Alabama-based Tiffin RV dealer plans layoffs
Saturday, June 28, 2008
ROY L. WILLIAMS
News staff writer
Alabama-based Tiffin Motor Homes Inc., a major player in an industry that has been battered by rising gasoline prices, has told state officials it plans to lay off nearly 100 workers.
General Manager Tim Tiffin on Friday confirmed a filing Tiffin Motor Homes made with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs that said the company plans to reduce its work force by 99 positions.
"It's been a rough six months," he said of the company founded over three decades ago by his father, Van, in Red Bay, 45 miles south of Florence
Tiffin Motor Homes has 800 employees, Tim Tiffin said.
"We've had to make some adjustments," he said, declining to comment further on the issue.
Tiffin Motor Homes is best known for its Allegro and Allegro Bay brand of recreational vehicles, which are sold at motor home dealerships across the country.
Tiffin's planned layoffs come at a time when soaring gasoline prices have caused sales of gas-guzzling RVs to plunge. Gasoline prices have risen 27 percent over the past year, averaging nearly $4.07 a gallon nationally Friday vs. $2.98 a year ago, according to AAA.
Earlier this week, industry leader Winnebago Industries Inc. of Forest City, Iowa, reported that its revenues fell nearly 40 percent and net income plunged 73 percent in its most recent quarter.
Burton Campers Sales Manager Mickey Price, which sells and services RVs in Calera, said his company has flourished because it deals mostly in small trailers and campers that drivers can hitch on the back of their truck or SUV.
"Our motor home sales are off a little bit, but over the last six months our sales are up 27 percent over last year as people turn to the smaller models," he said.
Jan Giangrosso of Cruise America in Gardendale, which rents large RVs, said her company's business has dropped in recent months as gasoline approached 4 dollars a gallon.
"Rentals are a little slow for both RVs and our Penske trucks," she said. "It's all gas-driven. That wasn't a concern back in 1994 when we opened and gas was so much cheaper."
Price of Burton Campers, founded in 1972 by Clayton Burton, said the RV industry will survive. Certain segments will continue to shell out big bucks for the luxury of RVs, which range from $11,000 to $40,000 on his company's lot.
"For many people, camping is a way of life," he said. "They may not go as far or stay as long, but people wanting to save money from hotels or enjoy nature will always buy RVs."
Amazing how a reporter can get so many things wrong. Naming Tim Tiffin's younger brother Van as founder rather than his father, Bob. Failing to mention previous layoffa and that employment peaked around 1200 and is now or will soon be below 800. Price range for the so-called luxury segment of "$11,000 to $40,000". It's not like it's hard to get this right. Even in all the difficulty Tiffin is facing, the company has not modified one iota its committment to its customers. I just received superior warranty servive in Red Bay on my 1 year old coach and they cut no corners, instead going aove and beyond what I expected. They will survive, albeit smaller, and their loyal customers will stay with them and new ones will come aboard, for now in smaller numbers. Bob has been at this for 30+ years. I think he knows a thing ot two about survival. Feel bad for those affected by the layoffs. Economically, there are few employment options in NW Alabama.
Quite true! Tiffin has going for them a phenomenal customer-centered philosophy that I'm sure will make them survive these difficult times. Their only problem, from my point of view, is their relatively small size and thus the limited engineering resources needed to quickly design and build any necessarily smaller models for the future of Class As (their only RV line.)
Ray
FloridaFitz wrote: ...They will survive, albeit smaller, and their loyal customers will stay with them and new ones will come aboard, for now in smaller numbers. Bob has been at this for 30+ years. I think he knows a thing ot two about survival...
FloridaFitz wrote: Amazing how a reporter can get so many things wrong. Naming Tim Tiffin's younger brother Van as founder rather than his father, Bob. Failing to mention previous layoffa and that employment peaked around 1200 and is now or will soon be below 800. Price range for the so-called luxury segment of "$11,000 to $40,000". It's not like it's hard to get this right. Even in all the difficulty Tiffin is facing, the company has not modified one iota its committment to its customers. I just received superior warranty servive in Red Bay on my 1 year old coach and they cut no corners, instead going aove and beyond what I expected. They will survive, albeit smaller, and their loyal customers will stay with them and new ones will come aboard, for now in smaller numbers. Bob has been at this for 30+ years. I think he knows a thing ot two about survival. Feel bad for those affected by the layoffs. Economically, there are few employment options in NW Alabama.
You misunderstood.
11-40 is the price of the trailers at that Burton joint and it was luxury of an RV, not luxury RV.
We're about to become part of the Tiffin family. We take delivery of our 08 Allegro Open Road on July 5th. We'll miss our fifth-wheel toyhauler but it's time to move on with the next chapter in our life. I visited the Tiffin factory in Red Bay last month. Everyone was very friendly and answered every question. I hope Tiffin makes it through these tough economic times.
2006 F350 Powerstroker Dually Crew Cab 4X4 with Tow Boss 2005 Dutchmen Victory Lane 35SRV twin slider, redecorated interior, leather lazyboys, dual air
2006 Harley Davidson Road King 2005 HD Electra Glide and 03 BigDog Pitbull Prostreet
Peaked at 1200 and will drop to 800. Not 700, but what with the oddities in the article you were at least closer.
We are coming up upon the time when factories close for vacation, Tiffin will let the built demand in that time give the workers coming back, a bit of a backlog.
Bill & Jolene / FL 1997 Southwind 35P 2006 Yamaha 1100 Classic &
1970 Norton Commando 750 in state of recuperation (Almost road ready!!!)
6x12 Enclosd trailer
Gale Hawkins wrote: Tiffin must be a strong company to only be laying off 12% of their work force.
This is there 2nd round of them. They are in trouble too, if not more than the real big boys of Monaco and Fleetwood. I hope they can hold on as I do respect there product, but there are a small company and will feel it a lot more.
* This post was
edited 06/29/08 04:51am by Don Don *
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