In this week’s Thanksgiving edition of MC Fireside Chats (MCFC), RV experts and enthusiasts discussed the recent events held to help people in the RV industry learn more about growing their respective businesses, and they also looked back to how much the industry has grown this year.

In this episode, MCFC Host Brian Searl is joined by RV Dealers Association President Phil Ingrassia and RV Women’s Alliance President Susan Carpenter, as well as special guests, Andy and Peggy Staver, the couple from Our Downsized Life.

The discussion started with Phil Ingrassia mentioning how the RV industry, specifically the dealership, are in a good position coming into the new year, with manufacturers adjusting to the new demand with the help of dealers as they get ready to reorder for inventory.

He also said that camping and RVing have never been more popular than it is now, with camping bookings and RV rentals remaining strong.

“[C]amping is an affordable way to have a vacation… There are a lot of people taking notice of the sector, more private equity money, real estate investments, campgrounds modernizing, and states looking at potential camping areas,” Ingrassia said.

Peggy Staver, who stepped down from her corporate career in 2016, mentioned she and her husband became full-time RVers in October of 2017 since Andy was a traveling nurse and found that living in an RV is a suitable way for them to travel for work while bringing their home everywhere they go, which eventually led to the creation of their channel, Our Downsized Life.

The couple shared their experience about the time they were traveling during the peak of the lockdowns of the COVID pandemic. Andy Staver said it was incredibly challenging since most campgrounds were closed while those that were open were usually at full capacity, making it difficult for him to find a place for his profession.

He said it eventually brought them to Nebraska, where an independent campground accommodated them during the rest of the lockdown.

The discussion shifted to the respective events of RVWA and RVDA. Susan Carpenter said the Alliance always wanted to do an education symposium and recognize the people in the RV industry who have made a difference. She also elaborated on the awards that were given to the individuals and groups during the event’s awards ceremony.

She said that awards did not focus on any specific segment of the industry, rather it recognized the contributions of the RV people as a whole. The event also held sessions that educated its attendees about the industry and leadership, as well as helped them network and learn from each other.

In turn, Phil mentioned the events that took place during the RVDA Convention this year. He said their James B. Summer Award, named after one of their past CEOs, was given to Brian Wilkins of Wilkins RV Inc. who has built his dealership from the ground up and has contributed to the industry.

Phil also said that they once again held another Dealers Satisfaction Index, where they surveyed multiple dealerships around the country about the performance of manufacturers and recognized them during the event.

When talking about dealers and leaders, Peggy and Andy shared an experience they once had with a dealership that helped them every step of the way to repair a broken appliance in their RV, servicing them as much as possible.

“Most RVs need specific products made specifically for RVs, then there are some that accommodate any product, and having a dealer to help people with issues that require [this particular] expertise is an important aspect for dealers… Servicing what they sell. The most successful dealers are full-service [dealerships] with individuals helping their customers,” Phil said.

The group then shared what they are grateful for this year and what they are looking forward to in 2023. Susan said that she is looking forward to a smooth-flowing year and getting back to a form of normal after two years of challenges from the pandemic.

Phil said he plans to keep moving forward and keep focusing on things that can help the industry grow, as well as start some projects that were postponed due to the pandemic.

The Stavers shared that they have always liked meeting people in the campgrounds they stay at, keeping in touch with them even years after. They look forward to meeting and sharing with the people in the community, as well as nurturing their new careers as freelancers helping RV parks grow.

Brian Searl also shared that he is keen to learn more about the technology and practices in marketing that can help businesses in the industry grow, showing that it has more potential than people think.