Camping World Holdings Inc., America’s largest retailer of recreational vehicles (RVs) and related products and services, is introducing a new dealership format.
This innovative approach dedicates select individual dealerships exclusively to selling, servicing, and showcasing a specific RV brand’s products. Each store will feature a tailored, brand-specific customer experience and specialized staff training.
This new dealership format is designed to both complement and operate in parallel with the existing traditional Camping World branded footprint.
The recent opening of a Jayco-focused Camping World store in Morgan Hill, California, marks the debut of this format, as reported by the Chain Store Age.
The company intends to open, acquire, or convert manufacturer-exclusive locations across its network. In addition to the manufacturer-specific brands, these locations will offer used RVs, services, and the entire portfolio of Good Sam products and services.
Camping World plans to open exclusively branded dealerships with various manufacturers in several markets as part of its first wave. These markets include Oklahoma City, OK; Macon, GA; Northern Michigan; La Mirada, CA; Redding, CA; St. George, UT; Green Bay, WI; Lakeville, MN; and Little Rock, AR.
“We believe our growth can be accelerated by acquiring or opening dealerships that will ultimately be focused exclusively on the leading RV brands in America,” said Marcus Lemonis, chairman and CEO of Camping World.
Matt Wagner, COO of Camping World, added that this strategy widens the acquisition funnel to include dealers with a smaller real estate format or those located near an established Camping World dealership where they have access to a multitude of brands that compete in the same segment.
Camping World is growing through acquisition as it also plans to aggressively expand its national footprint through the opening of 20 or more new greenfield locations by 2024. The company continues to search for new store locations in key markets.
In May 2022, Camping World acquired Richardson’s RV Centers, the largest acquisition in company history. The agreement covers eight locations in California and Indiana, including five current dealership locations, one future dealership location, and two parts and service centers.
The California locations will transition to the Camping World brand and bring the company’s current count to 12 RV dealerships and five parts and service centers in the state, with a future RV dealership coming soon.
The Indiana location will convert to the company’s RVs.com brand and provide a digital and factory direct commerce touchpoint for customers nationwide.
Founded in 1966, Camping World Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Lincolnshire, Ill., and combines an assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers, and customer support centers, along with an online presence. The company currently operates over 185 Camping World locations in 42 states.
For further insights into Camping World’s operations and customer experiences, you can watch the YouTube video titled “Camping World Review: The Truth” here.
Camping World’s new brand-specific dealership format is a strategic move that can significantly enhance company marketing and consumer success. By focusing on leading RV brands, the company can provide a tailored customer experience, specialized staff training, and a wider range of products and services.
This strategy not only accelerates the company’s growth but also provides a unique and effective solution to the challenges faced by the RV industry.
