Reach Dealers Through Vendor Training +Plus

RVDA Touts Partners Program at Dealer Expo

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) is seeking companies to become a Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze Level Partner at the 2013 RV Dealers International Convention/Expo, Sept. 30–Oct. 4 in Las Vegas.

According to a press release, convention partners receive premium exposure and special recognition for their support at every level, including complimentary full registrations, partner-level convention badge ribbons and color advertising in the pre-convention issue of RV Executive Today. The theme of this year’s Convention/Expo is “Education: Your Competitive Advantage.”

“Quite simply, this is the dealer event of the year for those of us in the U.S. and Canada,” said John McCluskey, chairman of the Convention/Expo Committee. “Partnership at our most important event means a business gains unparalleled exposure to North America’s top dealers. We appreciate the support of so many leaders in our industry who become convention partners.”

Partnership provides businesses with a high profile opportunity to strengthen market awareness of their products and services and unique ways to highlight their position as a key industry leader. As well, the RVDA partnership program provides premium exposure to a targeted audience before, during, and after the events and activities surrounding the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo.

RVDA partners receive exclusive extra benefits, depending on their commitment level and can even customize a package to best suit their needs. Details are available here on the RVDA website and more information is available from Julie Newhouse at RVDA. Contact Julie at (703) 591-7130 x103 or jnewhouse@rvda.org to learn more about how partnership can help your business or for information about Vendor Training +plus or becoming an Exhibitor.

Visit www.rvda.org and www.rvlearningcenter.com  to register for the convention and for regular updates. The industry can also get updates by following the convention on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

RVDA Seeking Speakers for Convention/Expo

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association’s (RVDA) Convention/Expo Committee is soliciting speakers for the education component of the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo, Sept. 30-Oct. 4, in Las Vegas. According to a press release, there are more than 50 opportunities to speak at the convention between Wednesday and Friday, and RVDA is asking those with an interest in “giving back to the industry” to join the program and inform dealers about ways to grow and improve their businesses.

The event is open to a wide spectrum of speakers from within and outside the RV industry. In all cases, the Convention/Expo Committee looks for proven experts, especially those who can attract and engage attendees. To ensure the timeliness, quality and credibility of the program, the committee works to include a number of first-time RVDA presenters and limits workshops from speakers that present year after year.  Member surveys confirm that one of the top reasons RVDA members choose to attend the annual convention/expo is the number of workshops with new topics and new speakers.

The deadline for submissions has been extended through April 29.  This solicitation is for the non-promotional and non-proprietary educational component of the event.  A speaker FAQ is available here.

RVDA’s Convention/Expo is expecting this year’s attendance will include dealer principals and team members from more than 200 dealerships, with total attendance exceeding 1,000.

To be considered, speaker submissions must be received by April 29. The submission form  document  is provided here. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. The workshop title, description, and learning outcomes should be clear, concise, and exciting — designed to attract attendees to the session by highlighting what they will learn and gain from the session.

The committee needs sufficient detail to accurately evaluate how it might fit in this year’s program. To help in the evaluation process, the committee encourages potential speakers to record a short video overview and provide it along with the workshop submission. If the workshop is selected, the video will be used to promote the session. For consistency, the speaker should state his/her name, title, company, “I will be presenting at the RVDA Convention & Expo,” session title and subtitle (if applicable), and three things workshop attendees will learn.

For more information, contact Karin Van Duyse, kvanduyse@rvda.org, or Liz Shoemaker, lshoemaker@rvda.org with 2013 Convention/Expo and use Workshop Submission in the subject line. Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities, participating in Vendor Training Plus, and exhibitor information can contact RVDA at (703) 591-7130, ext. 103 or send an e-mail to jnewhouse@rvda.org.

Visit www.rvda.org and www.rvlearningcenter.com  to register for the convention and for regular updates. The industry can also get updates by following the convention on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Registration Open for 2013 RV Dealers Confab

Registration is now open for the 2013 RV Dealers International Convention/Expo at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Sept. 30-Oct. 4, sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), National RV Dealers Association, RVDA of Canada, and the RV Learning Center.

“Education: Your Competitive Advantage” is the theme of the five-day convention that will give dealers and their staff new opportunities for professional development and networking, according to a press release.  An emphasis on the power of an educated work force will be evident throughout the meeting with the addition of Vendor Training +plus, a new program offering longer proprietary training sessions, a track of workshops for young RV executives and pricing that encourages dealers to bring more staff to benefit from the Convention/Expo.

Vendor Training +plus sessions are scheduled to be held on Monday and Tuesday of the convention and are included in the overall convention registration fee. These sessions will allow for longer periods of training than a standard workshop.

For dealership personnel who cannot stay for the entire convention, there is special pricing to allow them to attend only Vendor Training +plus and to experience the expo during a reception Tuesday evening. This pricing flexibility gives dealers the chance to have more staff participate in this all-important event, build their professional skills, and meet others in the industry without missing too much time on the job.

The 2013 convention will also feature an exhibit hall filled with the RV industry’s leading suppliers of products and services to help dealers improve profitability. RVDA’s Partners in Progress Brand Committees will also meet to work on important dealer-manufacturer issues.

RVDA, RVDA of Canada, and the RV Learning Center will have a series of announcements on speakers, workshops and special events planned for the convention in the coming weeks.

Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities, participating in Vendor Training +plus, and exhibitor information can contact RVDA at (703) 591-7130, ext. 103 or send an e-mail to jnewhouse@rvda.org.

Visit www.rvda.org and www.rvlearningcenter.com  to register for the convention and for regular updates. The industry can also get updates by following the convention on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

RVDA Expo ‘Partners in Progress’ Schedule Set

The RV Dealers International Convention/Expo, running Oct. 1-5 in Las Vegas, will again feature Partners in Progress Brand Committee meetings.

According to a press release, the meetings provide dealers with a forum to discuss brand-specific issues with top management from participating companies. Only dealers who carry the specific manufacturer/brand attend and dealer volunteer leaders moderate the meetings. Results of the 19th Annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey will be available at the meetings for each manufacturer.

Click here to register for the convention/expo. Scheduled brand meetings include:

Oct. 1

Forest River – 3:30 to 5 p.m. (Brasilia 5)

Jayco – 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. (Brasilia 5)

Oct. 2

KZ – 8 to 9:15 a.m. (Brasilia 5)

Keystone – 9:30 to 11 a.m. (Brasilia 5)

Winnebago motorized – 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Brasilia 5)

Prime Time – 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Brasilia 4)

CrossRoads – 12:45 to 2 p.m. (Brasilia 4)

Winnebago/SunnyBrook towables – 12:45 to 2 p.m. (Brasilia 5)

Heartland – 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. (Brasilia 5)

Dutchmen – 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. (Brasilia 5)

*Schedule subject to change.

RVDA Confab to Examine ‘Away’ Ad Campaign

Some of the major consumer outreach strategies behind Go RVing’s new “Away” national advertising campaign will be examined during an all-attendee session at the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo, Oct. 1-5, in Las Vegas.

According to a press release, dealers will learn about the consumer research behind “Away” and its sophisticated methods for reaching consumers based on what people say they’re looking for right now in leisure, vacation and personal travel.

“Go RVing: Research-based Strategies to Motivate Today’s RV Buyers,” is a special General Session scheduled for Oct. 4 from 8-9:30 a.m.

“This will be an excellent opportunity for dealers to get a detailed look at some consumer outreach initiatives that are included in the new Go RVing “Away” campaign and how some of these ideas can help reach new customers in local markets,” said RVDA President Phil Ingrassia, one of the speakers on the panel.

In addition to reviewing some of the latest consumer research, panelists will discuss how public relations, mobile apps and social media fit into this multi-media consumer outreach program. The Richards Group developed the campaign in collaboration with industry representatives on the Go RVing Coalition.

Along with Ingrassia, the session also features Chris Mahony, executive director of Go RVing Canada; James Ashurst, vice president of public relations and advertising for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA); and Chad Strohl, account manager for The Richards Group.

The RV Dealers International Convention/Expo is being held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The convention is sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), RVDA of Canada and the RV Learning Center.

The 2012 convention will feature an exhibit hall filled with the RV industry’s top suppliers offering products and services to help dealers improve profitability. RVDA’s Partners in Progress Brand Committees will also meet to work on important dealer/manufacturer issues.

Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor information can contact RVDA at (703) 591-7130 or send an e-mail to info@rvda.org. To register and for more information on the Convention/Expo, visit www.rvda.org.

RVDA Expo to Offer Roster of Track Workshops

Dealers and GMs attending the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo, running Oct. 1-5 in Las Vegas, can choose among a host of skill-building track workshops. According to a press release, the sessions are designed to “empower attendees to determine what drives their sales force, how to put accountability front and center in the dealership and ways to hire only the best employees.”

This year’s theme is “The Road to Opportunity,” and the Dealer/GM Track boasts expert speakers, relevant topics and a focus on the unique role and goals of dealers and general managers in our industry.

Programs include:

• “Unique Personality Drivers Your Salespeople Should Have” will have far-reaching impacts on a dealership’s future sales and the strength of its sales force. A new face at this year’s RVDA Convention/Expo, Ricardo Roman of Caliper will help dealers and GMs learn to identify, retain and hire top performers in the field of sales, based on proven indicators. Participants will take home a new skill set and outlook with the tools to make the most of their sales team. This session is set for Oct. 4.

• “A Brave New World: Strategies for Moving Your Business Forward” will look at shifting demographics and improvements in the housing and financial markets. Immediately following the Wednesday’s opening general session, economist Peter Ricchiuti will offer attendees a look at the likely economic landscape and how best to position themselves for both the potholes and opportunities facing the industry.

• “How to Install and Maintain Accountability to Get the Best Out of Your Team” will show why accountability at all levels is the key to upholding standards and roles within an organization, and how you can put it to work for your team. This session will be held on Oct. 3-4, and will take on the roots of accountability — what it is and why it’s important. Presenter Michael Rees from A World of Learning will guide dealers and general managers through the reasons to hold people accountable and, importantly, what to hold them accountable to.

• “A Proven Method for Successful Hiring,” a session featuring David Spader of Spader Business Management, will demonstrate how the right skills and tools can transform a dealership’s hiring process and the dealership itself. Set for Oct. 3, this workshop will guide attendees through proven methods of interviewing, including ‘the dirty dozen’ of interviewing errors. Spader will talk habout companies that have increased their hiring success rate fourfold. Participants will leave with relevant information, newly learned skills and the motivation necessary to fundamentally revamp hiring practices and build successful teams.

• Post-recession look at the “10 Secrets to Dealership Financial Success” will cover the fallout from the last few years and demonstrate how some of the best business practices are developed in the toughest of times. Stephan King of Stephan King PC will share expertise gained through years in the business world and revisit the “10 Secrets to Dealership Financial Success” that were introduced to RVDA in 2006. Do the secrets still ring as true today as they did in 2006? Find out what your business has in common with some of the best in the industry. This session will take place on Oct. 4.

• “Mirror, Mirror On My Wall, Who Will Run My Dealership After All?” will show how effective leadership was instrumental in navigating the deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, but still left dealers unsure about the future of their companies. Somehow other dealers are taking 1-2 week vacations several times a year and have strong-performing businesses. John Spader of Spader Business Management will offer a self-assessment and a look at your team to help determine how to take a well-deserved vacation without headaches and worries and come back to a business that is humming along. This session will take place on Oct. 4.

For more information on the convention contact RVDA at (703) 591-7130 or send an e-mail to info@rvda.org. To register and for more information on the Convention/Expo, visit www.rvda.org.

RVDA Expo Panel to Assess Risk Management

“Straight Talk on Risk Management,” a panel discussion scheduled for Oct. 3 at the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo, will give dealers and general managers insights and strategies into staying abreast and understanding the ever-changing regulations on businesses, particularly laws related to dealer financing.

Finance experts Glynn Cooper of Marine One Acceptance Corp. and Richard Lewis from Bank of the West, two leading industry lenders, will share the latest developments faced by dealership employees, with special attention to recent FTC investigations into motor vehicle financing.

Also on the panel, Rob Cohen, founder of Auto Advisory Services and senior automotive counsel in Arent Fox’s Automotive Industry Group, will point out common pitfalls, explain how to stay out of trouble in the first place and offer common sense solutions to risk management challenges faced by RV dealers.

Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) Director of Legal & Regulatory Affairs Brett Richardson will moderate the panel, which will offer participants a chance to ask questions of leading professionals in the field.

The RV Dealers International Convention/Expo will be held Oct. 1-5 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The convention is sponsored by RVDA, RVDA of Canada and the RV Learning Center.

The 2012 convention will feature an exhibit hall filled with the RV industry’s top suppliers offering products and services to help dealers improve profitability. RVDA’s Partners in Progress Brand Committees will also meet to work on important dealer/manufacturer issues.

Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor information can contact RVDA at (703) 591-7130 or send an e-mail to info@rvda.org. To register and for more information on the Convention/Expo, visitwww.rvda.org.

Walworth to Head Towing Panel at RVDA Expo

Tom Walworth, president of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Statistical Surveys Inc., will moderate a Dealer/GM Track panel that will explore “What the Future Holds for Tow Vehicles” during the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo in Las Vegas.

Slated for Oct. 4, the workshop will cover the impact of more stringent fuel efficiency standards on towing capacity and look at changing demographics and what that means for the future of pick-ups and SUVs. Towables currently account for 90% of unit sales in the RV industry, according to Walworth.

Expert panelists Todd Kaufman of Ford Motor Co., Les Roeber of Blue Ox, and Lenny Sims of NADA Guides will lead participants through the “maze of government standards, industry directions and consumer trends.” The role of hitches and safety of trailering, two key issues particular to towables, will also be on the agenda. Participants will get the latest information, expert analysis and even get a look at what they can expect down the road.

“Tow vehicles play such an important role in our industry,” said RVDA Convention/Expo Committee Chairman Peter Albano of American RV in Olive Branch, Miss. “I am especially pleased that Ford Motor Co. is providing their expert on the F-Series truck, given its popularity with RVers. We are delighted that this distinguished panel of experts will offer their guidance on the current status of tow vehicles and the outlook for the future, given their critical role in our industry.”

The RV Dealers International Convention/Expo will be held Oct. 1-5, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The convention is sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), RVDA of Canada and the RV Learning Center.

The 2012 convention will feature an exhibit hall filled with the RV industry’s top suppliers offering products and services to help dealers improve profitability. RVDA’s Partners in Progress Brand Committees will also meet to work on important dealer/manufacturer issues.

Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor information can contact RVDA at (703) 591-7130 or send an e-mail to info@rvda.org. To register and for more information on the Convention/Expo, visit www.rvda.org.

RVDA Expo Workshop to Examine Product Mix

A workshop offering insight into how the right product mix can generate sales will be presented Oct. 4 during the RV Dealers International Convention/Expo in Las Vegas.

According to a press release, the workshop, titled “New & Improved – What It Means to Your Retail Sales,” will be led by Donna Martin, NTP Distribution Inc.’s director of marketing.

Workshop attendees will find out what factors should be considered when deciding what to sell and discover how to differentiate new products to overcome consumer resistance to buying.

Participants will also learn tips for identifying new products that fit their niche and customers, as well as what new and improved products have the potential of breathing new life into retail sales.

Martin has over 30 years of industry experience in the RV aftermarket segment. Her industry knowledge and expertise began on the retail side for a large RV aftermarket chain. With her retail experience spanning from in-store training manager to general manager, she has gained valuable real life experience working with the end customer.

Most recently, Martin worked with Keystone Automotive Operations to develop their RV and trailer initiatives. After Keystone Automotive Operations acquired NTP Distribution, she transitioned into her current role.

The RV Dealers International Convention/Expo will be held Oct. 1-5 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The convention is sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), RVDA of Canada and the RV Learning Center.

Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor information can contact RVDA at (703) 591-7130 or send an e-mail to info@rvda.org. To register and for more information on the Convention/Expo, visit www.rvda.org.

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