Camping World announced plans to add a brick-and-mortar location in the 48 contiguous states by 2021’s end.
Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis told analysts on a conference call that the plan was designed around Camping World’s technology platform work. The company is building a platform that allows consumers to buy an RV entirely online in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.
“And while we know that’s a laborious process to execute, because of the regulatory prospects that are around that, it is our focus to be the leader in that space over the next 12 to 15 months,” Lemonis said, according to a call transcript provided by Seeking Alpha. “So, over the next 12 months, it would be our goal by the end of 2021 that we will have a brick-and-mortar location, maybe a small one, but a location in every single state in America, other than Hawaii and Alaska. And the reason that that’s important is, while we’re able to transact online, there are DMD requirements, state regulations and relationships with manufacturers that prohibit certain things from being done. So, in order to be compliant with all those things, we have to have a minimum, hanging a shingle in every single state.”
Currently, Camping World has locations in 36 states. States among those 48 in which the company does not have a brick-and-mortar location yet are: Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Lemonis said the company anticipated adding six to eight locations by 2020’s end, with plans to open in Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming.
