2023 April Newsletter-EN

Chairman’s Column

Dear members,

With spring, comes advocacy time for the RVDA of Canada. Our government relations event is scheduled for the end of the month in Ottawa. As such, Board members from the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada and the Canadian Camping and RV Council (CCRVC) will be in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 26th to discuss issues of importance to the RV and Camping industry. This day has become a staple event of our advocacy strategy and I look forward to further positive dialogue with our Members of Parliament! And a big thank you to all the volunteers who contribute their time to make this event a success.

As you know, the Federal government released its new 2023 budget in March. There were a few items which could be of benefit to our members. The government will present a new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy to chart a course for growth, investment, and stability in Canada’s tourism sector. Key components of the upcoming strategy include providing $108 million over 3 years, to the Regional Development Agencies to support communities, small businesses, and non-profit organizations in developing local projects and events.

In addition, to further strengthen Canada’s transportation systems and supply chain infrastructure, Budget 2023 proposes to collaborate with industry, provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples to develop a long-term roadmap for Canada’s transportation infrastructure to better plan and coordinate investments required to support future trade growth. As proposed, there is $27.2 million over five years, to Transport Canada to establish a Transportation Supply Chain Office to work with industry and other orders of government to respond to disruptions and better coordinate action to increase the capacity, efficiency, and reliability of Canada’s transportation supply chain infrastructure.

Chairman’s Column

And I was pleased to hear the government announce that they have reached an agreement with Visa and MasterCard to lower credit card fees up to 27%. This reduction will help all of our small businesses with savings. We will review these specific budget measures with government officials when we are in Ottawa.

Canadian RV and Camping Week is just around the corner! Canadian campgrounds are inviting campers and RVers to join and celebrate the importance of the RV and Camping Industry during the eighth annual Canadian RVing and Camping Week scheduled for May 23 – 28, 2023. Let your customers know that campgrounds will be celebrating the start of another camping season during and, depending on the region, may include special events, discounted overnight fees, and/or specific activities to commemorate the occasion. Participating campgrounds can be found at the following link: Canadian RV and Camping Week - Canadian Camping and RV Council (ccrvc.ca)

Just a quick reminder that as a dealer member of the RVDA of Canada, you have access to the Go RVing Canada Dealer Tie-in program. The Tie-in program has many marketing assets to help you promote the RV lifestyle and your own dealership. Materials for this program can be downloaded from the Go RVing Canada website in the “Industry Information” section at www.gorving.ca/industry-information. Make sure you’re signed up!

Have an outstanding spring season.

All

the best,

Josée Bédard, Board Chair RVDA of Canada

Canadian National RV Retail Statistics February 2023

Canadian retail sales statistics are now available for both motorized and towable recreational vehicles.

These statistics will allow dealers to better manage the inventory on their lot by knowing which units are selling in their area, which price points are attracting buyers as well as knowing the local trends affecting their marketplace.

The RV retail sales statistics compiled by Statistical Surveys Inc. are the result of matching manufacturer VIN numbers with RV registrations.

The RVDA of Canada endorsement agreement includes free access for national monthly figures only, for members only. Going forward, these figures will be published in the RVDA of Canada bimonthly newsletter and archived at the “RV Statistics / National RV Sales” link on the member side of www.rvda.ca

This information is copyrighted to Statistical Surveys Inc. and for your use only, not for distribution. In order to protect your endorsement benefit, please honour that confidentiality.

To purchase more detailed statistics – by province, region or city – please contact Scott Stropkai of Statistical Surveys Inc. at 616-281-9898 ext 128 or sstropkai@statisticalsurveys.com.

To learn more about Statistical Surveys Inc., visit www.statisticalsurveys.com.

Elite Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Aviva Canada Inc., one of the leading Property and Casualty insurance groups in Canada which provides insurance protection to more than 3 million Canadians.

Aviva Canada is on a mission to change insurance. "At Aviva, we listen to our customers' views and opinions because by listening and acting on your feedback, we become better at what we do. We want Aviva customers to feel they are being treated as people, not as a number. We want our customers to be confident and comfortable that they have the right insurance to cover their needs. And we want our customers to have a positive experience at Aviva. We've already started the change by introducing our claims service satisfaction guarantee which you can learn more by visiting www.ClaimsGuarantee.com

Elite Insurance Company is Canada's largest insurer of specialty personal insurance products since 1954, covering recreational vehicles, mobile homes, antique & custom cars and pleasure crafts. To learn more about Aviva Elite and their mission to change insurance visit their website: www.avivacanada.com Aviva Elite

2022 Canadian RV Industry Annual Economic Review

The 2022 Canadian RV Industry Annual Economic Review is intended to deliver a comprehensive look at the economic indicators affecting the RV Industry in Canada. These products are intended to provide members with current economic information, which can assist them in gaining insights into the changing economic dimensions of the RV industry and the economy at large.

Download this report on RVDA of Canada member site under Member services / Industry Relations tabs (login required)

RVDAof Canada created the George Goodrick Emerging LeaderAward in 2021 in honour of the association's past chairman.

Due to George Goodrick’s tremendous contributions not only to the RVDAof Canada, but to the entire industry, the association wanted to recognize his continued dedication through a legacy award.

Goodrick was active with both theAtlantic RVDAand the RVDAof Canada. He first joined the RVDAof Canada board in 2008 as a director. Goodrick then went on to chair the national education and HR committee from 2010 to 2014. He also served as Treasurer, Vice Chairman, Chairman and Past Chairman of the RVDAof Canada.At the time of his passing, he was still serving as a director on the Canadian Camping and RV Council.

The Emerging LeaderAward will recognize and encourage early-career

professionals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, passion and promise of leadership to the Canadian Recreation Vehicle industry.

This award is open to all personnel in the Canadian retail and wholesale recreation vehicle industry sector.

To be considered, individuals will need to meet the criteria of exceptional:

 Customer Service

 Impact

 Innovation

 Initiative

 Social Responsibility

The recipient of the George Goodrick Emerging LeaderAward will be recognized in front of industry peers at a Provincial or Regional RVDAevent.

Nominations are open until June 30, 2023.

Should We Proactively Lead the Post-Covid Adjustments?

by Dave Kahle

Very soon we’ll be confronting the next wave of change as our companies and our jobs lurch back to something resembling pre-covid normal. The question in the back of every executive’s mind is this:” How do we handle the post-Covid changes?”

Specifically, we’ll have to accommodate thanks like employees who have been working from home, customers who wouldn’t see salespeople, and a whole raft of other issues. While there will be as many adjustments as there are people, before we start reacting to what everyone else wants to do, it may be appropriate to spend a little bit of time conceptualizing what we want to have happen.

Let me weave a couple of thoughts together here.

Change = Opportunity

One of the things I have learned in my 30+ years of business consulting is this: Every change is an opportunity to create a more positive, larger change. We just must think that way to make it happen.

Here’s an example. I have often been involved in refining a sales force’s compensation plan. Every time we refine a sales force compensation plan, it brings with it an opportunity to re-structure the way sales territories are defined, or maybe the way tasks are split between outside and inside sales, or some larger and more impactful issue. So, the smaller change

sales compensation – opens the door to a larger, more systematic change. That smaller change works sort of like a pry-bar when you are removing molding. Once you’ve used it to open a small gap in the structure, that gap can be lengthened to encompass the whole piece. So, a smaller change in the structure of an organization often opens up the specter of a larger, more strategic and impactful change. It’s easier to make a big change in the middle of the implementation of a smaller change.

People want leaders

Another lesson from my experience consulting with over 500 companies is this: Most people want confident leaders, and confident leaders point the way to a different and better situation in the future. And, typically, it is the leader’s job to describe that situation and point others to it. In other words, leaders create the vision of a better future, and lead people to it. Leader’s don’t react, they proact.

When I pull these two thoughts together, and apply them to the post-Covid adjustments, I come out with this.

Now is the time to proactively define the structure and culture you want, and help your people adjust to the new reality. Rather than reacting to every employee, every customer, and every vendor’s wishes, first create the structure you want, and nudge people toward it.

So, for example, you may say that in the postCovid world, you want everyone to work in the office, together, at least two days a week. When some of those employees who have been working at home indicate they want to continue working from home, you describe your structure, explain your rationale, and have them adjust to that.

Or you may want your field salespeople to spend a day or two a week making remote sales calls via Zoom or other video technology. So, set up the system, put in place the tools to measure that, and let your salespeople know of your new expectations. Change the structure to meet your view of what the world will demand.

What you will have done is this: You will have used this small change to create a bigger, more impactful change. You will have described the world as you want it and nudged your people into it. Instead of reacting to every individual’s whims, you will have defined the future, and then led them to embrace that.

Leaders lead, and now is the time to lead. Take some time to conceptualize the structure, the routines and the habits that you want to incorporate into your business, describe them specifically and develop the rationale for them, and then, prod your people into them. When people start emerging from the Covid fog, be ready with a proactive structure and culture for them to engage.

You may recall Rahm Emanuel, when serving as Obama’s chief of staff was famously quoted as saying: “Never let a crisis go to waste.” While his content was politics, the principle applies in many circumstances. One of which is business management.

Use this opportunity to build the structure that will serve you well in the post-Covid world. Be proactive, not reactive.

Originally published here: https://www.thebiblicalbusiness.com/post-covid-adjustments/

Dave Kahle is one of the world's leading sales authorities. He's written twelve books, presented in 47 states and eleven countries, and has helped enrich tens of thousands of sales people and transform hundreds of sales organizations. Sign up for his free weekly Ezine. His book, How to Sell Anything to Anyone Anytime, has been recognized by three international entities as "one of the five best English language business books.” Check out his latest book, The Good Book on Business

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RVDA of Canada

# 145-11331 Coppersmith Way, Richmond, BC V7A 5J9 Phone (604) 718-6325 Fax (604) 204-0154

Baseline Processing provides payment solutions and expertise to more than 1,000 merchants across North America including many RVDA of Canada members. Vancouver-based Baseline offers transparent pricing on an RVDA plan pricing that won’t change for the duration of our relationship.

Contact :Hugh Lalande (604) 606-7950) Website: www.baselineprocessing.com

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DT Tire and Atlas Tire Wholesale are prominent figures in Canada’s Independent tire distribution market. They offer services exclusively to dealers and with more than 25 warehouses across Canada, they are able to service a broad area and ensure several deliveries daily.

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PROPERTY& CASUALTYINSURANCE

Federated Insurance Companyof Canada providesdirect underwriting of Property and CasualtyInsurance for RV dealerships. In addition, the InventoryFloor Plan Advantageis available from FederatedInsurance for CommercialDistribution Finance (CDF) customers.

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CREDITORINSURANCE/WARRANTY/APPEARANCE PROTECTION /ANTI-THEFT

iA Dealer Services: F&I protection programs including, Creditor's Group Insurance (life, accident & sickness, involuntary unemployment, critical illness), Extended Warranty, Appearance Protection and Theft Deterrent System. An array of dynamic and RV specific F&I training webinars to support your business office.

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Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance (CDF) is a global inventory financing solutions provider with more than 45 years of expertise in the RV industry. Wells Fargo CDF delivers inventory financing solutions, service, and intelligence through in-depth expertise and a commitment to customers.

Contact: Ed Ristau Tel: (204)255-5965; Cell: (204) 430-6410; Website: www.wellsfargo.com/cdf

It’s Time for Service Writer / Advisor

Service writer/advisor online training available through the Mike Molino RV Learning Center.

Developed by RV industry service management experts, the online course is divided into training modules covering a variety of topics including managing appointments and workflow, generating additional revenue, and enhancing communication with customers.

Fully interactive and easy to navigate, the course is an ideal way to jump start the knowledge base of new employees or provide a refresher for more experienced fixed operations professionals. Modules reinforce the customer service skill sets service writers/advisors are required to perform every day. The course concludes with a comprehensive final assessment to test knowledge and skills learned in the course. The course is excellent preparation for the RV Learning Center’s Service Writer/Advisor Certification Test, which is separate from the online training program.

More New Online Courses

The Mike Molino RV Learning Center continues to add to its curriculum online courses designed to help dealers and fixed operations meet the needs of a new generation of customers.

 The Parts Specialist online course

 Parts Manager Online Course

The RV Learning Center partnered with The Ohio State University’s Center for Education and Training for Employment have developed Certifications, Competency Profiles, and instructional materials in the following areas:

 Service Manager







Service Writer/Advisor

WarrantyAdministrator

Parts Manager

 Parts Specialist

News

from RVDA Newsletter

Editorial Staff

The RVDA of Canada Member Newsletter is produced and distributed through the national association office : RVDA of Canada, Richmond BC

For Inquiries please contact us at:

#145 – Coppersmith Way Richmond, BC

V7A 5J9

Ph: (604) 718-6325

Fax: (604) 204-0154 www.rvda.ca powered by rvhotlinecanada.com

Emails : Eleonore Hamm, eleonore_hamm@rvda.ca

Anita Lien, anital@rvda.ca

Amee Inocencio, ainocencio@rvda.ca

Post your Positions at www.RVCareers.ca

To post a job, simply go to the employers tab and log in using your RVDA of Canada user name and password.

Contact RVDA of Canada at 604-718-6325 or e-mail if you do not have this information.

WWW.BUYLOCALRV.CA

RVDA of Canada’s “BUY LOCAL” campaign promotes “Buy your RV close to home. It’s better in the long haul, to consumers.

We encourage you to download a copy of brochure available at the member’s website.

RVDAof Canada Mission Statement:

The RVDA of Canada is a national federation which exists to protect and promote the interests and welfare of RV Dealers across Canada in order to enable the industry to maximize its potential.

Board of Directors Executive Committee

Chairman, Josée Bédard Roulottes Chaudière Lévis, Quebec

Vice-Chairman, Dale Hopkins RV City Morinville, AB

Treasurer, Jim Gorrie GNR Camping World Winnipeg, MB

Past Chairman, Gord Bragg

Hub City RV Lantzville, BC

Directors

John Krohnert

Ken Dobson Platinum RV Sales Leisure Time Sales

Jonathan Stone

Kyle Kehoe

Stone’s RV Center Kehoe RV

Marc Rémillard

Peter Schmucker Centre du Camping Rémillard Fraserway RV (Lacombe)

Ward Fraser

Travis Bromley Voyager R.V.Centre Ltd. Transcona Trailer Sales