Priority RV Network Draws Good Crowd to RVDA’s Show – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News

From left, Mylissa and Michael Moix, owners of Moix RV Superstores in Arkansas, talk with Campers Inn COO and PRVN board member Ben Hirsch. (Photos: Shawn Spence/RVBusiness)

LAS VEGAS – Among the rather impressive crowd of 1,600 U.S. and Canadian RV dealership representatives who gathered last week at the RV Dealers Convention/Expo, Nov. 6-10 at Paris Las Vegas, were about 100 Priority RV Network members who simultaneously participated in Priority’s 24th fall meeting at the same convention venue.

Members of the unique cooperative of independently owned dealerships held a reception and meeting last Monday on the leading edge of the RVDA show, a meeting much like Priority had held annually for years in conjunction with the traditional Louisville Show before its 2017 closure. Priority since then has aligned with the National RV Dealers Association’s annual fall exposition.

And things, we’re told, went well.

From left, Brett and Dori Parris, owners of Parris RV of Pocatello, Idaho, talk with Andy Heck, PRVN board member and president of Alpin Haus RV locations in New York and New Jersey.

“We had a great meeting,” reported Priority Board Chairman Michael Peay of Holiday World of Houston, a well known retailer operating six stores in Texas and New Mexico. “Being the day before RVDA really commences, we had great attendance. We had four different banks come in and speak to us about their current programs and what they’re doing to enhance and improve their programs for our dealers and trying to get participation.

“We had Brown and Brown also there talking about all their (insurance) products. And it’s interesting with all the consolidation that’s going on in the industry, we have over the years lost some dealers due to consolidation. But we’ve actually ended up with the highest membership totals we’ve ever had at 152 dealership locations. So, that’s great.”

Beyond the show itself, Priority President Mike Regan, also president of Crestview RV, a three-store dealership based in Austin, Texas, told RVBusiness that things generally went well for Priority during all of 2023 despite the headwinds posed by today’s unpredictable economy. And that was apparently reaffirmed during Priority’s Las Vegas meetings.

“Life is good with Priority,” said Regan. “I mean, business is down everywhere. We know that. And our income is off a little bit, but our dealer count is up in 2023, a year that went well. Our dealers are very happy with what’s going on and we’ve announced that we’re lowering our dues.

“In our meetings here, we also went through our financials where we disclose every penny that we bring in and where all the money goes,” added Regan. “And we have a few vendors who come in and talk at this meeting, But the bulk of our vendors actually convene in April at our main annual meeting at the M Resort in Las Vegas.”

Michael Peay, left, PRVN chairman of the board and president of Holiday World, talks with Mark Bretz, PRVN treasurer and chairman of the Bretz Companies.

Of course, Priority also takes the opportunity at its fall meeting to promote its mainstream services, especially those affiliated with F&I, added Priority board member Brian Wilkins of Wilkins RV based in New York State. “I think one of the bigger things we’re always pushing is just utilization of the programs,” he said. “The programs are meant to provide a competitive edge and in a market like this, you’ll need that competitive edge. So, the better job you do utilizing the programs, the more you’re able to push to the bottom line in rebates.”

Peay, for his part, says the current economy is testing Priority’s own leadership skills.

“What does it mean individually to us – the fact that retail sales and Priority’s own revenues have dropped off?” he asked. “We feel it’s no different than managing your own dealership. When revenue’s going to drop, you manage your expenses accordingly. And our whole goal is to generate funds through programs that are mutually beneficial for the supplier and the dealer that enhance the customer’s experience.

“In so doing, we put more money back into the dealer’s pocket and back into the dealership. So, it helps to make them (dealer members) more competitive, providing them a competitive advantage in their marketplace.”

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/priority-rv-network-draws-good-crowd-to-rvdas-show/