RV Care, Canada’s largest RV dealer network, is the exclusive Canadian distributor of the Northern Spirit travel trailers manufactured by Coachmen RV and represented by 38 of the RV Care dealers. The pandemic has created many side-effects, one being the closure of the U.S./Canadian border for non-essential crossings, now extended through Sept. 21. This, among other concerns, has made RV Care dealers’ presence at the annual industry RV Open House Event in Elkhart county all but impossible to attend.
“With our Northern Spirit dealers inventory levels being at record lows, we felt it necessary to get together with our partners at Coachmen RV and plan-out a Canadian Virtual Open House Event, and more specific, a Northern Spirit event,” RV Care VP of Sales and Marketing Derek Paterson said. “Our objective was to hold the event before the usual industry time slot of September, to expedite our orders into the Coachmen production schedule. We held our event on Aug. 25 and were super pleased with 95 percent of our NS dealers participating.”
Duane Kohl, sales manager from Minard’s Leisure World, in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, provided his commentary after the event: “I just wanted to say thank you guys for taking the lead on a Virtual Open House for us today. I am feeling very excited about the future of Northern Spirit and RV Care moving forward. I think it was brave to break through with this format… I always like the leaders and not the followers.”
Andy Brock, Max Keagle, and Chris Mandell, from Coachmen RV, shared new NS floor plans, using visual slides and videos, and answered all dealers’ questions via an active chat box.
“The success of our Northern Spirit program is based on the simple principle of mutual commitment,” Paterson said. “Our RV Care / NS team, our Coachmen RV partner, and, most importantly, our authorized Northern Spirit dealers. The orders received from the event, so far, have exceeded our initial 2021 6-month projections. Our network’s confidence and belief that for the foreseeable future, the consumer will continue to see the benefits of embracing the RV lifestyle, is very encouraging.”
