Looking Forward, RVDA Leaves Dealers with a Positive Buzz – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Coming into the 2024 RV Dealers Association Convention/Expo there were any number of factors in play that could help steer the industry in either a positive or negative direction.
The country is swirling after the recent election and factors such as interest rates, gas prices and inflation will have to wait a few weeks before being tackled by the new administration.
But largely thanks to some forward thinking by the RVDA show committee and dealers coming to the show looking for a brighter tomorrow, the Convention/Expo left those who attended boiling over with excitement for a 2025 that might not be a boom like the COVID years, but is expected to be a stark improvement over the past two years.
RVDA President Phil Ingrassia said he was pleased with the outcome, which saw about a 3% increase in attendance over last year.
He said the work done to get the pulse of the industry paid off in providing the topics of education that target specific needs of dealers.
“The expo committee chaired by Chris Andro worked hard to bring some workshops together that were meeting the needs of dealers where they’re at right now,” Ingrassia said. “That was a big positive as far as getting attendance going. The Vendor Traininig +Plus sessions were right on target with some of the business building tools that dealers can use to increase both efficiency and sales.”
And the positive influence of news from outside the convention also contributed to the atmosphere inside the Paris Las Vegas walls.
“The forecast for an improved model next year as interest rates moderate has everybody looking to the future. That was the overall message that – as Chris Andro said – thrive in ’25,” he said.
Ingrassia echoed the sentiments of several dealers who have been through downturns in the past when he said he doesn’t expect the kind of jump the industry experienced from COVID.
But he said the next year is something dealers can plan for, budget for and work toward.
A large part of that target comes from getting personnel properly trained, such as the kinds of sessions that were available at the convention.
“Whether it’s training your people up or using some of the new sales automation tools we saw or recruiting the right people for the right slot and with the suppliers putting the processes in place in fixed operations to add efficiency to the parts ordering all of that is going to move the entire industry forward,” he said. “I think we saw at the Expo how it was quite impressive from the DMS providers to suppliers with components and new battery systems and power systems plus the lenders were there in full force to make sure both wholesale and retail financing needs are met. It’s not like during the downturn when we were coming back from almost a recessionary type period where credit was tough to get. All of the pieces are there for a better year in 2025.”
Ingrassia said members of the committee are working with vendors to help make sure the education sessions are not only relevant, but contain the kinds of information that helps the entire industry get where it wants to go.
“We’re well-positioned to help the industry move forward,” he said.
To get a better idea of whether or not the sessions are meeting those expectations, the Convention/Expo committee will be looking at the evaluations and reactions from attendees as well as exhibitors and partners to help inform some of those decisions for 2025.
In addition, RVDA will look for potential additional partnerships for meetings that were held in conjunction with the Convention/Expo such as the Brown & Brown F&I School that took place Saturday, Sunday and Monday ahead of the full convention.
“We welcome that activity and we’ll continue to try to incorporate that and additional training that’s available into the 2025 event,” Ingrassia said.
A major addition to the agenda for 2024 was the fixed operations day that filled Thursday with sessions directed at service, parts and warranty processing professionals.
Ingrassia said the sessions were well-attended and that plans are in the works for additional fixed ops opportunities for 2025.
“I want to really dive into what people are looking for in the convention-like setting for fixed operations material.,” Ingrassia said. “This time we had some warranty processing information and some repair event cycle time. Some of the vendors were explaining how their systems help repair event cycle time. That whole area – parts, warranty processimg, service management – it’s constantly evolving. There are different ways to do things.
“We’ll be looking real strongly at that,” he continued. “At a time when the industry is down, the fixed operations part of the overall profitability of a dealership is very important beyond just the importance to customer service. I would think that helped us increase our attendance a bit, too. We’ll be continuing to refine that fixed operations training for next year.”
