SERVING CANADA’S RV INDUSTRY SINCE 1971 VOL 47 NO 2268 - 44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0Publications Mail Agreement #40010957RVDealerNEWSCANADA’S FOREMOST RV INDUSTRY MAGAZINETMTMTMTMwww.rvldealernews.comWPLUS:New Products For Greater Profits2018/19 Event CalendarERWIN HYMER GROUPUNVEILS LIGHTWEIGHTTRAILER LINEUP RV INDUSTRY LOBBIES OTTAWA AS NAFTA, TARIFF UNCERTAINTY LOOMSRVX-RVIA SHOW REVEALRVDN 47-2 a.indd 12018-06-01 11:56 AM© 2018 Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance®. All rights reserved. Products and services require credit approval.Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance® is the trademark for certain inventory financing (floor planning) services of Wells Fargo & Company and its subsidiaries, including Wells Fargo Capital Finance Corporation Canada. IHA-5381301Relationships that are invested in your successYou set goals for your business, and we want to help you reach them. Our Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance® team will take the time to understand your business and will use these informed insights to provide you with relevant inventory financing solutions and service. With our in-depth experience, proprietary analytical tools, and commitment to dealers and manufacturers of RVs, we’re focused on your success now, and for the long term. To learn more about how we can work together to move your business forward, visit cdf.wf.com/rvdcn or give our RV team a call at 1-888-609-5550.5381301-CDF-1Q2018-Business-RV-Dealer-News ad-Canada.indd 11/24/18 5:03 PM3Volume 47 Number 2 | RV Lifestyle Dealer News contentsIN THIS ISSUE34816 IN THE SPOTLIGHT: 6 Transitions Appointments, changes, awards and more. 8 Are You Suffering from Binge Meeting Disorder? Are unnecessary meetings choking your organization and creating more work than they accomplish? 10 Planning A Business Succession: Five Reasons To Start Now Whether selling to family or an outside investor, planning will help you maximize the value of your business. 12 New Product Showcase Great new gear for your accessories store. 16 Hello Salt Lake City! New Industry event to run March 12-14, 2019 38 RV Industry Event Calendar Key events concerning the Canadian RV industry. INDUSTRY NEWS: 20 Big Week As Industry Lobbies Parliamentarians. 24 RV Care Debuts New Trailer Line. 32 Hymer Signs Fuel Cell Agreement. 34 Vegas Convention Update.Contentspub page.indd 32018-05-31 4:37 PM4RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 47 Number 2VOLUME 47 NUMBER 2PublisherWilliam E. TaylorAssociate Publisher Melanie Taylor-WallisV.P. Special Projects/Editorial Director Norm RosenEditorCraig RitchieTechnical Director Garth CaneProduction CoordinatorGiselle BansalOnline EditorTravis KingdonDigital Content ManagerSteve SansfordADVERTISING SALES Norm Rosen Roy BairdMelanie Taylor-WallisADMINISTRATIONWilliam E. TaylorPresidentMelanie Taylor-WallisGroup PublisherRoy C. BairdVP/General ManagerNorman RosenVP/Special ProjectsNancy MuellerAccountingEXECUTIVE OFFICES Toronto:268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0Tel: 905-844-8218 Fax: 905-844-5032Montreal:Tel: 514-856-0788 Fax: 514-856-0790Vancouver:1745 Rufus DriveNorth Vancouver, BC V7J 3L8Camping Canada’s RV Lifestyle Dealer News is published by Camping Canada Magazine Ltd. Reproduction of any mate-rial appearing in this magazine in any form is forbidden without prior consent of the publisher. Advertising rates available on request.Camping Canada Magazine reserves the right to refuse any and all advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements of facts made by its advertisers or independent columnists.PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40010957Undeliverables to: 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0MONTREAL, QUEBEC© 2018 CAMPING CANADA MAGAZINE PRINTED IN CANADATMTMTMTMRVDealerNEWSCANADA’S FOREMOST RV INDUSTRY MAGAZINEPUBLISHERS MESSAGEWorking Together For The Industry’s BenefitThe image on this issue’s cover is unmistakable. Ottawa. Our nation’s capital. Home of the Senators, the Byward Market, the Rideau Canal, and the Government of Canada. It’s where the laws come from and where the tax dollars go. But most importantly, it is where the future of the Canadian RV industry is being shaped. Each April, delegates from all corners of the Canadian RV industry gather in Ottawa to meet with MPs and parliamen-tary staff, bringing your industry con-cerns to light. This national effort exists to ensure that regulators and policy mak-ers are aware of the enormous economic importance of the Canadian RV indus-try, and that its interests are kept front-and-center in Parliament. This delegation includes RV dealers, campground opera-tors, RV manufacturers, parts and acces-sory distributors, and the hard-working professionals from industry organizations like the RVDA of Canada, the Canadian Camping and RV Council, and region-al RV dealer associations from coast to coast. They give up their time to lobby and meet with parliamentarians for the entire industry’s mutual benefit. This year, more than ever, the stakes are high with the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and with president Trump in the United States calling to implement multiple new tariffs on aluminum and steel – critical components in the manu-facture of RVs. Never before has it been more vital to ensure our industry’s con-cerns are heard – and heard loudly and clearly – in government. Under the current NAFTA rules, most goods manufactured in either Canada or the United States cross the border duty-free. But what if everything from RVs to spare tires were subjected to all-new taxes and duties? Let’s consider what happens with a window frame as an example. Raw aluminum is mined in Canada, and shipped to a smelter in the U.S. The processed aluminum is then bought by a parts manufacturer in Canada, who turns it into a window frame. They sell the frame to an RV builder in Indiana, and the same piece of aluminum now crosses the border for the third time. The window goes into an RV that could be sold to a Canadian dealer, and cross the border once again for a fourth time – before it’s even gone on the lot. Without NAFTA, that one part would be taxed every time it crosses the border. How many parts are in a typical motorhome? What do you think that sce-nario would do to retail prices? That’s why now, more than ever, it’s essential that we make our MPs aware of the enormous economic contribution that the RV industry makes to the Canadian economy. This summer, invite your MP out to tour your place of business, and show them first-hand. It all starts in Ottawa, but the momentum needs to carry into every riding in the country. Like our colleagues who campaign for all of us on Parliament Hill, we need to work together for our entire industry’s benefit. WBill Taylor, PublisherContentspub page.indd 42018-05-31 4:38 PMEXPERIENCE MORE... THIS SUMMERcaradorv.com | 1.844.464.9637 carado.indd 12018-05-31 4:38 PM6RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 47 Number 2TRANSITIONSPatrick O’Neill has announced his retirement following 13 years of service at Wayfarer Insurance Group, where he most recently served as chief operating officer. O’Neill has long been a staunch support-er of the Canadian RV industry, and built many great relationships over the years. He is succeeded by Debora Hendrickson, who recently joined Wayfarer Insurance as CEO following a move from Aviva Canada, where she served as senior vice president of cus-tomer and marketing. Katy Friesz has joined the Winnebago Industries Foundation as senior manager, corporate responsibility and executive direc-tor. In her new role Friesz will develop and manage an enterprise-wide strategy for cor-porate responsibility and community engage-ment programs, reporting directly to vice president, general counsel and corporate sec-retary Stacy Bogart. Her responsibilities will include charitable giving and volunteerism where she will be instrumental in providing Winnebago Industries employees opportuni-ties to serve their communities.Craig McAnsh joins SylvanSport as vice president of marketing, with responsibil-ity for all branding, marketing, advertising and communications as the company enters a new phase of growth across North America and around the globe.With more than 20 years of marketing experience McAnsh has worked in leader-ship roles for global brands and agencies, including previous experience at McDonalds, The Cartoon Network, and MLS team D.C. United. As a futurist-consultant with Kantar Consulting he has worked with clients including Ford, WhiteWave, Campari and Best Buy. “Adding Craig to the leadership team is a significant part of our growth strat-egy,” said SylvanSport CEO, Tom Dempsey. “He brings a new level of excellence to SylvanSport that will allow us to advance our brand presence in the marketplace and set the stage for continued innovation in outdoor adventure.”Kyle Mundt, whose former role also included marketing, will now be freed up to focus full time on product design as vice president of new product development.Former Airstream vice president of sales Justin Humphreys assumes new responsi-bilities as the company’s new chief operat-ing officer (COO), with responsibility for overseeing sales, service, parts, engineer-ing, production, finance, purchasing and human resources. “Justin has been integral in all high-level strategic decisions here at Airstream,” said Airstream president & CEO, Bob Wheeler. “His new role as COO will enable us to further deepen our almost 90-year commitment of creating the world’s best recreational vehicles for our customers and dealer partners.”Also on the move at Airstream is Mollie Hansen, who assumes the newly-created role of chief marketing officer. Hansen was previ-ously vice president of marketing.IN MEMORIAMCharles Cyril Parks, former co-owner of Camp-Out Rental and Sales, passed away on March 5 at the age of 91.Cy is survived by his children Ruth (Gary) Whaley, Judith (Carl) Szolcsanyi and Sam (Debbi) Parks, his grandchildren seven grandchildren: Marianne (TJ), Steven (Christine), Kelly (Ryan), Wayne, Lauren (Riley), Karli (Aaron), Brianna and four great-granddaughters: Natalie, Jillian, Rachel and Ella and his wife Helen.Parks was an Ontario Hydro employee for 35 years prior to running Camp-Out Rental and Sales. Camp-Out Rental and Sales opened in 1962 and has been owned by the Parks family ever since. They are the longest established RV Dealership in the Area.Upon his retirement, Parks passed Camp-Out Rental, an Ontario based dealership to his son Sam, and his wife Debbi. Sam Parks is a former chairman of the RVDA of Canada and recipient of the prestigious 2015 Canadian RV Dealer of the year award.In his retirement, Cy enjoyed summers fishing on the Bruce Peninsula and winters in Homestead and Plant City, Florida. Cy and his wife loved traveling, the pair went on many cruises and camped their way across Canada and through every state in the US.A private family graveside service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in memory of Parks are asked to consider the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. WKATY FRIESZMOLLIE HANSENCRAIG MCANSHJUSTIN HUMPHREYSTransitions-47-2.indd 62018-05-31 4:39 PM® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Personal lending products are offered by Royal Bank of Canada and are subject to its standard lending criteria. VPS100312 115968 (01/2018)Contact your RBC Account Manager today for more information, or email us at autosales@rbc.com. Get more clients on the open road.RBC® financing has everything you need to succeed. ■ Experts across Canada who understand your recreational vehicle business■ Outstanding dealer support available when you need it ■ Fast loan approvals to keep your sales moving and your customers happy ■ Longer amortization options, fast direct deposit funding and other flexible financing optionsrbc.indd 12018-05-31 4:40 PM8Is your organization meeting itself to death? Do you often feel like you are in the midst of a meeting frenzy? Do you sometimes want to poke yourself with a sharp object to keep from scream-ing when a meeting drags on and on with no end in sight? Meeting resea rch shows that executive time spent in meetings has increased from 10 hours a week to near-ly 23 hours over the past 50 years. This reflects the collaborative approaches of today’s more complex world and matrixed organizations. Meetings can energize or enervate. When meetings are effectively run, they create that elusive synergy that dramati-cally boosts a team’s effectiveness. But way too many meetings waste time, zap energy, and reduce the collec-tive IQ (and EQ) of a group of very bright and effective individuals to the stuff of cartoons. In a recent Harvard Business Review article titled “Stop the Meeting Madness,” a survey of 182 managers across a range of industries revealed that 65 percent felt “meetings keep them from completing their own work” and 71 per-cent said “meetings are unproductive and inefficient.” The only explanation is ignorance. Leaders just don’t know any better, or they would make sweeping changes. Many leaders blithely accept the wasted time and energy that are allowed to pass for meetings. If leaders were allowed to waste money the way they waste meet-ing time, heads would roll. The Meeting Madness survey reported that 54 percent of managers suffered “a triple whammy of meetings that are (1) too frequent, (2) By Jim ClemmerSTRATEGY “Way too many meetings waste time, zap energy, and reduce the collective IQ of a group of very bright and effective individuals to the stuff of cartoons”ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM BINGE MEETING DISORDER?RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 47 Number 2comment_V2.indd 82018-05-31 4:40 PM9Volume 47 Number 2 | RV Lifestyle Dealer News poorly timed, and (3) badly run, leading to losses in productivity, collaboration, and well-being for both groups and indi-viduals.” Sound familiar?MEETING MISERY OR MASTERY DEPENDS ON THE LEADERSometimes a meeting of six people is really a meeting of three people with three spectators. So why are they all there? If they all had something to con-tribute, the leader should have drawn it from them, but didn’t. If three didn’t need to be there, why waste their time? If not well managed, conflict can quickly wrench a team apart. Whether conflict helps or hinders the team depends largely on the meeting leader’s skills. Getting a group of diverse peo-ple with conflicting interests and varied backgrounds to pull together is a big part of what team leadership skills are all about. As poorly run meetings sputter to a close with people distracted by their screens and rushing out to other meet-ings, team leaders often leave groups hanging. Consensus, commitment, and even action are left in a state of suspend-ed animation. Team members wander out of the meeting unclear about what happens next. Effective meeting leaders are strong facilitators. When the meeting leader is the boss, there’s a delicate balancing act between facilitating the group discus-sion and unwittingly issuing manage-ment directives. If, for example, the boss presents his or her opinions early in the discussion, healthy debate is often cur-tailed, options are narrowed, “moose-on-the-table” (touchy issues) will be avoided, participants who disagree will sit on their hands, and the boss’s view will prevail.MEETINGS ARE A MICROCOSM OF YOUR CULTUREThe Spanish novelist and dramatist Cervantes wrote, “By a small sample we may judge of the whole piece.” Meetings are a small slice of the leader’s mini-cul-ture. Taken together, an organization’s meetings paint a picture of the whole culture. Take a look at your meetings. What do they say about meeting leadership and culture? Who attends them? How do you split the airtime within the group? How much diversity is encour-aged? How is conflict handled? What process do you use for problem solv-ing? Do you draw contributions from the whole group? Is your team or organization over-meeting? Are you suffering from meeting indigestion? Meetings are an essential element in business today. But too many meetings – or poorly organized meetings – can destroy morale and create more work than they accomplish. WFor over three decades, Jim Clemmer’s keynote presentations, workshops, management team retreats, seven bestselling books, articles, and blog have helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. The Clemmer Group is the Canadian strategic partner of Zenger Folkman, an award-winning firm best known for its unique evidence-driven, strengths-based sys-tem for developing extraordinary leaders and demonstrating the performance impact they have on organizations.comment_V2.indd 92018-05-31 4:40 PMNext >