testing plan and developed assessment standards, including rigorous assessment and evaluation of battery safety, energy efficiency, abuse, safe fast charging, and charge-discharge  cycle electrical performance.

Products verified/certified under the scheme qualify to display the SGS Performance Tested Mark. This can be used on the product and in promotional materials and advertising to show end-users that performance has been verified and certified by experts.

With its mission to provide smart and eco-friendly energy solutions for individuals, families, and society at large, EcoFlow continues to lead the way with innovative portable power products, solar technology, and smart home energy solutions.

To find out more about the SGS Performance Tested Mark, visit https://www.sgs.com/en-gb/services/sgs-performance-product-certification-mark

The post EcoFlow Mobile Battery System Lauded by SGS Testing Firm first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Priority One Financial Services, a full-service finance company for marine, RV, trailer and equipment dealers, returns to RVDA Dealer Week with a panel presentation about harnessing the purchasing power of customers with showroom technology. 

The panel, taking place at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 11 highlights the expertise of Kara Sundar, a Senior Manager at Price Waterhouse Cooper and Certified Change Management Professional, with over 10 years of experience in driving adoption of new technology and processes. 

“Kara is skilled at removing barriers to change in the workplace,” said Nicole Armstrong, Vice President of Corporate Initiatives at Priority One Financial Services. “She regularly consults on driving the bottom-line with ‘the people side of change,’ and brings a valuable, forward-thinking perspective implementing technology for RV dealerships.” 

Other panelists will include Phil Imbery of MenuMetric, Trevor Allred of Kenect, and Markle Janner of Priority One Financial Services. The panel will be moderated by Nicole Armstrong, Vice President of Corporate Initiatives at Priority One Financial Services. 

Priority One offers a toolbox of technology to elevate a dealer’s retail financing experience, including partnerships with Kenect, Rollick and DealerRock DMS, as well as proprietary portals for dealer communication, customer communication, credit applications and prequalification services. 

To learn more, visit p1fs.com/5minutefinancing. 

The post Priority One Returns to RVDA with Technology Workshop first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

European auto giant Stellantis said Thursday it would lay off 1,100 workers at its Jeep factory in Toledo, Ohio, in an effort to “regain its competitive edge” as it struggles with falling sales, according to a report at IndustryWeek.com.

Stellantis, a 14-brand group that includes Peugeot, Fiat and Chrysler, said it would move from a two-shift to a one-shift operation at the Toledo South Assembly Plant in 2025.

Another 400 employees will be transferred to a “third-party service provider,” it added in a statement.

“These are difficult actions to take, but they are necessary to enable the Company to regain its competitive edge and eventually return production to prior levels,” the statement said.

Stellantis sales sank in the third quarter, with a 42% drop in North America alone.

The group offered promotional deals as U.S. dealerships have struggled to reduce their inventories.

“As Stellantis navigates a transitional year, the focus is on realigning its U.S. operations to ensure a strong start to 2025, which includes taking the difficult but necessary action to reduce high inventory levels by managing production to meet sales,” it said.

Click here to see the complete here.

The post Jeep-Maker Stellantis to Lay Off 1,100 Workers at Ohio Plant first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

The RV Technical Institute (RVTI) continued its technician recruitment campaign at the 97th Annual Future Farmers of America Convention last week, according to a News & Insights report by the RV Industry Association (RVIA). The event, which took place Oct. 23-26, in Indianapolis, Ind., had almost 75,000 attendees. These included students, school administrators, recruiters and more.

Individuals from all 50 states and Puerto Rico visited RVTI’s booth to learn more about the program. 

“The Future Farmers of America Convention is an incredible event and a great opportunity for us to connect with interested high school students and educate them on RV service technician opportunities,” says RVTI Account Specialist Halle Howard, who attended the event. “Many of these students are already very technically skilled, and some even mentioned they help work on their family RV as a hobby, so it is a great event for us to promote our program and hopefully gain some future skilled technicians.”

Future Farmers of America provides students with a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. The Convention is an opportunity for students to learn about careers, network, and develop their skillsets.

The RV Technical Institute would like to thank Walnut Ridge RV, based in New Castle, Ind., for providing the unit that was displayed during the Convention. Walnut Ridge RV is an RV Technical Institute Location Subscriber.

The post RVTI Shares Career Opportunities to Students Across U.S. first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

EDITOR’S NOTE: 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. Winning dealers will be recognized during a presentation Nov. 13 during the RV Dealers Convention/Expo at Paris Las Vegas.

The Top 50 program is made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of the following organizations: Airxcel Inc., Brown & Brown Insurance, Cummins Inc., GE Appliances, Genesis Products, Northpoint Commercial Finance, NTP-STAG, Performance Brokerage Services, Protective Asset Protection, RV Trader, and Wells Fargo.

RVBusiness will publish a profile of each Top 50 sponsor leading up to the RV Dealers Convention/Expo.

RV Trader draws more than 9 million visitors to its premier website connecting interested buyers with RV dealers, but the company is not resting on its laurels.

In fact, RV Trader is continually improving the website to make it even more valuable for consumers and dealers, says Erin Ruane, chief marketing officer for Virginia Beach, Virginia-based Trader Interactive, the parent company of RV Trader.

“We’ve got a lot of new tools and programs that we’ve been rolling out to support our dealers,” she says. For example, RV Trader has launched Service First, which pairs a dedicated RV Trader sales consultant to work with individual dealers that they can contact anytime to discuss their performance metrics. Additionally, RV Trader this year debuted its Premium Select product, which elevates dealer ads from standard to premium listings, and its eMail Lead Amplifier program, which provides dealers with more consumer email leads.

RV Trader also ramped up a new generation of unbiased RV product reviews, which Ruane says consumers and dealers alike should appreciate. “I think it really underscores the commitment that we have to continually improve our platform for both dealers and consumers,” she says.

Other benefits RV Trader offers to dealers include its TraderTraxx web program and smartphone app for dealers, as well as its lead enrichment software. Those programs provide exclusive industry data, as well as insights on consumers shopping the website, such as the type of unit they are shopping for and how long they’ve been searching. TraderTraxx also lets dealers manage their online leads.

Meanwhile, RV Trader has a designated onboarding team that works with dealers when they first join to help them make the most of their membership. The company also offers in-person training at trade shows and customized webinars where dealers can learn how to make the most of RV Trader tools, as well as resources such as SEO best practices and trend reports.

Currently, RV Trader is beta testing a program that collects information from customers on the website about how responsive dealers are on following up with sales leads and it lets the dealers know how their prices compare with others on the website.

“We take our role in this amazing industry very seriously,” Ruane said.  “We are here to provide leading advertising services to connect buyers to dealers and to provide dealers with the data only we have to make stronger, data-driven decisions in order to be more successful.”

As for why RV Trader is supporting the RVBusiness Top 50 Dealer Awards, Ruane says, “Supporting the RVBusiness Top 50 Dealer Awards is a testament to our commitment. We celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of dealers who drive our industry forward, showcasing the innovation and dedication that makes the RV community thrive.”

The post RVB Top 50 Dealer Awards Sponsor Profile: RV Trader first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.