By Greg Gerber on 2/28/2008 12:36 PM

When I read stories in multiple newspapers about the reasons government officials are subjecting RV owners to special parking rules, invariably, someone will suggest that parking restrictions are necessary to protect property values. How does this work? Do tax assessors drive up and down a street and note in their little books, "The homes on this quiet residential street appear to be well maintained and the lawns in immaculate condition. But, three of the 20 homes have travel trailers in the driveway, so we need to adjust all property values down by 4.6 percent in this neighborhood?" Read More »

By Greg Gerber on 2/27/2008 11:07 AM

News today that Dan Gamel RV was closing four locations in California and Arizona shows just how big a ripple effect mismanagement at an RV manufacturer can have on the entire industry. One of Gamel's locations in Santa Rosa, Calif., was an exclusive National RV dealership. Today, 40 people are out of work after the dealership lost its product line. The demise of National RV still has people talking, especially conspiracy theorists. Read More »

By Greg Gerber on 2/26/2008 3:41 PM

Therein lies the problem with the Sierra Club. In order to rope in unsuspecting contributors, they publicly claim to be a grassroots environmental organization actively involved in conservation projects. But, behind the scenes, they tap freelancer writers/photographers and dress them up as experts, then give them laptop computers and printers to churn out as many press releases as they care to issue in a day all for the purpose of destroying companies and seeking even more government intervention in the lives of people. Read More »

By Chuck Marzahn on 2/21/2008 12:03 PM

In a recent seminar on human resource management, a participant came to a new understanding of the importance of the HR role. She works at a dealership with 14 employees and virtually no turnover. Her attendance in the seminar was preceded by some kicking and dragging of feet. “Why do I need to know about HR?” was the question. ... Read More »

By Greg Gerber on 2/15/2008 10:55 AM

News today that Congress intends to hold hearings into the formaldehyde mess should leave many in this industry on edge. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) announced late Thursday he would launch a new investigation into the issue. As chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Waxman wrote to the CEOs of Pilgrim, Coachmen and Gulf Stream asking for documents related to the sales of trailers to FEMA. He also asked for information about formaldehyde in the trailers they build. There are two rules in public relations. First, when bad news strikes, confess quickly and seek to remedy the problem. Failure to do so leads to prolonged exposure of and escalated interest in the situation. Hello? The second rule of public relations requires that, in failing to abide by rule No. 1, a goat must be identified and sacrificed to appease the media gods, court system and legislators. Read More »

By Greg Gerber on 2/13/2008 10:19 AM

As the first RV industry manufacturer to attempt a similar feat, Monaco deserves some time in the spotlight. The company recognizes the power of the Internet in giving consumers the ability to forward a link to cutesy commercials and videos to all their friends as quickly as it takes to press a send button. Read More »

By Greg Gerber on 2/12/2008 8:52 AM

Maybe I'm just whacked -- which wouldn't surprise me. But it would be interesting to see how companies perform when the people who sell their products and use their products join forces with people who make those products and finance the whole shebang. Allowing small business owners and RV users to join the usual board cadre of lawyers, accountants, analysts and non-competing CEOs to make decisions affecting the direction and profitability of the company may literally transform that company. Read More »

By Greg Gerber on 2/11/2008 12:53 PM

After reading my last blog about how manufacturers, suppliers and dealers seem to be squeezing each other out of profits, a New England campground operator contacted me to say he could sympathize with companies caught in the vice. But, he suggested, it wasn't anything compared to the squeeze campground operators feel not only from RV users, but from manufacturers, dealers and suppliers as well. Read More »

By Greg Gerber on 2/6/2008 1:29 PM

News today that FreedomRoads and Featherlite ended their affiliation with each other draws attention to a theory I've been espousing for several months. That theory is that manufacturers and suppliers are fighting back against bullying tactics. If suppliers are not going to receive valuable financial consideration for their product (i.e. reasonable profit), then they might as well sell fewer products. After all, if a company can generate the same profit on 1,000 items as they can by selling 1,500, why do all the extra work and put up with the additional headaches? Read More »

By Greg Gerber on 2/4/2008 2:38 PM

IF spring ever arrives, and the sun stays out for more than four days in a row, I suspect consumer confidence will spring back like buds on a lilac bush. The arrival of spring will coincide with lower interest rates, falling gas prices, tax refund checks, a government economic stimulus rebate and a very strong desire to turn off the TV and head outdoors. Read More »