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| Spent The Day Marketing The RV Outpost!; 358 miles and yet it was GOOD! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 5 2005, 07:50 PM (305 Views) | |
| Mrs. Mik | Feb 5 2005, 07:50 PM Post #1 |
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We decided to head to the RV show in Madison, WI today to spread our business card around and let dealers and campgrounds know that we are coming to North Central Wisconsin. We were both worried about how the kids would behave, but we pounded into their heads that this is THEIR future we're working for! OK, ours, too, but still! I want to see perfect little angels -- like all the Amish kids we see around here! OK, so get up off the floor!
The kids actually behaved quite WELL and we were very impressed! We talked with them for a long time about how we need to appear professional to all these folks, and having our kids running around and acting like monkeys would NOT be accepted! So, the kids sternly warned, we entered the show. We knew that Janesville RV would be there, and of course, went to visit my buddies first. Turns out they had the BRAND NEW Cedar Creek Day Dreamer there -- with, guess who showing it? Yup, my good friend Craig Clair from the Cedar Creek factory! Craig recognized me right away, and we gave him our card (which, by the way, has a picture of OUR rig on it!) and told him about the store we're going to open. He was quite impressed, and we made plans to get together in April when we're in Indiana. I'm really glad he was there, as it was much better to see him in person and tell him about the store than to send him an e-mail and tell him what we're doing. After all, we're going to be asking him for contacts for parts & supplies! I'm assuming he knows this, but if he doesn't, well, he's forewarned, in person, that the store is coming! Seeing as we're using our own rig in our advertising, and Cedar Creek is quite prominently shown, it's the least they can do to help us out! I had previously talked to Joe at Janesville RV about the store and asked him point blank to help out. Of course, they're doing everything they can to help us! It almost seems that buying our Cedar Creek was one of the best investments we've ever made! We talked with LOTS of campground owners and LOTS of dealers. We made sure to give them all our business card and took information from them so we can contact them in the future to swap brochures and links on websites. They were all very positive about our new venture, most of them stating that this is certainly the right industry to enter into at this time! Even though it was a long drive, it was worth it! Besides that, the mileage is tax deductible! Today, once again, made us realize that if we're going to go into business for ourselves, we have certainly picked the right business to start out in. We think we've found our space to lease, which is on Business Highway 29 in Abbotsford, Wisconsin. We're just a hop, skip and a jump from Highways 29 and 13 -- both major thoroughfares to the great northwoods of Wisconsin. We're working hard on our business plan, and I'm finding that it's sounding almost too good to be true! I'm terrified that we can lose the house, because we'll have to put up our equity as collateral, but you know, if we don't do it, we'll forever kick ourselves for not trying! All in all, it was a GREAT day, and we're starting to squeeze those lemons we've been handed, and the lemonaide is on the way! Julie |
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| DylansMom | Feb 5 2005, 08:04 PM Post #2 |
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Jackie-Sioux Falls, SD (in Arizona for the moment)
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Sounds like a GREAT start, Julie!!!! Go right to the source, as they say..... Are you planning on getting this running this year???? How did the job thing go??????? |
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Greg, Dylan & Jasper too! 2005 F350 King Ranch PSD Crew Cab 4x4 Dually; 2005 Carriage Carri-lite KIQ View My Pictures Here
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| Mrs. Mik | Feb 5 2005, 08:28 PM Post #3 |
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Jackie, we're hoping to be open by JUNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If we could, we'd open earlier! I'm thinking June is even a little optimistic, but, you never know! We need to get up and running so that we can capture all the traffic. The interview on Friday was GREAT. I was already told that they'd call me next week to schedule an interview with the attorneys. It's kind of bittersweet, though, because I really want to spend my time working on the new store. BUT, I also know that we NEED the extra income that I can bring home. I'm thinking it's going to be VERY difficult for me to go off to work somewhere else while Greg is getting the store ready to go! I'm sure ya'all will hear plenty of complaining from me on THAT one, assuming I get the job! Julie |
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| DylansMom | Feb 5 2005, 08:32 PM Post #4 |
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Jackie-Sioux Falls, SD (in Arizona for the moment)
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June, WOW.....again, WOW. Very adventurous and I truly wish you both the best of luck!!! What did you decide to name it??? I'll keep my fingers crossed about the job! Don't forget to let us know!!!!!!!
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Greg, Dylan & Jasper too! 2005 F350 King Ranch PSD Crew Cab 4x4 Dually; 2005 Carriage Carri-lite KIQ View My Pictures Here
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| Mrs. Mik | Feb 5 2005, 09:01 PM Post #5 |
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Jackie, the official name is the "RVing Outpost" but we're adding "Mrs. Mik's" to all the advertising, to capitalize on my "vociferousness" on the forums! We figure we need to use whatever name recognition we have to our advantage! So, it's "Mrs. Mik's RVing Outpost on the business cards and advertising that we're going to secure, but the website we've secured is "www.rvingoutpost.com" although the site is still "under construction" and won't be up for a while! JUlie |
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| Little Kopit | Feb 5 2005, 09:16 PM Post #6 |
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newfoundland
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Julie, This is all very exciting. I've looked at www.rvingoutpost.com Attractive. Makes one want to come back. You CAN do it!
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| Lynne | |
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| sylley2000 | Feb 5 2005, 10:45 PM Post #7 |
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Sylvia, Grand Bend ON
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Julie, That is wonderful news. Your rig is very handsome. Good luck with all your plans. Sylvia |
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| pentax | Feb 6 2005, 01:54 AM Post #8 |
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Kamloops - BC Interior
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Julie - I dont want to get your hopes up... but about 4 years ago, a couple that are our best friends went into some serious debt to buy a Pizza/Sub store that he had a hunch would work. They now have expanded to the larger city about 20 miles away, to open a SECOND one, which is doing well after a slowish start. He hopes that within 5 years, he can "pull out" of the businesses (and hand them off to his Daughter and SIL, with a "steady-income") - he has put 50 grand away in just the last year!..... I hope it goes as well for you, too! |
![]() (thumbnail) ![]() "Kirk to Enterprise - Very funny, Scotty.... now beam down my clothes!" | |
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| passinthru | Feb 6 2005, 06:55 AM Post #9 |
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John - Gainesville, FL
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I've lost track of the other thread. Are you going to be providing repair service too? After wondering how a small RV store in Crystal River made ends meet (storefront in a strip-mall) I realized it was on service and service calls. I had watched the store several days while eating at a nearby restuarant and waiting for my wife at the quilt shop and saw very little traffic in the door. Then I had occasion to call for service when the toilet was leaking and found a two day wait and a hefty bill at the end of a ninety minute stay. They have two trucks out all the time making service calls, something that was not apparent from watching the store. |
| Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money... | |
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| Mrs. Mik | Feb 6 2005, 10:37 AM Post #10 |
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At this point, we won't be offering service for numerous reasons. One reason is the parts overhead. That alone, I think would kill us on the spot, not to mention the insurance costs! We are thoroughly convinced that the area we are locating in will sustain us. Highway 29 runs all the way from the Twin Cities to Green Bay and is LOADED with RV's from April to October. Highway 13 runs from the Dells all the way north and is another major route for RVers. The other good news is that there are NO stores like this up here. There are a few dealers, but we all know that dealers' supplies are woefully lacking in the things we need. Signage is going to be a big expense, but we are looking into billboards on Highway 29 and on Highway 13 -- together with brochures at local campgrounds (and NOT so local campgrounds -- as folks may be traveling past us to get back home, etc.). We'll be polling our customers to find out what's working and how they found out about us so that we know what's working and what's not and can spend the money on what DOES work. Julie |
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| irongoat | Feb 7 2005, 06:31 PM Post #11 |
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Mrs. MIK, You are fulfilling the American dream. Best of luck. As far as service and parts. Several of the RV dealers around here do service and just order parts when needed. Really no need to keep an inventory except for bulbs etc. Overnight parts are just as good as inventory. |
| "In matters of style, swim with the current, In matters of principal, stand like a rock". Thomas jefferson | |
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| sylley2000 | Feb 7 2005, 07:34 PM Post #12 |
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Sylvia, Grand Bend ON
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irongoat, That's true that parts can be brought in as jobs require, but the tools to do the work have to be on site. Jacks, shop supplies, and a myriad of other things are needed to work on RV's. And insurance is a big factor too. Sylvia |
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| Mrs. Mik | Feb 8 2005, 04:26 PM Post #13 |
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Irongoat and Sylvia -- you are both right . . . But let us not forget that we would also have to find the money to pay the tech! Neither of us is capable of making repairs, so there'd be a HUGE sum of money involved in that, as well! Maybe at some point in the future, but for now, we'll have to just stick to parts, supplies and accessories! Oh, we're adding fishing stuff to the line-up, too! (Aaron's happily working on THAT list for us!) Julie |
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OK, so get up off the floor!
The kids actually behaved quite WELL and we were very impressed! We talked with them for a long time about how we need to appear professional to all these folks, and having our kids running around and acting like monkeys would NOT be accepted!









2:47 AM Jul 11