Old race car axiom was something like : Race (win) on Sunday, sell cars on Monday.
The sale of parts and/or accessories and/or gadgets for a (RV) has really little to do with the SALE of Rv's...or even if the RV manufacturer goes down.
So.....NationalRV and others have gone to that great RV heaven in the sky...at some point, these owners will need anything from a lightbulb to a refrigerator to a air conditioner....and CW will be one of the major players to deliver.
Personally...last year at the Glen, we forgot our lawn chairs (no grandstands for us)...CW had a "store" (tent) and just happened to have chairs on sale...at a real reasonable price. Two years ago, I needed new tires (6)...and wanted new shocks. A local Goodyear dealer would be happy to do the tires...but wanted nothing to do with the removal/installation of shocks. CW had it all....and did it all.
I've often wondered how ANY company could be a sole major sponser...the millions it takes just to sponser ONE car....much less a whole series....but "they" are smarter than me....as evidenced by our current money crunch thing...........
Contract for sponsorship is a few years ahead of the actual year it is in place. I'm sure that when the CEO of CW started this process, the outlook was much better than it is today.
I hope CW has the strength to last the contract sponsorship.
I certainly hope that CW has the strength to last in these difficult times. It is nice to be able to shop there when we want to even though many of their prices are inflated. But Camping World's sponsorship of the races at Dover were not their only support of NASCAR. They sponsor individual teams in the Nationwide and truck series and they are the main sponsor for a lower-tiered series as well. Lots of money for certain.
Anyone who has ever been to a NASCAR race knows the shear numbers of RVs that attend. In fact NASCAR is what got us started into RVing - and I'm sure we're not alone. We attend the races at New Hampshire every year, and we are just one of approx 12,000 RV's in attendence. If you figure 4 people per RV thats 1/2 of the people in the stands who are there with their RV. Where ever could a company get such a captive audience? And was mentioned, the sales dollars that go through the CW tent store is amazing. I would guess at least 1,000 Honda generators are sold on these weekends. It's amazing.
As for the current sponsorship, NASCAR is down too, way down. Many of these races and teams have no sponsorship lined up. I'm guessing CW is buying this sponsorship for a fraction of the former selling rate. Think about it; if a track or team has the option of no sponsorship dollars or the chance to sell the sponsorship at the 11th hour for 1/2 price, what would you do? Seems like a decent deal for everyone involved.
Also keep in mind in every study ever done NASCAR fans are - BY FAR - the most loyal customers to sponsors. When given the choice to purchase a product form a sponsor or a non-sponsor, 80% of the time a NASCAR fan will purchase from a NASCAR sponsor, even if the item is a few dollars more. In this case CW should at least get the NASCAR fan in the store, weather it be for RV supplies or a new RV, and once the customer is in the store 80% of the sale is already done.
Personally I think it's good business for CW. I know I found out about the new CW RV rentals while watching a race.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910
I gotta say McGoo, you might change your mind if you had the opportunity to spend a little time with Lemonis. My wife and I had the opportunity to spend some time with him at the RV Show in Hershey, PA a couple of weeks ago. I must say I was impressed with him as a young CEO. Very honest and down to earth with the things we spoke about at the show. And yes, I'm pretty sure he's into RACE-IN. Actually we talked a bit about racin because I'm a fan also. While talking he called to the pits on his cell to see how one of his sponsored trucks was doing? It was in first place and won the race. Another thing I noticed with him and his team at the RV show they came prepared to provide good customer service and answer questions. He not only knows racing he also know a lot about the RV business. And I mean the product the company sells. They have access to lot of different motor coaches. I spoke with him at length about two units that I had an interest in. And to be the CEO and CFO he certainly wasn't just walking around looking pretty. He was working. Before the show, I never would have dreamed I would even think about purchasing a motor coach at Camp World. But it will be my first stop just because of the way I was treated by the team. And no it wasn't just because he spent a little time with me two different days. Come on, I like customer service. And they were head over heels above the service I got from other vendors at the show. And they in no way were pushy and tried to get you in the back room.
Again, I was impressed by the young man. I'm glad he's doing well, especially if he likes race-in as much as McGoo says he does he's got a pretty good job. How much better could it be. Going race-in in a great motor coach. They are opening a facility in Harrisburg, PA area in 8 or 9 months he told me and I will be there for the grand opening. And he, the sale person, and the Gumbrine RV e-mailed me the next week, saying thanks for stopping by. No calls, no pressure, just good service and I appreciate the young man caring enough about his job and his team to get on the front line like the rest. Good for him and Camp World that they are doing ok, willing to take a little risk at a not so good of time. Maybe we could call this pro-active instead of re-active. Hopefully they are around. I think they will be.
Fire Instructor wrote: Jonny31C - Did you spend anything at the Camping World tent in Dover? I know that I did. And that was after spending money at the Camping World tent at Watkins Glen.
And to make matters worse, we stopped at the Camping World in Sweedseboro, NJ on the way home and spent ANOTHER $250 on a new cover!
I'm thinking that they KNOW that some of us are addicted to buying something everytime we go near a CW....
I actually didn't spend anything at Camping World in Dover. I do frequent Camping World both on the web and in person and I would hate to see them go under by being overextended in NASCAR. Anyone from Maryland can tell the story of PSINet and the Stadium they bought the naming rights to here in Baltimore. Short story...they went under 2 seasons later and relinquished the name of the stadium.
Jonny
2005 Winnebago Voyage 33V
2008 Saturn Outlook Toad
Great Wife, 2 amazing kids, 2 beagles
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