2023 NTP-STAG Expo Heads into Final Day on High Note

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The first full day of the 2023 NTP-STAG Expo was marked by a huge turnout of dealers, standing-room only seminars and lots of business activity on the trade floor. Indeed, there were plenty of smiles to be seen on attendees, exhibitors and organizers.

The industry’s largest aftermarket parts and accessories trade event, the Expo, presented by Airxcel, concludes today (Jan. 17) at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colo.

The Expo features a full two days of manufacturer product showcases, educational seminars, exclusive promotions, special events and industry networking opportunities. The first day featured an opening keynote address by former NFL coach Brian Billick, followed by RV University / PRO Seminars for most of the day and then the Expo trade floor that evening.

It was standing room-only at the Lippert RV University seminar. (Photos by Shawn Spence/RVBusiness)

Today’s activities begin with a keynote address by former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann, followed by a full day of Expo trade floor business and networking. The Expo concludes this evening with an onsite closing reception.

Among those pleased with the first day was NTP-STAG President Bill Rogers.

“Things are looking very, very good. We had a great turnout for the RVU all day today and leading right into a super nice crowd here on the Expo floor,” Rogers told RVBusiness. “We had a great introduction speaker with Brian Billick. I think he got the full-house crowd very revved up. He did a great job. And then all the training sessions were very well attended. We’re looking forward to a great second day of the show.”

Among the several hundred exhibiting suppliers was Scott later, national sales manager for PullRite in Mishawaka, Ind.

“We’re excited,” he said. “The dealer attendance is good. It’s nice to see people out again. This is the biggest show that we’ve seen in a couple of years. And the people are very optimistic about these trying times. Uncertain times, I guess. People are very, very optimistic, and that’s good for a supplier to hear.”

Given the softening retail market, Later mentioned that aftermarket and service business segments are poised for a good year or two.

“Service business is going to be on fire the next couple of years. We put a lot of inventory into the marketplace. We all know the stuff breaks. Hopefully people out there are using them. If they’re out there using them, they’re going to be coming into the dealership for service,” Later said. “So, if you’re in the service business, you got a couple of good years.”

As far as the dealer perspective, Mark Rispens and Rob Hughes from D&D RV Center in Helena, Mont., had nothing but positive things to say about the Expo.

Rob Hughes, left, and Mark Rispens of D&D RV Center, Helena, Mont.

“I think it’s great,” said Rispens. “I think attendance is really good. The show is really good. It’s big. I think the atmosphere and the attitude of the dealers is really good. I think it’s actually really positive.”

Both mentioned they especially enjoyed the various seminars, especially those from Lippert, Furrion and the RV Dealers Association.

“They talk about their upgrades in their products,” Hughes explained. “It was all very good informational, with people asking what’s going on with warranties and stuff like that. They talk all about that stuff. All the people were very, very good with product knowledge, too. It’s just good classes to go to. A lot better than school.”

“What I thought was really cool is, in some of them, the manufacturers and the suppliers talked about their product, but some of them also talked about business practices and ways to sell their product,” Rispens added. “It wasn’t just about ‘my product.’ It was about, ‘here’s some ideas on what you should be doing in a walk-through, what you should be doing here and what you should be doing there.’

“The other one that I went to today that was really good – which was not product-related at all – was RVDA and their RV Learning Center. They talked about some of the things they’re doing for education for fixed ops. We’ve just enrolled in some of that stuff and are getting going on some of it, but they’re doing some really neat things that I think are overdue.”

Leading the RVDA seminar was the association’s president, Phil Ingrassia, and consultant Tony Yerman, who gave details of coursework aimed at parts specialists and managers as well as other parts of the operation. Well-trained crews can be an important part of customer retention, was the underlying message.

“Why do people come back to dealerships? What brings them back as satisfied customers?” Ingrassia asked the overflowing classroom. “A quality service writer and advisor is the No. 1 reason people return to the dealer.”

Dealers are applauded by NTP-STAG personnel as they enter the Expo trade floor.

Online courses are available through the learning center for parts specialist, parts manager and service writer/advisor. For more information, click here.

Another session focused on continuing efforts by the RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA) and RV Technical Institute (RVTI) to increase the number of women in the technician workforce and to make the atmosphere more welcoming.

“I’ve been in the RV industry a long time and I love it, but it has always been male dominated and that can be extremely intimidating to a woman new to the industry who isn’t used to it,” said RVWA President Susan Carpenter of B&B Molders, Mishawaka, Ind.

In 2022, RVWA helped sponsor an all-female class of 24 students to attend RVTI.

To grow on that start, the organizations will host five different classes across the country in 2023. These classes will be limited to 12 students and be held March 6-10 in Dallas; May 15-19 in Portland; July 10-14 in Elkhart, Ind.; Aug. 14-18 in Jacksonville, Fla.; and Oct.23-27 hosted by the Pennsylvania RVC.

For more information, visit www.rvti.org.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/2023-ntp-stag-expo-heads-into-final-day-on-high-note/