Armchair quarterbacking is something we all love to do, even more so when it is a well known person's decision that we might be questioning.  I'm sure many people looked twice at the Fleetwood announcement and wondered why they didn't jettison motorhomes instead of their trailer business.  Let me state right up front; I really don't know Paul that well although I have met him on a few occasions and I don't own any Fleetwood stock!  I do like his decision though and it is a gutsy one.

With many of our larger manufacturers and dealers struggling under the weight of the recession and the problems it has brought with it; there is still a lot of good news out there but it always seems to get buried under all the negative stuff!

It was very refreshing to hear a great RV story during a dinner meeting following the R.I. RV show last Friday evening.  So here's a feel good story for you and I'll bet you have a few of your own and hope you will tell us abut them in your responses to this posting.

As I wonder what the rest of this year has to offer us, given the depressing news of the president signing the so-called stimulus package today - I think back to where we (the RV industry) were just a year ago, and look at where we are now.  It is simply unbelievable and many of us struggle to figure out how we got here and what we are going to do to get out of this mess.

We do know this; it has turned the entire industry upside down.  Pop-up are hot and makers of luxury busses can no longer sell that many believe are the ultimate RV.  What is going on here?

Why did the RV industry let the President of the United States coml the way to Elkhart and then let him do his town meeting in the high school gym and not the Hall of Fame?  Is there that little creativing and PR savvy in the industry to blow a great opportunity to showcase the very reason he went to Elkhart - to highlight the damage being done to the RV industry by today's economy!

Somewhere between 70 and 72 AD Vespasian began construction on the Roman Colesseum, just down the street from the Roman Forum.  According to Wikipedia, construction was completed by Titus in 80 AD.  In its heyday, 80,000 people would watch as the Romans threw their enemies to the lions.  In fact, history tells us that over 500,000 people and over one million wild animals were killed during gladiatorial contests and public spectacles!  Does this remind you of anything similar in the RV industry today?

It’s been a long time since the frustration level of the American worker and taxpayer has been at the boiling point they are now approaching. Consumers feel helpless against the ineptness and stupidity of our elected officials and corporate executives.  They are losing their homes, their jobs, and question if there is anything that can bring happiness back into their lives.

And that is where the RV industry comes into sharp focus. We have the solution to their woes and we have products that will make them feel good, spend quality time with their families, and take their minds off all this nonsense around them! Sell them sanity soon – please!

Many manufacturers dance to their own version of the Limbo that originated in the Caribbean.  The object of the dance is to slither under an ever decreasing bar to see how low you can go.  The RV version has manufacturers taking things out of their products, lessening their real value, and beating up on every supplier to get a lower price.  Are you playing this game or do you have enough confidence in your product to build it to your customer's expectations and not try to mimic what competitors may be doing to respond to current market challenges?

Can you imagine selling a hitch that cost several thousand dollars in today's economy?  It can be done, but you have to do your homework and really understand the difference between this product and what the industry has come to accept from underpowered trucks, dangerous hitches and the reluctance of dealers to fully explain towing capabilities, weight issues, and the dangers that exist when consumers are not made aware of potential problems.  This is a topic that needs to be discussed, but many dealers tell me they fight inaccuracies presented by other dealers and if they tell the truth, the customer believes the bad guy.  What do you say?

Much has been written about the need for dealers to embrace the Internet and become proficient with Web 2.0 technologies to service their prospects and customers and grow their business.  Despite the industry's current economic challenges, this is a story of two companies that get it.  Not only do they get it, they have mastered it.