The Northern Wholesale RV Supershow wound down Dec. 8 with cash drawings at supplier booths and award announcements.
Dean Kruchten, Northern Wholesale director of sales and marketing, made the rounds Thursday afternoon, microphone in hand, surprising attendees with cash and product giveaways at vendor booths.
As the show closed, the Northern Wholesale team gathered show participants at the company’s blue-and-white themed booth to announce three awards: Best New Product, Field Support of the Year and Supplier of the Year.
Each show attendee received a “Best New Product Ballot” featuring 17 vendor products, four of which were hitches, to vote for their favorite during the show. Other products included a grill, a water heater, a power inlet, a step stabilizer and a camping loveseat. Ninety attendees weighed in with their votes.
The first prize, for Best New Product, was awarded to an ecstatic Harry Allen, representing Kuma Outdoor Gear, for the Kuma Cozy Bear Chair, a curved, plaid folding loveseat with a central cooler. Allen did a victory salute and hugged Kruchten before receiving the award.
Blue Ox took the runner-up award for the category for the company’s new fifth-wheel hitch the BXR2100.
Brian Vander Pol, Demco Products Sales/Territory Manager, picked up the award for Northern Wholesale Field Support of the Year.
“I am very humbled and honored to receive the award,” Vander Pol said. “(Dealers) talk all the time about field support. I am here for them. If I can help in any way, I want to do that. Our company was built on that.”
The Supplier of the Year Award was given to AP Products and accepted by Scott Sharpley and T. Chad Johnson.
“This is a very well-deserved award,” said Kruchten, presenting the pair a crystal trophy and shaking the recipients’ hands.
The award is given to the supplier who demonstrates operations, marketing, customer service and product excellence.
