Affinity Clubs Division Realigns, Promotes Five

The Affinity Clubs division of Ventura, Calif.-based Affinity Group Inc. has announced some promotions, along with some realigned responsibilities, for 2008 that are designed to enable the company to enhance membership experiences, elevate membership and affiliate marketing results and expand into new market spaces, according to Grant E. Miller, senior vice president of AGI and president of Affinity Clubs. Among the promotions: Marcos Strafacce will undertake the expanded role of vice president,... Read more

Registration Open for RVDA ’08 Convention/Expo

Registration is now open for the “new and different” 2008 RV Dealers International Convention/Expo in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Sept. 23-26. The annual event is sponsored by Fairfax, Va.-based National RV Dealers Association (RVDA) and RVDA of Canada and features educational workshops developed by the RV Learning Center. The new convention format is designed to be two educational events in one. For dealer owners and general managers, new RV Learning Center... Read more

RVDA Appeals to Lenders for Rate Relief

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) has asked banks and finance companies to explain why retail interest rates on loans to buy RVs haven’t dropped as a result of recent Federal Reserve Board interest rate reductions. In a Jan. 30 letter to 26 RV industry lenders, RVDA President Mike Molino said dealers are losing deals because consumers think that loan rates should be lower than they are. “They are all kinds of theories about why they have haven’t (cut retail) rates,”... Read more

Aggressive Hoosier Immigration Bill Draws Fire

In a move that could ultimately affect many Hoosier State businesses — including the RV sector — the Indiana Senate late Tuesday (Jan. 29) approved aggressive legislation that could close down businesses if they are caught employing illegal immigrants three times over 10 years. The 37-11 vote in the Republican-dominated Senate came after a lengthy debate on the effects of the proposed law, which still must be approved by the Indiana House of Representatives. House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South... Read more

M-Tec Maps $3M Expansion in Elkhart

M-Tec Corp., a developer and manufacturer of steel frames and components for the recreational vehicle and industrial markets, announced today (Jan. 31) it will expand its operations in Elkhart, Ind., creating more than 40 new jobs. According to a press release, the company, which develops and manufactures products ranging from trailer frames to custom sink and slide-out mechanisms for RVs, will invest more than $3 million to add more than 60,000 square feet to its production facility at 701 Collins... Read more

Fleetwood Announces Preliminary 3Q Revenues

Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. today (Jan. 31) announced preliminary fiscal third quarter 2008 revenues of approximately $354 million, a 20% decline from $443 million in the same quarter last year. For the first nine months of the current fiscal year, revenues declined 10% to $1.35 billion from $1.5 billion the prior year. President and CEO Elden L. Smith issued the following statement regarding the Riverside, Calif.-based company’s third quarter, ended Jan. 27: “The third quarter, which encompasses... Read more

Damon Plans First Class C Motorhome Entry

Elkhart, Ind.-based Class A motorhome manufacturer Damon Motor Coach has hired a development team to design a Class C motorhome that, according to the company’s plans, will be available by the end of summer. “They are going to independently develop this product for us separate from our Class A business,” said Bill Fenech, president of the Thor Industries Inc. subsidiary. “I believe in focus. I wanted to develop a Class C, but I didn’t want to distract our team that is building... Read more

Coachmen Moving Headquarters to Middlebury

Coachmen Industries Inc. outlined several cost-cutting measures as part of the company’s ongoing restructuring plan during a conference call with investors Tuesday (Jan. 29), including consolidating its corporate headquarters in Elkhart, Ind., into its manufacturing complex in nearby Middlebury. The recreational vehicle and manufactured housing builder cited the impact of “bleak conditions” in its core markets during 2007, resulting in a 15% decline in revenue and a net loss from continuing... Read more

Go RVing Kicks Off ‘08 With Super Week

It’s not only a big week for football fans across the nation, it’s also shaping up to be a super week for Go RVing and the RV industry. Go RVing’s $16 million 2008 media plan will kick off this Sunday (Feb. 3) with the industry group’s first-ever Super Bowl buy. The 30-second version of the popular “Imaginary Friends” commercial will air just prior to kickoff during the 5:30 to 6 p.m. final half-hour of the FOX Super Bowl XLII Pregame Show. Ratings for Super Bowl XLII are projected to... Read more

Heritage Foundation Names 2008 Class

Ten past and current leaders of the recreation vehicle and manufactured housing industries are to be inducted Aug. 4 into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Ind., joining 300 others who have been recognized by the hall over the last 35 years. The induction dinner will be held at the RV/MH Heritage Foundation Inc.’s new museum and hall of fame adjacent to the Indiana Toll Road north of Elkhart. Inductees selected by the foundation’s board are: Wilbur Bontrager, chairman of Jayco Inc., Middlebury,... Read more

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