RVIA’s Craig Kirby Interviewed by ‘Soundings Trade Only’

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an edited excerpt of an article by Eric Colby for Soundings Trade Only, a business-to-business trade publication that covers the marine industry. Click here to read the article in full.

In the past couple of years, families have taken to the water in record numbers. The same thing has happened in other industries, including recreational vehicles, better known as RVs. Mom, dad and the kids wanting to get away in a motorhome or towing a camping trailer to a remote location has resulted in record sales.

To take a closer look at the similarities and differences between boating and RVing, Soundings Trade Only talked with Craig Kirby, president/CEO of the RV Industry Association, which has offices in Elkhart, Ind., and Washington, D.C.

An avid outdoorsman, Kirby, 61, calls Virginia home. He and his wife, Lori, enjoy kayaking, hiking and visiting national parks. They recently rescued a dog they had been fostering. “We’re lousy fosterers, and we wound up adopting the Lab-pit mix that we named Nahla,” Kirby says. “Nahla went on her first RV trip this past fall, and now she’s hooked on the lifestyle.”

A 29-year veteran of the RV industry, Kirby took the helm of the RVIA when Frank Hugelmeyer left the organization to become president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association in 2019.

Q: How are the marine and RV industries similar?

Kirby: We have a lot of the same members. Many suppliers provide components for the marine and RV industries. We have some manufacturers who are active in the marine segment. We also have similar visions in outdoor recreation and policy issues and wanting to make sure that people have access to the outdoors.

Q: Did you have the same spike in sales during the pandemic that marine saw?

Kirby: Yes, we did, as a matter of fact. So many people who had never considered RVing were all of a sudden interested because it was the freedom to go where you want, when you want, and control your environment. You could recreate with family and friends safely. I obviously saw this on an industry level, but even on a personal level, I had so many people contacting me to see about getting a unit.

Click here to read the article in full.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/rvias-craig-kirby-interviewed-by-soundings-trade-only/