2024 June Newsletter-EN

Chairman’s Column

Dear members,

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending this year Washington, DC. The annual event put on by the RV Industry Association (RVIA), begins with several days of committee meetings, including the Canadian Coalition Committee.

Volunteers from across the North American RV industry review key issues thus ensuring that the association meets its strategic goals. This week culminates with advocacy efforts on Capital Hill. And this year, RVIA also celebrated their 50th anniversary! Congratulations RVIA to on reaching such a milestone. It is impressive to see such industry unity coming together and working for the betterment of all.

Speaking of industry unity, the RVDA of Canada, along with the CRVA and CCRVA, recently finalized a guide for RV industry definitions in order to clarify ongoing misconceptions about who the industry represents. By establishing well defined and consistent definitions, we can ensure that all stakeholders, including government officials, the industry, and the public, have a clear understanding of this industry.

This initiative has become crucial as we continue to highlight the recreational nature of RVs, emphasizing that these vehicles and associated services are designed to meet consumers' leisure needs and do not serve as permanent residences. Clear definitions will improve consumer safety by ensuring that all products meet established regulatory requirements, thus fostering greater trust and reliability within the market. By articulating that RVs are not intended for full-time accommodation, we aim to alleviate regulatory pressures and create a more stable operational environment for our campground industry. The complete guide can be found on our website.

Chairman’s Column

I want to remind you that on page 13 of this issue, you will find a nomination form for the 2024 Canadian RV Dealer of the Year. I want to encourage you to think about making a nomination. If you know of a dealer who has shown great dedication to the RV industry and lifestyle, to their customers, employees and peers and has been committed to their community, then make sure you send in a nomination. And new this year, nominations will be valid for up to three years. The 2024 recipient will be honoured at our annual meeting at the RVDA Convention in Las Vegas.

Speaking of the RVDA Convention, it’s not too early to register. Convention details can be found at the following website: www.rvda.org/convention. We recently announced that Best-selling author and successful marketing executive Kevin Brown will deliver the keynote address during the opening general session on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Brown is the author of “The Hero Effect” and “Unleashing Your Hero”. Brown, who is the creator of The Hero Effect®, will review the simple yet powerful philosophy that distinguishes worldclass organizations and high-performance individuals from the rest.

The convention brings together North America’s top dealership personnel person networking and continuing education workshops. The event is designed for dealers/GMs, sales, fixed operations, F&I, and digital marketing professionals. The annual RVDA convention also includes opportunities to interact with leading manufacturers, suppliers, and RV industry business partners in the Expo Hall. I look forward to seeing you there.

Have a great summer everyone!

All the best,

Dale Hopkins, Board Chair RVDA of Canada

Canadian National RV Retail Statistics April 2024

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 and 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

2023 Annual Economic Review RVDA of Canada

The 2023 Annual Economic Review RVDA of Canada 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)

RV Career Showcase: A Huge Success in Inspiring the Next Generation!

The RVDAof Canada is thrilled to announce the tremendous success of the recent RV Career Showcase held at the Centre de Foires in Quebec City on May 30th and 31st, 2024. This event served as a cornerstone in our ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent by showcasing the exciting world of RV careers to young minds.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible partners and sponsors who made this showcase possible:Atlas Trailer Coach Products, CRVA, RVDAof Quebec, ProLite, Roulottes Chaudière, Roulottes E. Boudreault, iADealer Services and Okanagan College. Their invaluable support allowed us to create a truly engaging experience for students and educators.

The RV Career Showcase was proudly held within the framework of the prestigious Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC). This event, attracting over 13,000 visitors and 550 competitors across 40 skilled trade and technology disciplines, provided the perfect platform to ignite students' passion for the trades.

Lights On, Dreams On!

The highlight of the showcase was our interactive "try-atrade" activity. Students and teachers of all ages were given the opportunity to get their hands dirty and delve into the intricacies of RV service technician work, specifically focusing on electrical systems. The excitement on their faces as they witnessed the trailer lights illuminate upon powering the controller was truly heartening.

Building the Future, Together

The Spark Within

The success of this event underscores the power of industry collaboration. We are immensely grateful to Roulottes ProLite andAtlas Trailer Coach Products for their vital contributions. Together, we weren't simply showcasing careers; we were building dreams and fostering the growth of the RV industry.

We are dedicated to introducing even more students and educators to the rewarding career opportunities within the RV industry. We extend a warm invitation to all RV dealers! Share your knowledge and inspire young minds by participating in career or skilled trades fairs, offering in-class presentations, or hosting dealership tours. Your participation could spark a passion that leads to a fulfilling career in the RV world.

The RV Careers team, with volunteers representing RV retail, wholesale, and aftermarket sectors, is committed to promoting the vast array of skillsets required for a successful career in RV fixed operations and beyond.

Join us in making the RV Career Showcase a landmark event that empowers our youth and secures the bright future of the RV industry!

The 2025 Skills Canada National Competition will be held in Regina, SK.

There’s a Price to Success One of The 25 Most Important Things I’ve Learned

By Dave Kahle

Recently, one of the members of my CBIG groups suggested I make a list of the 20 most important things I’ve learned in my 30 years of experience working with B2B sales organizations. I was hesitant at first, because I thought it was a bit too focused on me. But I realized that I have learned some really important things, and that since I have a unique perspective and an out-of-thebox way of thinking, these may not be obvious to the world at large, and would potentially be helpful to a lot of people.

So, I created a list and discovered it to be far longer than 20 items. To narrow down the long list, I applied these four criteria:

1. It had to be an important lesson – one which has the potential to dramatically impact a per son, a sales team, or a business not superficial or trivial.

2. It had to arise out of my personal experience. In other words, not something that I garnered from a book, or borrowed from someone else. Something I’ve learned in the trenches.

3. It had to have been tested in the caldron of real-world experience. No blue-sky stuff.

4. I had to unwaveringly vouch for its validity. These are concepts and lessons that I would stand behind.

Applying these four criteria, I narrowed the list down to 25, and then connected them to the group (or groups) to which that idea was most appropriate: Salespeople, sales leaders, small businesspeople, executives and businesspeople at large. In no particular order, here’s one of the 25: Most people are not willing to invest in themselves and pay the price of personal growth and success. For a lot of the people reading this post that doesn’t seem quite right. You have invested in yourselves: You read the books, attend the seminars and webinars, listen to the podcasts, etc. You have always sought to build your skills and become the best that you can be. Doesn’t everyone else? No. You’re not the rule, you are the exception. The fact that you are reading this post alone identifies you as one of the minority who really do seek to be successful. The vast majority of people don’t. James Allen said,

“Men are often interested in improving their circumstance, but are unwilling to improve themselves, they therefore remain bound.”

Much of my work involves interacting with people in the world of sales: salespeople, sales managers, sales leaders. I have often made this observation: “Randomly select 20 salespeople from any group, and you’ll discover that only one in 20 has spent $25 of his own money on his/her own improvement in the last 12 months.”

Astonishing! Why don’t the other 19 invest in themselves? You would think that salespeople, particularly, would see the wisdom in improving their skills. But they are no different than the vast majority of people in other professions. They don’t invest in themselves and pursue success because there is a price to personal improvement, there is a price for success, and the vast majority of people don’t want to pay the price. Given the choice between paying the price for success or remaining in the circumstances in which they find themselves, they choose the status quo.

What is the price?

We naturally think of the time and money invested in courses, webinars, podcasts, etc. But those are just excuses that serve to take the focus off of the real price: Their self-image. One of the lessons I’ve learned is that people will live up, or live down, to their image of themselves. This manifests at every level in an organization and shows up in three specific expressions.

Insecurity

The world is full of people who are insecure and afraid to admit that they may be able to learn something from someone else. Their fragile egos don’t want to put themselves in a place where they would have to admit that someone else may have a piece of content, an experience, or insights that might be helpful. So, they avoid any circumstances where that may come into play. They make up excuses for why they can’t attend the seminars, are too busy to take part in a webinar, and just can’t find the time to listen to a 10minute podcast or watch a video. When it comes time for the role-playing exercise in the seminar, they suddenly have to make a phone call or use the rest room. They opt out of anything that might impinge on their insecurity. That’s too big a price to pay.

Contentment

Others are content with who they are, and they are content with their situation. I’ve often observed that the starting point for personal improvement is discontent. If there is nothing that you are discontented with –nothing you want to obtain, nothing you want to accomplish, nothing you want to become – then you have no motivation to take the steps necessary to accomplish anything.

Thomas Edison rightly observed: "Restlessness and discontent are the necessities of progress." If he was content reading by candlelight, he would never have had the drive to invent the electric light bulb. So, too with all of us. If we are perfectly content, we will not have the emotional energy it takes to stretch ourselves out of our comfort.

I’ve often observed that the most difficult salesperson to work with is the 50-year-old whose kids are grown, the house is paid for, and is doing OK on the job. He/she is content. And that contentment is the killer of self-improvement and greater success.

Victim mentality

As long as you think that your situation is someone else’s responsibility, you’ll never muster the energy it takes to change and improve yourself. Unfortunately, this ‘victim mentality’ seems to be growing in our country. It seems like everyone is a victim these days. It is easier to blame someone else than it is to face up to your own lack of acumen.

There are some people who have taken victimization to a deeper level. At some deep level of their selfimage, they just don’t see themselves as having the capacity to become more successful. Since they don’t think it’s a possibility for them – either because they are incapable, or because the universe is against them – there is no reason to try. They quit without ever having begun and resign themselves to a mediocre existence. Victimization then takes two forms. It reaches out into the external world and blames others for their lack of success. Or it focuses inwardly and excuses the lack of success to either their own capabilities or the universe’s apathy.

Add these up, insecurity, contentment, and victimization, and you understand why only one in 20 people pursue success and is willing to pay the price.

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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Marks: Discounts (in-store) on select workwear

As your current cards expired, we're offering you an easier way to shop! To receive the discounts, all you need to do is mention the RVDA of Canada account number at check-out. This offer is available at all Mark's stores across Canada. We're still working on extending the program to online purchases so stay tuned. Access the program now through the RVDA of Canada member site

Discounts and offers for top attractions, shows and other entertainment!

Exclusive discounts and offers for all your stay at Home and work from home needs including, Disney+ subscription,Showtime subscription, black Friday pricing for computers/laptops audiobooks and much more! Access the program now through the RVDA of Canada member site.

RVDA MEMBER DISCOUNT

Perkopolis Member Discount Program

Great perks on everyday products and services!

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Petro-Canada SuperPass Credit Card Discount

With use of the Petro-Canada SuperPass credit card, members of Explorer RV Club & RVDA of Canada can realize significant savings, convenience, control & security.

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Reserve and Save on Airport Parking Program

With a network that spans coast to coast, Park’N Fly is focused on providing our customers with cost-effective parking options while enjoying a park happy experience with every stay. Access Program

Purolator Member Discount Program

CSAE has negotiated group shipping discounts of up to 55%* on Purolator Shipping Services.Service designed with you in mind! Whether it’s across town or across the country, you’ll get reliable, professional shipping that will satisfy and impress your customers. Access Program

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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GROUP EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Federated Insurance

Federated Insurance provides customizable Group Employee Benefit coverage.

Contact:

Western Canada: Wayne Budge at 1-800-665-1934

Eastern Canada: Mauro Di Tullio at 1-800-361-0790

PROPERTY& CASUALTYINSURANCE

Federated Insurance Companyof Canada providesdirect underwriting of Propertyand CasualtyInsurance for RV dealerships In addition, the Inventory Floor Plan Advantage is available from Federated Insurance for CommercialDistribution Finance (CDF) customers.

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CREDITORINSURANCE/WARRANTY/ APPEARANCE PROTECTION /ANTITHEFT

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. To find out more about iA Dealer Services or to become an iA Dealer Services dealer partner, contact us today.

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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

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

Developed by RV industry service management experts, the online course topics including managing appointments and workflow, geneating 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,

Dale Hopkins RV City Morinville, AB

Vice-Chairman, Jim Gorrie

Classic Trailer Sales Ltd. Headingley, MB

Treasurer, Ken Dobson

Leisure Time Sales Quispamsis, NB

Past Chairman, Josée Bédard Roulottes Chaudière Lévis, Quebec

Directors

John Krohnert Chardell Brydon Platinum RV Sales Jerry's RV Trailer Sales & Service

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