Alberta, Canada-based Woody’s RV World has a few criteria when it comes to its dealership acquisitions. Along with shareholder and manufacturer fit, a dealership must provide quality customer service and staff, said Russ Small, director of marketing and business development at Woody’s RV World.
Small said High River Autoplex, a Southern Alberta dealership that Woody’s acquired last week, prides itself on staff teamwork. “They can benefit from Woody’s, and we can learn from them,” Small said. “It is a good synergy.”
High River Autoplex’s 41,000-square-foot showroom, 8-acre show lot and 17 service bays were added to Woody’s seven other locations across Western Canada.
Though High River Autoplex staff will stay on, President Doug McLaughlin will step down. McLaughlin said, “This was the right time to pass on the torch to a company with a proven track record of success and an ability to carry out my No. 1 concern: The continued the care of my staff and the amazing customers we service.”
Woody’s RV World will continue acquisitions with an Abbotsford dealer. Though the dealership is scheduled to close the deal in March, Small said Woody’s is waiting until June or July to hold a grand opening event, once COVID-19 restrictions allow it.
Woody’s RV World is in the middle of its Virtual RV Show, which runs through Feb. 7. After exploring the dealership’s new website, launched this week, attendees can shop online, book an appointment and request personalized demonstrations.
Small said new customers usually come to the live show. When Woody’s did not have its in-person show this year, the dealership decided to do a virtual one instead.
“The virtual show was one big question mark,” Small said. Like most people in the RV industry, he said Woody’s RV World had no idea how the virtual show would fare. “Right from Jan. 1, I think we did a record number in Calgary,” Small said. “It has been amazing to see how many people are interested in the RV lifestyle.”
