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Camping World Buys Camper's Choice
Topic Started: Apr 25 2005, 04:16 PM (173 Views)
PRT
Member
From Camping World:

As you may be aware, effective April 22, Camper's Choice has elected to close its catalog and internet business. Camper's Choice is working with Camping World to ensure that your RV accessory and supply needs continue to be met. You are a valuable customer and both companies want to ensure that you are taken care of. Thank You!

I heard Camping World/Affinity Group also bought Lazy Days in Seffner, FL but I can't find anything to confirm that - although I didn't look very hard.

We liked Camper's Choice.
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Don't like it, it means less choice. I prefer a local store in order to support service I can trust.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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DylansMom
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Jackie-Sioux Falls, SD (in Arizona for the moment)
I liked Campers Choice, their prices were lower than Camping World.....maybe that is why they closed down. :faint:

I try to buy local, but they do make it attractive when they don't charge shipping. Usually on orders of $75.00 or more.

At least Wal-Mart won't get blamed for this one! :floorrollin: :floorrollin:
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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Little Kopit
newfoundland
I'm never happy with less competition.

I thought the RV market was a growing market.

Has anyone seen anything recently on this aspect of things?

:)
Lynne
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Study shows a solid road ahead for the RV industry: "A recent study of the recreational vehicle (RV) industry forecasts a bullish $13.7 billion in sales by 2005....'Recreational vehicle shipments and revenues are soaring, valuations are at historical highs, and many RV participants are aggressively pursuing their plans for expansion and growth," said Mike McCoy, managing director at Crowe Capital. "Currently, participants in the recreational vehicle industry face an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on this growth and to maximize shareholder value....'"

And RV Quick Facts
Quote:
 
What does the future hold for the RV market?

    * Changes in the frequency and duration of vacations favor the RV industry. Americans are traveling shorter distances and on weekends with less planning, according to recent studies. For RV owners, this is a convenient travel pattern.
    * Primary RV demand remains very good and the potential for future sales is bright, according to a 2001 University of Michigan study. Among all U.S. households, one in six intend to purchase an RV in the future.
    * Baby boomers–both parents and empty-nesters–are strong potential buyers of RVs, and promising future prospects are emerging among younger, ethnically diverse consumers, reveals a 2001 Harris Interactive study commissioned by the Go RVing Coalition. Generation Xers, exhibit interests in outdoor activities that are highly compatible with RVing, the study found.
    * Demographic trends favor substantial RV market growth, according to the University of Michigan. As baby boomers enter their prime RV buying years, the number of RV-owning households is projected to rise to nearly 8 million in 2010–a gain of 15 percent between 2001-2010, outpacing overall U.S. household growth of 10 percent.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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corky52
Member
Having used Campers Choice several times I'm sad to see them go as it reduces the competition in the market. I try to avoid Camping World like the plague, their business practices are so poor. Best thing to do is use as much "everyday" stuff as you can and hunt the net for the specialty items.
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Little Kopit
newfoundland
2001 & 2003

:scratch:

How about a report for this year.

Last year 2004) RV Travel had some very strong figures, but I can't really take time to search them right now.

:)

Lynne
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
They're forecasts into this year and beyond...2010. I don't have the money to pay for another.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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Trailblazer
Member
We never used it. Guess we have lots of choices of camping stuff in our own back yard. Coleman is right here in Wichita, and Oklahoma and Louisiana have Academy which has everything. Walmart is OK for camping stuff, but we've bought lots of camping stuff at Sears and Target. We don't overlook Army Surplus stores which have gobs of great camping gear. We try to stay out of the camping or hiking only stores...they're generally much more expensive.
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Mrs. Mik
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Quote:
 
I'm never happy with less competition.
Well, in this instance, WE are! LOL :floorrollin:


As for 2004 market figures, maybe I can help. Here's the information I had in our Business Plan, based on my research:

Quote:
 
Shipments of RVs (motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel travel trailers, truck campers and folding camping trailers) totaled 370,100 units in 2004 -- a 15.4 percent increase over the previous year and the second-highest shipments level in 26 years. In 2003 RV shipments topped 320,800–a 3.2 percent increase over 2002.

Currently, a record 7.2 million RVs are on the roads in the United States.  RVs are owned by nearly 7 million U.S. households – a 7.8 percent increase during 1998-2001, reveals a 2001 University of Michigan study.  There are as many as 30 million RV enthusiasts, including renters, nationwide, according to RVIA estimates.

Long-term signs point to substantial RV market growth because of favorable demographic trends, according to the University of Michigan study.  The number of RV-owning households is estimated to rise 15 percent during 2001-2010 to nearly 8 million.


Julie

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Little Kopit
newfoundland
Thanks, Julie.

I thought of saying, well now, we can ALL order from RV Outpost, but then I thought that could be tooooooooooo 'prejudiced'. I could have added, I always favour individually owned businesses, if at all possible.

Your research dovetails with what I remember from the article in RV Travel last year. If I had said it, I would have had to say 'if I remember correctly'.

:)
Lynne
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
IIRC, the reports I found said similar.


Julie, when you opening up?
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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Mrs. Mik
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Chris, we had hoped to open by June 1, but our financing took longer than expected, because of that first idiot banker, so we're looking at June 15.

We need a little bit of time to get in there and do some remodeling, thankfully not much, though. Plus, we have to get our shelving in there (used, through our main distributor), and then there's the ordering of everything! Yikes . . . once it starts coming, I'm going to have my work cut out for me! Gotta set it up properly on the computer so the webmaster doesn't have too much to do to get the shopping cart on-line. We'll be having another meeting about that real soon.

We met with the landlord today, and although the lease will be signed and we will be in there remodeling, we don't have to pay any rent until we actually open for business! Must be a small-town kind of thing . . . but it's cool. The landlord is a real down to earth kind of guy and doesn't like all the bull that lawyers and big-cities hand out. He really wants to see us succeed and has cut us some deals on the lease. He's really been quite helpful in giving us leads on different things and is so reasonable. Being from the city and working for lawyers for so long, I guess I'm kind of jaded and not used to the "my word is good enough" kind of guy. I'm really liking this, though. After all, we're honest, hard working folks, and if we say something, we hope folks believe us, too. We really appreciate the guy's honesty and wouldn't do anything to harm the relationship we're developing with him.

Of course, the lease is in writing, and with my background, I don't even need a lawyer to review it for us. He went through just about all of it with us today. It's very simple and straightforward without anything hidden. What really impresses me is that he refused to allow us to sign it today. He wanted to make sure we had time to go over it with a fine toothed comb and come back to him with any questions we may have. I don't think we could ask for a better landlord.

Julie
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roscoe
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Will there be a 'secret discount code" for window peepers. :o
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Julie, that's sure fast-paced! But I know you've been planning this for some time. Last you said you were getting the practically-new used shelving, then I think you're headed somewhere to load up on stock. Will on-line shopping be available?
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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