News from RVDA News Highlights
Newsletter
• 2020 Year In Review • 2020 Canadian RV
Dealer of the Year Winner
• MemberDeals Exclu-
sine Member Only Offers
• Save the Date—2021
RV Dealers International Convention/ Expo
Inside this issue: 2020 Year In Review
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Staying motivated through the winter months
5-6
2020 Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Winner
10-11
Unemployed? Here’s how to find your next professional job By Dave Kahle
12-13
Risk Insight with roof maintenance by Federated
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Save The Date— RV Dealers International
15
MemberDeals— Exclusive Member Offers
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Newsletter
December 2020
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Dear Members, At its recent meeting in November, the national board elected to keep the current executive committee in place for another term. Maintaining business continuity is essential during these times and the board felt that this was the best course for the association. And I want to let you know that as cases of COVID-19 resurge across Canada and many parts of the country have entered the second phase of the pandemic, the RVDA of Canada will remain focused on ensuring that our members receive the support they need to bridge the gap to recovery.
I’m pleased to announce that at the recent meeting, the board approved the renewal of our endorsement agreement with iA Dealer Services (SAL Group). iA Dealer Services is our longest standing business partner. This truly a great partnership and we are so pleased to continue this relationship for another term. Thank you iA Dealers Services! I would like to remind you that endorsement programs benefit the association in several ways. Not only do they provide a benefit to our members but they also generate revenue for both the national and provincial/regional organizations. In turn, this enables us to provide our members with better programs and services. The 2020 RV Dealers Virtual Convention/Expo concluded its live portion last month but there is still a lot of time to benefit from the over 50 on-demand education workshops and Vendor Training +Plus seminars. And if you didn’t register before, you can still take advantage of this affordable opportunity to train your staff with sessions that will be available any time through January 31.
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Registration remains open and in addition to the on-demand workshops, you and your staff can join online discussions and even network with vendors in the virtual environment. We hope to see you in person next year at the Paris Hotel from November 8th to 12th, 2021. Our recently released Q3 Economic review shows that total RV sales through September reached 37,871 units, which is down just over 9% compared to 2019. However, sales picked up strongly in the third quarter. Total RV sales from July to September came in at 18 thousand units, up 18.47% from the same period last year. This represents a significant improvement from the record low in the first half of the year. The RV market recovered at a relatively solid pace after the mandatory shutdowns in the spring.
cases across Canada.
A deeper dive in the data shows that all segments with the exception of Fifth Wheel have recorded positive growth in the third quarter. That said, consistent with the trajectory of the economy, auto and RV sales are expected to moderate for the remaining few months of the year given the surge in COVID
I would like to take congratulate our most recent Dealer of the Year recipient. On December 8, Al Robinson of Great Canadian RV in Peterborough, Ontario was presented with the prestigious 2020 Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award by RV Lifestyle Magazine. This year’s recipient has been a valuable steward to the Canadian RV industry through his work on numerous committees and boards. His community involvement over the years has also been tremendous and tireless and I know he will continue to be a strong advocate for the industry, for many years to come. Congratulations Al! Safe and Happy Holidays, Gord Bragg, Chairman of the Board RVDA of Canada
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Staying motivated through the winter With many events cancelled, postponed or on hold, are you finding it difficult to motivate yourself or your staff at this time of the year? Thankfully, learning can be done any time, anywhere and can help drive your motivation as 2020 wraps up. Here are some online training events available for fixed operations personnel. The Mike Molino RV Learning Center (RVLC) is an affiliation of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of America. RVLC offers technical publications, certification programs, online learning, and workshops, all designed exclusively for dealership staff. The professional development and educational resources offered by the Learning Center help dealers maintain professionalism and efficiency even as markets change.
Service Writer/Advisor Online Course
Top performing service and parts departments create confident and loyal customers. The Mike Molino RV Learning Center is here to help you build a team of top performers. The new Service Writer/Advisor Online course offers the best and brightest ideas from RV industry service experts with instruction on: • • • • • •
Improving customer satisfaction and community relations Organizing and managing appointments and workflow Generating additional services and revenue Coordinating with technicians and other departments Administrating and operating effectively Building trust and rapport
This course will help new service writers/advisors get the principle-based professional foundation they Augustwill 31, 2020 need to be successful. While thoseDeadline: with more experience benefit from being reminded of core principles needed to create confident and loyal customers. Nine modules covering 43 key competency areas will prepare your front-line people with the knowledge required to meet and exceed customer and dealership expectations on a day-to-day basis. Course materials are structured around the comprehensive RV service writer/advisor job and task analysis developed by The Ohio State University’s Center on Education and Training for Employment, in conjunction with RV industry subject matter experts organized by the RV Learning Center. Download course outline. Cost: US$150 Register for the Service Writer/Advisor Online Course Certifications There are 5 certification tests available for parts and service personnel. The credentials are designed to recognize individuals employed in the RV industry that demonstrate a thorough knowledge of their jobs and a commitment to professionalism.
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The RV Learning Center partnered with The Ohio State University’s Center for Education and Training for Employment to develop Certifications, Competency Profiles, and instructional materials in the following areas: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Service Manager Service Writer/Advisor Warranty Administrator Parts Manager Parts Specialist
Eligibility Parts Specialist, Service Writer/Advisor, and Warranty Administrator certifications are appropriate for individuals currently employed in the industry with at least one year of service, parts, warranty department, or related industry experience. Management-level parts and service personnel with at least two years work experience in RV service, parts, or related industry, and possess the necessary supervisory and budget planning knowledge, are eligible for the Parts Manager and Service Manager certifications. Cost
Service and Parts Manager Certification test fee: US$249 Parts Specialist, Service Writer/Advisor, and Warranty Administrator certifications test fee: US$199 • Readiness test fee: US$25. This fee is deducted from the certification test fee if the certification test is taken within 6 months. • •
Web Training Available on-demand and in January 2021 Go Power! Solar How Solar Works Solar Components Solar Panels Solar Controllers Batteries Power Inverters
Lippert components OneControl (X Series) OneControl (X Series) system Function troubleshooting & diagnostic techniques
Dometic monthly webinars January- Air Conditioners February- Awnings & Fabrics March- Refrigerators April- Sanitation & Chemicals May- Slide Toppers June- Mobile Cooling July- Mobile Cooling August- Water Heaters September- Furnaces October- Alarms & Furnaces November- RV Control System December- Rooftop Vent Fans Demco towing, hitching installation 5th wheel Baseplate Tow bars Supplemental braking Towed wiring Safety procedures
Pennsylvania RV & Camping Association (PRVCA) Warranty Administrators Webinars Collect the dealer’s warranty labor and parts Create a streamlined process Build best practices for warranty administration Build transparent warranty reporting Maximize warranty processing
Winegard satellite products • TRAV’LER • SWM technology, DIRECTV® • DPP and DPH technology • DISH®, Genie® & Hopper® Systems • Portable satellite domes • Roof mounted domes • Over-the-Air TV antennas • WIFI/4G LTE Extenders
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Dealers can sign-up for a free, no-obligation, 30�day trial of The Damage Repair Estimator On-Line by calling (440) 336-0703 or by sending an email to wrcamp1@aol.com. After the trial, a monthly subscription fee recurs automatically until cancelled. For more information visit www.rvlearningcenter.com.
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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.
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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
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The Second Quarter 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)
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Al Robinson of Great Canadian RV in Peterborough, Ontario was presented with the prestigious 2020 Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award today in a special virtual Awards presentation. Mr. Robinson was clearly moved as Melanie Taylor, of RV Lifestyle Magazine, announced the winner of the Walter Paseska Memorial Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award. Each year, the RVDA of Canada, in conjunction with RV Lifestyle Magazine and Dealer News, invites nominations from across Canada for the Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award. The award is dedicated to the memory of the late Walt Paseska, founder of Walt's Trailer Sales in Headingley, Manitoba, in recognition of his many years of commitment and dedication to the RV industry. Established in 1989 by Camping Canada Magazine, this award has been presented to individuals who share Walt's enthusiasm and commitment, in recognition of their long-term contribution to the RV lifestyle, and commitment to the community as a whole. Throughout his 48 years in the industry, Al has served on several boards of directors, committees, and volunteered with various charities. Al became a member of Ontario RVDA’s board of directors where he also served as co-chair for the advocacy and government relations committee. Here he was able to make invaluable contributions on behalf of the RV industry by liaising between key Government officials and industry stakeholders. Additionally, Al developed RVs for front line workers in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been responsible for matching 46 Front Line Workers with RVs across Ontario, as well as, New York City, to be utilized for the purpose of self- isolation. Al’s philosophy of giving back to the community is consistently demonstrated, as is his excellent stewardship of the RV industry. Along with our winner, the nominees for this year’s Award were: • Mike Porter, Bluenose RV Centre, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia • Bob Verwey, Owasco RV, Bowmanville, Ontario Congratulations to Al and to all nominees, who have made outstanding contributions to the RV industry!
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Deadline: August 31, 2020
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Unemployed? Here’s how to find your next professional job By Dave Kahle Have recent events left you unemployed? I can empathize. I have been there. In my life, I’ve had three major periods of unemployment. I understand the uncertainty, anxiety and self-doubt that comes with that. You just don’t feel like life is as worthwhile unless you have a solid, fulfilling job. Fight to Maintain the Right Attitude Discouragement and depression will lurk in the margins surrounding you, ready to seep into your psyche at every opportunity. If you give into them, you’ll dissipate positive energy, turn inward, and miss connections and opportunities. You’ll need to fight to maintain a positive outlook. Choose to see this as an opportunity to make a major step forward in landing a job that will be challenging and fulfilling while making use of your unique set of strengths and experience. Your first battle will be with yourself. One proven practice is to seek out positive quotes and expressions, to capture them, and to review them daily. At one particularly depressing point in my career, I recognized that I needed to work to maintain a positive attitude, and so I collected a couple of dozen positive sayings. I wrote them on index cards and carried them with me everywhere. Several times a day, I would flip through them, reading them to myself. Do something like that, and you’ll gradually replace negative thoughts with positive, and that will help you maintain an optimistic outlook. Focus Start by making a list of the industries in which you’d like to work, and the specific companies within those industries that would be attractive to you. Spend some time detailing your dream job. While you may never find an exact match, by spending time detailing your ideal arrangement, you’ll have something by which to judge any offers. In every one of my periods of unemployment, the job that I landed on the other side was always a major step up from the one I had prior to being unemployed. In countless conversations with other salespeople, I’ve found this to be a common experience. So, start out with an expectant attitude and be grateful for the gift of time to allow you to find that better position. Then, begin your search. How do you find a new job? I could think of no one more qualified to pass on some practical and personal advice than a good friend of mine, Michael Linder. Michael is intelligent, educated, poised and polished – a professional salesperson’s professional. Yet, through a weird combination of circumstances, Michael has found himself unemployed over a dozen times. In other words, he’s gotten 13 jobs! I asked Michael to pass on some practical pointers. Here’s the gist. Make work of finding a job The experts say it takes an average of one month of unemployment for every ten thousand dollars of income in the previous job. So, if you made $60,000, it would likely take you six months to find your next position.
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If you made $100,000, ten months is more likely. To compress that cycle, commit to spending eight to ten hours a day looking for your next job. And what do you do in those eight to ten hours? Network, network, network. Yes, you should register with a couple of headhunters and regularly review job postings, but most of your time should be networking. Start with a list of everyone you know, regardless of whether you think they can help. Prioritize the list based on who you think might be able to help most and start there. This is just your starting point. Add to your list as frequently as you can. When you meet or network with someone, show them your list of target companies. That helps people think. If you don’t, you are more likely to hear “I don’t know anyone.” For every meeting, ask if there are three people with whom they might suggest you meet. Ask if you can drop their name when contacting the referral. Then, reach out to those people, and repeat the process. After every meeting, follow up with everyone you meet by sending them something you think they may value, such as: • Good: An article you read that might help them in some way. • Better: A process, system, SOP that you used or implemented that they might find valuable in their business. • Best: An article, process, system, SOP that you authored/developed on a topic they might find valuable in their business. On the other side of this process, from the prospective employer’s point of view, I have often been involved in coaching sales managers and helping my clients hire new salespeople. In our Kahle Way® Sales Management System, I advise the sales managers to network to find their next salesperson. I tell them they are just one contact away from their new salesperson. “You probably already know your next salesperson, or you know the person who knows them. “ They are networking, looking for you, just as you are looking for them. LinkedIn LinkedIn can be a powerful tool to help with your job search. Begin by connecting with as many people as you can. Try to find people in your targeted industries and companies. You are looking for someone who can introduce you to the right people within those targeted organizations. Reach out to people in LinkedIn in the same way that you would if he/ she were a local contact. Present your list of targeted companies, see if they know anyone within those organizations, and ask for three additional contacts. Headhunters Professional recruiters can connect you with jobs that you will not see otherwise. Search Google and make a list of headhunters who specialize in the industries you’ve identified. Once you register with them, reach out to them at least once a month to stay on the top of their mind. Be Creative If you are reaching out directly to a company without the benefit of knowing anyone at that company — get creative. Michael connected with several presidents by sending a three-part sports themed poem; each part arriving on three different days; each part accompanied by a sports ball representative of the sport and the business skillset he possessed. The business skill sets were linked to skills required to succeed in the respective sports. One turned into a job — but even that was set up by first networking. Originally published: https://www.thesalesresourcecenter.com/finding-professional-job/ 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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To help you and your members assess potential risk, we’ve developed a quick five-question online assessment tool and this Risk Insight with roof maintenance checklist.
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Deadline: August 31, 2020
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Deadline: August 31, 2020
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Marks: Discounts (in-store) on select workwear As a member in the RVDA, you and your staff are eligible for a 10% discount on the numerous items listed on the member program card. To receive a 10% discount on select items that are available exclusively to RVDA members, please show your card at the checkout counter. This offer is only available for in-store purchases..
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on hotel – access to Choice Hotels program discounts of 15-20% at over 325 hotels in Canada & 6,300 hotels worldwide, & some complimentary services at select hotels. Aeroplan or Choice Privileges points can be earned. Book travel be online, on your mobile device or via a toll-free number.
on select Exclusive discounts up to 35% off select FedEx services when shipping within Canada, to the US, or internationally. If you have a FedEx account, simply enroll in this program through the dedicated FedEx webpage that can be found at the member link If not, see the member benefit page for a link to do so. View FedEx services at www.fedex.ca.
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 Acer, Dell, HP and lenovo, Beachbody on demand, audiobooks and much more! Access the program now through the RVDA of Canada member site .
Marks: Discounts (in-store) on select workwear As a member in the RVDA, you and your staff are eligible for a 10% discount on the numerous items listed on the member program card. To receive a 10% discount on select items that are available exclusively to RVDA members, please show your card at the checkout counter. This offer is only available for in-store purchases..
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Did you know about the RV Careers website? The RV Careers site was developed to raise awareness to career opportunities available in the Canadian RV industry. It provides some background information to the various departments found within an RV dealership, apprentice and technician training opportunities. It also contains information for employers on how to hire and work with apprentices and apprenticeship authorities and how to access the numerous Federal, Provincial and private grants available.
Hiring? When you visit the site, the first thing that should jump out at you is “jobs.� And, the call-to-action would be to see what jobs are available and to look deeper for the job and training requirements.
You can add, edit or remove your job posting whenever you like. You will be able to receive job applications via e-mail. Before this listing expires (in 45 days), you will be notified to either update or delete the posting.
You have full control of your job postings!
To post a job, 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.
Upcoming Events
Newly added events include career fair, RV lifestyle, trade show, workshop, and online training events. The news listing will keep you and your staff up to date on training and industry events.
Education for those currently working in the industry vs. those looking to enter the industry If you currently work in sales, parts, or service, you will want to visit the Education page.
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There are training and educational programs for technicians, parts/service management programs, sales, marketing and F&I programs, administration/ accounting programs and awards available. For apprentices and anyone wishing to
become an apprentice, detailed information can be found on the Become an apprentice page. There are many programs such as youth and pre-apprenticeship where high school students can get practical work experience. If there isn’t one in your area, there’s information available under the Employer page on how to start and implement your own apprenticeship program.
Financial incentives and assistance programs There are many financial incentives for both apprentices and employers to participate in an apprenticeship as well as assistance from Provincial and Federal governments and your local RVDA. On the financial incentive page, it lists numerous benefits for apprentices to participate in an apprenticeship and for employers to hire apprentices. There are numerous Federal, Provincial and RVDA Financial assistance programs such as bursaries and grants. If you have any suggestions or comments about how we can improve the site, please email us or comment on the RV Careers Facebook page!
News from RVDA RVDA of 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.
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
Board of Directors Executive Committee Chairman, Gord Bragg, Hub City RV, Lantzville, BC
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.
Vice-Chairman, Josée Bédard Roulottes Chaudière Lévis, Quebec Treasurer, Dale Hopkins RV City Morinville, AB Past Chairman, Herb Cowen, Pike Lake Golf Centre, Pike Lake, ON Directors Jim Gorrie GNR Camping World
Ken Dobson Leisure Time Sales
Roland Goreski Campkin’s RV Centre
Kyle Kehoe Kehoe RV
Jonathan Stone Stone’s RV Center
Dean Goerzen Go RV
Marc Rémillard Centre du Camping Rémillard
Greg Nikkel NR Motors Ltd.