Top Winnebago leaders gathered in Savannah, Georgia, this week to meet face-to-face with dealer executives from around the country. Winnebago passed along business information, previewed future planning and showcased new models.
Among the new models are a refreshed Adventure gas Type A motorhome, National Park Foundation limited edition versions of the Vista/Sunstar gas Type A motorhome and Solis Type B, as well as new floorplan offerings in the Hike 100 and Minnie towables.
Winnebago Outdoors President Huw Bower kicked off Tuesday’s events with an hour-long presentation. He reviewed the company’s guiding principles and discussed the key focus areas, known as the foundational pillars.
Bower said Winnebago would make quality products, create profitable and innovative RVs, partner with dealers to create a frictionless shopping experience and elevate the consumer owner experience.
“For the last two years, market share has been determined by operational capacity and supply chain leverage,” Bower said. “In a very short amount of time, we will need to fight once more for share, and I firmly believe that we are putting in place the capabilities we need to win in a rapidly changing competitive, customer and technology landscape.”
Much discussion revolved around meeting first-time buyer needs. Investments and improvements to sales practices, technology and consumer experience are coming and will steadily continue over time, Bower said.
Dealers walked through the Savannah Convention Center show floor to see new motorhome and towable products and talk with product managers and executives about the new RVs.
The Adventurer 35F features refreshed exterior and interior and will begin production in July. The National Park Foundation limited edition versions include unique exteriors and upgraded features in both motorhomes. The Vista on display at the dealer event is expected to be available in May while the Solis will be ready this fall.
The Hike 100 adds three new floorplans, including updates to the batwing awning and versatile sleeping arrangements to maximize storage and sleeping capacity. The Minnie 2327TB takes a page out of Winnebago’s popular Micro Minnie 2018TB. The Minnie 2327TB will include the same twin beds that convert to a king bed featured in the Micro Minnie. However, the Minnie will be a 27-foot trailer rather than the 22-foot Micro Minnie.
Other announcements included new consumer digital shopping tools and an upcoming app release this spring. Winnebago expanded its Factory Concierge Service to include live product experts answering consumer questions before sending the leads to dealers. The manufacturer also previewed expanded work to come with the SourceBook app for dealers.
The event kicked off Monday night with a reception revealing a Winnebago milestone. The manufacturer recently made its 500,000th motorhome, saying it is the first industry brand to reach the milestone. The 500,000th RV, a Revel, rolled off the manufacturing line at the Lake Mills, Iowa, plant.
Bower joined executives and plant workers to celebrate. Monday night, Bower addressed dealers by announcing the news and unveiling the Revel, wrapped in a 500,000th celebratory graphic.
Bower, hired in September 2020, is making his first in-person appearance at the dealer event. He said on the show floor Tuesday that the milestone unveiling Monday showed the power of Winnebago’s brand.
“That first night, I looked out over a sea of dealers and their partners and their guests, and we had the 500,000th Winnebago motorhome under wraps,” he said. “We had just an energy and a buzz that was fantastic. We said, with this foundation, with this level of partnership and this level of excitement about the future, what is stopping us? There is nothing stopping us.”
