Camping World buys Bodily RV
National chain that will operate stores in Meridian and Idaho Falls sees growth potential in the state.
The nation's largest RV retailer has purchased Meridian-based Bodily RV Center.
The purchase by Chicago-based Freedom Roads/Camping World also clears the way for Idaho to get its first two Camping World stores: at Bodily RV's Meridian location at 1580 W. Overland Road and at Bodily RV's Idaho Falls location.
The company said it plans to open the Camping World in Meridian within the next six months and the Idaho Falls store within eight months.
Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of FreedomRoads/Camping World, said the company had been looking at the Boise-area market before its purchase of Bodily RV.
"We had identified the market as a successful and growing RV market and actually had a contract on property that was three lots down from Bodily's current facility," Lemonis said.
Eventually, Lemonis said, the company decided it made more sense to try to acquire Bodily RV and take advantage of its leading position in the local market. Bodily RV is on track to record $45 to $50 million in sales this year.
Lemonis said the company plans to expand the Bodily RV location by adding 15,000 square feet of retail space to accommodate the Camping World store and adding an additional 20 to 25 service bays to serve the dealership and the store.
The company expects to add 30 to 35 new employees to the Meridian location. As part of the expansion, Lemonis said they've also decided to paint the dealership and Camping World store in a blue and orange color scheme to recognize the Boise State Broncos.
"This particular store with the addition of Camping World is expected to generate $70 million of revenue on an annual basis," he said.
Ultimately, Lemonis said, they hope to capture 40 percent of the Idaho RV market. He said the company will be looking at acquiring other RV dealers to make that happen.
The company has more than 130 Camping World locations nationwide. Some of them are stand-alone and some are in combination with a dealership. Lemonis said the company also operates nearly 60 RV dealerships.
The closest stores to Idaho are in Draper, Utah, and Portland.
Camping World stocks a large selection of accessories and camping gear aimed at the recreational vehicle market. The company is one of the largest retailers of Honda generators and sells 10 million to 15 million camping grills annually, he said.
Lemonis said the company was attracted to Bodily RV because of how well the owners have been able to expand the business.
Gary Bodily admits he wasn't interested in selling at first.
"They approached me about two or three years ago, and I told them no, but they called back this April," Bodily said. "I had no intention of selling, but it seemed to be the right thing to do."
Bodily RV was started 11 years ago as Tom Scott's Regional RV Center, but Bodily bought out his partners and in September 1998 it became Bodily RV. The company started with four employees and has grown to more than 90 employees.
Bodily said he's still a little uneasy about selling his business, but said it's the best move for the store to help with its growth and will give better opportunities for his employees.
"There are a lot of good people here that make this store go," Bodily said.
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Showing posts with label RV Industry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RV Industry. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
US recreational vehicle industry booming
US recreational vehicle industry booming
AP
Georgia: About 20,000 motor-home owners and industry representatives gathered last week in the heart of Georgia to social-ise, attend seminars and kick the tyres of more than 1,000 enticing new models - some costing more than $1 million each and getting only six miles per gallon.
With gasoline prices climbing in recent years, the turnout at the Family Motor Coach Association's 77th International Convention is much better than most outsiders would expect.
Recreational vehicle industry sales figures show record sales for the past five years - a surge that owners and industry insiders attribute to a growing number of baby boomers nearing retirement, as well as younger families opting for vacations closer to home.
"There's no better way to do it," said Bob Dalton, 70, who has owned a motor home for 30 years. "I can sleep in my own bed and I can eat my own food. I travel at my own pace. I go where I want."
Motor homes have long been popular in the United States, where many see the comfortable vehicles as a means to see America's varied landscape at a leisurely pace and in comfort.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, however, the RVs have steadily gained a new following, in part as Americans looked at alternatives to air travel.
In addition, dealers have been able to lure younger buyers through favourable interest rates offered on the costly vehicles, said Kevin Broom, a spokesman for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, which represents 500 manufacturers and suppliers.
Surging fuel costs over the past couple of years, in which the price for a gallon of regular self-service gasoline rose 21 per cent since March 2005, have done little to dampen demand for the mobile homes. While sales are expected to dip a little this year, 2007 still looks to be the fourth best sales year over the past three decades, said Broom.
Cost effective
"RVs are the most cost effective way to vacation for a family, even when you factor in the cost of fuel," he said, citing the common vacation costs of hotels, restaurants and rental cars that can be avoided or lowered when using a RV.
Mark Tuggle, sales manager for Douglasville-based John Bleakley Motor Homes, Georgia's largest motor home dealership, said the younger buyers are a new phenomenon.
"If they weren't gray headed and had a handicapped sticker, sales people would shy away from them," Tuggle said.
"Now they can be 32 years old and have two kids and you need to pay attention to them."
The appeal for young families, especially those living in urban areas, is that they can spend a weekend in a campground and return on Sunday evening "feeling like they've been on vacation", Tuggle said.
The influx of younger RVers still was not apparent at the motor home convention, which ends on Thursday. Many were gray-haired retirees. Some limped around the vast exhibit area. Others zipped around on bicycles and golf carts.
A few appeared to be baby boomers - people born between 1946 and 1964 who are reaching retirement age with company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plans and similar employer-backed programmes.
"Baby boomers have more expendable income," said Dave Uhlenbrock, spokesman for the association, which has 120,000 family members.
"The baby boomers are looking at motor homes... when they consider their travel options," he said.
"They can do what they did at home in a motor home.
"There are motor homes with washers and driers, lovely shower areas, satellite TV and Wi-Fi. They call them land yachts and they truly are."
AP
Georgia: About 20,000 motor-home owners and industry representatives gathered last week in the heart of Georgia to social-ise, attend seminars and kick the tyres of more than 1,000 enticing new models - some costing more than $1 million each and getting only six miles per gallon.
With gasoline prices climbing in recent years, the turnout at the Family Motor Coach Association's 77th International Convention is much better than most outsiders would expect.
Recreational vehicle industry sales figures show record sales for the past five years - a surge that owners and industry insiders attribute to a growing number of baby boomers nearing retirement, as well as younger families opting for vacations closer to home.
"There's no better way to do it," said Bob Dalton, 70, who has owned a motor home for 30 years. "I can sleep in my own bed and I can eat my own food. I travel at my own pace. I go where I want."
Motor homes have long been popular in the United States, where many see the comfortable vehicles as a means to see America's varied landscape at a leisurely pace and in comfort.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, however, the RVs have steadily gained a new following, in part as Americans looked at alternatives to air travel.
In addition, dealers have been able to lure younger buyers through favourable interest rates offered on the costly vehicles, said Kevin Broom, a spokesman for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, which represents 500 manufacturers and suppliers.
Surging fuel costs over the past couple of years, in which the price for a gallon of regular self-service gasoline rose 21 per cent since March 2005, have done little to dampen demand for the mobile homes. While sales are expected to dip a little this year, 2007 still looks to be the fourth best sales year over the past three decades, said Broom.
Cost effective
"RVs are the most cost effective way to vacation for a family, even when you factor in the cost of fuel," he said, citing the common vacation costs of hotels, restaurants and rental cars that can be avoided or lowered when using a RV.
Mark Tuggle, sales manager for Douglasville-based John Bleakley Motor Homes, Georgia's largest motor home dealership, said the younger buyers are a new phenomenon.
"If they weren't gray headed and had a handicapped sticker, sales people would shy away from them," Tuggle said.
"Now they can be 32 years old and have two kids and you need to pay attention to them."
The appeal for young families, especially those living in urban areas, is that they can spend a weekend in a campground and return on Sunday evening "feeling like they've been on vacation", Tuggle said.
The influx of younger RVers still was not apparent at the motor home convention, which ends on Thursday. Many were gray-haired retirees. Some limped around the vast exhibit area. Others zipped around on bicycles and golf carts.
A few appeared to be baby boomers - people born between 1946 and 1964 who are reaching retirement age with company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plans and similar employer-backed programmes.
"Baby boomers have more expendable income," said Dave Uhlenbrock, spokesman for the association, which has 120,000 family members.
"The baby boomers are looking at motor homes... when they consider their travel options," he said.
"They can do what they did at home in a motor home.
"There are motor homes with washers and driers, lovely shower areas, satellite TV and Wi-Fi. They call them land yachts and they truly are."
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Showing posts with label RV Industry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RV Industry. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Camping World buys Bodily RV
Camping World buys Bodily RV
National chain that will operate stores in Meridian and Idaho Falls sees growth potential in the state.
The nation's largest RV retailer has purchased Meridian-based Bodily RV Center.
The purchase by Chicago-based Freedom Roads/Camping World also clears the way for Idaho to get its first two Camping World stores: at Bodily RV's Meridian location at 1580 W. Overland Road and at Bodily RV's Idaho Falls location.
The company said it plans to open the Camping World in Meridian within the next six months and the Idaho Falls store within eight months.
Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of FreedomRoads/Camping World, said the company had been looking at the Boise-area market before its purchase of Bodily RV.
"We had identified the market as a successful and growing RV market and actually had a contract on property that was three lots down from Bodily's current facility," Lemonis said.
Eventually, Lemonis said, the company decided it made more sense to try to acquire Bodily RV and take advantage of its leading position in the local market. Bodily RV is on track to record $45 to $50 million in sales this year.
Lemonis said the company plans to expand the Bodily RV location by adding 15,000 square feet of retail space to accommodate the Camping World store and adding an additional 20 to 25 service bays to serve the dealership and the store.
The company expects to add 30 to 35 new employees to the Meridian location. As part of the expansion, Lemonis said they've also decided to paint the dealership and Camping World store in a blue and orange color scheme to recognize the Boise State Broncos.
"This particular store with the addition of Camping World is expected to generate $70 million of revenue on an annual basis," he said.
Ultimately, Lemonis said, they hope to capture 40 percent of the Idaho RV market. He said the company will be looking at acquiring other RV dealers to make that happen.
The company has more than 130 Camping World locations nationwide. Some of them are stand-alone and some are in combination with a dealership. Lemonis said the company also operates nearly 60 RV dealerships.
The closest stores to Idaho are in Draper, Utah, and Portland.
Camping World stocks a large selection of accessories and camping gear aimed at the recreational vehicle market. The company is one of the largest retailers of Honda generators and sells 10 million to 15 million camping grills annually, he said.
Lemonis said the company was attracted to Bodily RV because of how well the owners have been able to expand the business.
Gary Bodily admits he wasn't interested in selling at first.
"They approached me about two or three years ago, and I told them no, but they called back this April," Bodily said. "I had no intention of selling, but it seemed to be the right thing to do."
Bodily RV was started 11 years ago as Tom Scott's Regional RV Center, but Bodily bought out his partners and in September 1998 it became Bodily RV. The company started with four employees and has grown to more than 90 employees.
Bodily said he's still a little uneasy about selling his business, but said it's the best move for the store to help with its growth and will give better opportunities for his employees.
"There are a lot of good people here that make this store go," Bodily said.
National chain that will operate stores in Meridian and Idaho Falls sees growth potential in the state.
The nation's largest RV retailer has purchased Meridian-based Bodily RV Center.
The purchase by Chicago-based Freedom Roads/Camping World also clears the way for Idaho to get its first two Camping World stores: at Bodily RV's Meridian location at 1580 W. Overland Road and at Bodily RV's Idaho Falls location.
The company said it plans to open the Camping World in Meridian within the next six months and the Idaho Falls store within eight months.
Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of FreedomRoads/Camping World, said the company had been looking at the Boise-area market before its purchase of Bodily RV.
"We had identified the market as a successful and growing RV market and actually had a contract on property that was three lots down from Bodily's current facility," Lemonis said.
Eventually, Lemonis said, the company decided it made more sense to try to acquire Bodily RV and take advantage of its leading position in the local market. Bodily RV is on track to record $45 to $50 million in sales this year.
Lemonis said the company plans to expand the Bodily RV location by adding 15,000 square feet of retail space to accommodate the Camping World store and adding an additional 20 to 25 service bays to serve the dealership and the store.
The company expects to add 30 to 35 new employees to the Meridian location. As part of the expansion, Lemonis said they've also decided to paint the dealership and Camping World store in a blue and orange color scheme to recognize the Boise State Broncos.
"This particular store with the addition of Camping World is expected to generate $70 million of revenue on an annual basis," he said.
Ultimately, Lemonis said, they hope to capture 40 percent of the Idaho RV market. He said the company will be looking at acquiring other RV dealers to make that happen.
The company has more than 130 Camping World locations nationwide. Some of them are stand-alone and some are in combination with a dealership. Lemonis said the company also operates nearly 60 RV dealerships.
The closest stores to Idaho are in Draper, Utah, and Portland.
Camping World stocks a large selection of accessories and camping gear aimed at the recreational vehicle market. The company is one of the largest retailers of Honda generators and sells 10 million to 15 million camping grills annually, he said.
Lemonis said the company was attracted to Bodily RV because of how well the owners have been able to expand the business.
Gary Bodily admits he wasn't interested in selling at first.
"They approached me about two or three years ago, and I told them no, but they called back this April," Bodily said. "I had no intention of selling, but it seemed to be the right thing to do."
Bodily RV was started 11 years ago as Tom Scott's Regional RV Center, but Bodily bought out his partners and in September 1998 it became Bodily RV. The company started with four employees and has grown to more than 90 employees.
Bodily said he's still a little uneasy about selling his business, but said it's the best move for the store to help with its growth and will give better opportunities for his employees.
"There are a lot of good people here that make this store go," Bodily said.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
US recreational vehicle industry booming
US recreational vehicle industry booming
AP
Georgia: About 20,000 motor-home owners and industry representatives gathered last week in the heart of Georgia to social-ise, attend seminars and kick the tyres of more than 1,000 enticing new models - some costing more than $1 million each and getting only six miles per gallon.
With gasoline prices climbing in recent years, the turnout at the Family Motor Coach Association's 77th International Convention is much better than most outsiders would expect.
Recreational vehicle industry sales figures show record sales for the past five years - a surge that owners and industry insiders attribute to a growing number of baby boomers nearing retirement, as well as younger families opting for vacations closer to home.
"There's no better way to do it," said Bob Dalton, 70, who has owned a motor home for 30 years. "I can sleep in my own bed and I can eat my own food. I travel at my own pace. I go where I want."
Motor homes have long been popular in the United States, where many see the comfortable vehicles as a means to see America's varied landscape at a leisurely pace and in comfort.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, however, the RVs have steadily gained a new following, in part as Americans looked at alternatives to air travel.
In addition, dealers have been able to lure younger buyers through favourable interest rates offered on the costly vehicles, said Kevin Broom, a spokesman for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, which represents 500 manufacturers and suppliers.
Surging fuel costs over the past couple of years, in which the price for a gallon of regular self-service gasoline rose 21 per cent since March 2005, have done little to dampen demand for the mobile homes. While sales are expected to dip a little this year, 2007 still looks to be the fourth best sales year over the past three decades, said Broom.
Cost effective
"RVs are the most cost effective way to vacation for a family, even when you factor in the cost of fuel," he said, citing the common vacation costs of hotels, restaurants and rental cars that can be avoided or lowered when using a RV.
Mark Tuggle, sales manager for Douglasville-based John Bleakley Motor Homes, Georgia's largest motor home dealership, said the younger buyers are a new phenomenon.
"If they weren't gray headed and had a handicapped sticker, sales people would shy away from them," Tuggle said.
"Now they can be 32 years old and have two kids and you need to pay attention to them."
The appeal for young families, especially those living in urban areas, is that they can spend a weekend in a campground and return on Sunday evening "feeling like they've been on vacation", Tuggle said.
The influx of younger RVers still was not apparent at the motor home convention, which ends on Thursday. Many were gray-haired retirees. Some limped around the vast exhibit area. Others zipped around on bicycles and golf carts.
A few appeared to be baby boomers - people born between 1946 and 1964 who are reaching retirement age with company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plans and similar employer-backed programmes.
"Baby boomers have more expendable income," said Dave Uhlenbrock, spokesman for the association, which has 120,000 family members.
"The baby boomers are looking at motor homes... when they consider their travel options," he said.
"They can do what they did at home in a motor home.
"There are motor homes with washers and driers, lovely shower areas, satellite TV and Wi-Fi. They call them land yachts and they truly are."
AP
Georgia: About 20,000 motor-home owners and industry representatives gathered last week in the heart of Georgia to social-ise, attend seminars and kick the tyres of more than 1,000 enticing new models - some costing more than $1 million each and getting only six miles per gallon.
With gasoline prices climbing in recent years, the turnout at the Family Motor Coach Association's 77th International Convention is much better than most outsiders would expect.
Recreational vehicle industry sales figures show record sales for the past five years - a surge that owners and industry insiders attribute to a growing number of baby boomers nearing retirement, as well as younger families opting for vacations closer to home.
"There's no better way to do it," said Bob Dalton, 70, who has owned a motor home for 30 years. "I can sleep in my own bed and I can eat my own food. I travel at my own pace. I go where I want."
Motor homes have long been popular in the United States, where many see the comfortable vehicles as a means to see America's varied landscape at a leisurely pace and in comfort.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, however, the RVs have steadily gained a new following, in part as Americans looked at alternatives to air travel.
In addition, dealers have been able to lure younger buyers through favourable interest rates offered on the costly vehicles, said Kevin Broom, a spokesman for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, which represents 500 manufacturers and suppliers.
Surging fuel costs over the past couple of years, in which the price for a gallon of regular self-service gasoline rose 21 per cent since March 2005, have done little to dampen demand for the mobile homes. While sales are expected to dip a little this year, 2007 still looks to be the fourth best sales year over the past three decades, said Broom.
Cost effective
"RVs are the most cost effective way to vacation for a family, even when you factor in the cost of fuel," he said, citing the common vacation costs of hotels, restaurants and rental cars that can be avoided or lowered when using a RV.
Mark Tuggle, sales manager for Douglasville-based John Bleakley Motor Homes, Georgia's largest motor home dealership, said the younger buyers are a new phenomenon.
"If they weren't gray headed and had a handicapped sticker, sales people would shy away from them," Tuggle said.
"Now they can be 32 years old and have two kids and you need to pay attention to them."
The appeal for young families, especially those living in urban areas, is that they can spend a weekend in a campground and return on Sunday evening "feeling like they've been on vacation", Tuggle said.
The influx of younger RVers still was not apparent at the motor home convention, which ends on Thursday. Many were gray-haired retirees. Some limped around the vast exhibit area. Others zipped around on bicycles and golf carts.
A few appeared to be baby boomers - people born between 1946 and 1964 who are reaching retirement age with company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plans and similar employer-backed programmes.
"Baby boomers have more expendable income," said Dave Uhlenbrock, spokesman for the association, which has 120,000 family members.
"The baby boomers are looking at motor homes... when they consider their travel options," he said.
"They can do what they did at home in a motor home.
"There are motor homes with washers and driers, lovely shower areas, satellite TV and Wi-Fi. They call them land yachts and they truly are."
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