The roaring waves and twisting waters of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton have not deterred Keller Marine & RV’s Accessory Show in Clearwater, Florida, on Nov. 4-5.
While the hurricanes devastated communities along the Southeast coast since Helene’s strike on Sept. 26, Keller’s annual distributor show remains unscathed.
According to Sheraton Sand Key Resort staff, the venue where the show will be held absorbed minimal damage from the natural disaster.
According to Keller Marine & RV President Mike Keller, the hurricane reaped minimal damage to the distributor’s Tampa warehouse and many homes of Keller employees in the region.
“The storm could have been so much worse, and we consider it a blessing to have it behind us and with no real effects to our business,” Keller said. “Helena produced more trouble for our dealers than did Milton. Helena produced extensive damage on the Florida coast and the western mountains of North Carolina.”
He said the hurricane did not damper the enthusiasm for the show.
Keller said, “The enthusiasm for this year’s show was higher than I have seen in a long time.”
According to Keller, the excitement stems from new products that will be showcased at the event. Around 275 dealerships and more than 150 exhibitors are expected.
He said Furrion will display an 18,000 BTU air conditioner with a variable speed compressor enabling operation at lower voltage levels and increasing cooling capacity. SoftStartUp RV will also display products enabling appliances to run off low power.
In addition to new products, Keller will provide tips on driving in-store traffic and competing with online retail.
He said, “We are trying to fundamentally change the way we think as dealers and distributors.”
Keller said dealers should be thinking about the experience they sell rather than the products they are marketing.
Hundreds of industry members are expected to gather at the tropical venue to discover the latest advancements and share insights at the November show.
