Former KOA Executive Lorne Armer Has ‘Gone to the Dogs’ – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
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Lorne Armer
When Lorne Armer stepped away from his position as vice president of brand development for Kampgrounds of America (KOA) several years ago, he knew he needed a change. Armer was recruited into the Billings, Mont., campground giant right out of college. Although he loved his job, after 17 years at KOA he was ready to pursue other interests.
Fast forward to 2022, as Armer and several business partners have put the finishing touches on a product prototype they feel will tap a vast, underserved market. While they see this new business as appealing to the general public, with his background and experience, Armer recognizes the opportunity for campgrounds to generate additional revenue and get a leg up on the competition. The business — Big Sky Dog Wash — is a turnkey dog wash/grooming station that can be installed almost anywhere with minimal investment and overhead.
You could say that Armer, founder and CEO of Big Sky Dogwash LLC, has literally gone to the dogs.
The company rolled out the first products in early 2023, and Armer says orders have been through the roof. “We launched in February and exceeded our annual goal in just a few months,” he told RVBusiness.
Anyone who has ever stayed in a campground knows RVers love their dogs. By some accounts, approximately 63% of RV owners have pets, and about 6.2 million dogs are traveling alongside their owners in RVs. What’s more, if you’ve visited a snowbird location, you would have noticed that many campers travel with not just one but several dogs.
Why should campgrounds add a Big Sky Dog Wash to their facilities?
“It provides a unique value proposition and amenity that sets them apart from other campgrounds,” explained Armer. “Many campgrounds are already focused on accommodating dogs and have dog parks, so having a dog wash adds to the convenience and satisfaction of their RVing guests. The Big Sky Wash lets pet owners easily and conveniently clean their dogs while traveling, ensuring a clean and happy pet.”
According to Armer, Big Sky Wash is pretty much “set it and forget it,” perfect for campground owners where staffing is an ongoing challenge. Customers activate the wash through an externally mounted, cellular-connected credit card pad; the interior of the wash is climate-controlled for all-season use and even has a rinse and disinfect cycle. Replacements for consumables like shampoos and conditioners are monitored and shipped from Big Sky as needed.
Aside from the initial connections — water, electricity, and sewage — the wash requires minimal owner involvement except for weekly cleaning and chemical replenishment. And for total hands-off involvement, Big Sky offers property management services that will take care of everything.
Providing an enhanced guest experience may be reason enough to add the wash, but campground owners — or RV dealers — have another incentive. Armer likened it to an ATM, which requires little hands-on involvement but continually dispenses cash.
“Our models start at around $40,000 plus shipping and are made here in Billings, Mont,” said Armer. “We suggest charging about $20 per wash, although you can set the price at whatever you want. That’s half the cost per wash compared to having your dog bathed at PetSmart. With just three washes daily, that’s an ROI in less than two years, which I think is very attractive.”
Campgrounds, RV dealerships, and places with good traffic and steady customers are viable locations. Armer owns several washes in the Billings area, which are open year‘round, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. He says they require very little of his time and generate a constant revenue stream, hence the ATM analogy.
You can learn more about Big Sky Dog Wash here or contact Armer at [email protected].
Source: https://rvbusiness.com/former-koa-executive-lorne-armer-has-gone-to-the-dogs/
