For 60 years, Colorado-based Windish RV Center only experienced organic growth. This week, the RV dealer chain closed on its first acquisitions, buying the Airstream of Utah and Airstream of Wyoming stores from the Decker family.
The deal is not only the first acquisition for Windish RV Center but the first move the dealer chain has taken outside the Colorado borders. Company President Whitney Holtz said moving forward with the acquisition required her leadership to ensure they had the capacity to take on the new stores. She said meeting the talented teams in place at the West Valley City, Utah, and Etna, Wyoming, stores made the decision easier.
“The Deckers did a really good job of hiring great people,” Holtz said. “They shared similar values with us and that will make it a pretty easy transition, because they operate similarly to how we do.”
Windish RV Center will retain all non-Decker-family employees. Zach Decker, son of founders Dennis and Laura, will remain at the Utah location until a new general manager is hired, and then he will depart.
Holtz said the moves will enable Windish RV Center to provide sales and service to the Mountain West region. She said support from Airstream will help Windish to continue providing the elevated experience Airstream consumers are used to receiving. Windish RV Center operates the Airstream of Colorado dealership in Denver along with locations in Colorado Springs, Lakewood and Longmont.
“We are passionate about the Airstream product,” Holtz said, “and we have a great relationship with the manufacturer. That gives me a lot of confidence because I know we are getting into great markets with great people.”
Holtz and General Manager Corey Shaw were in Etna on Monday to oversee the transition after the deal closed. They will be in West Valley City today to do the same with the Utah location. Holtz said she was grateful to the Decker family for their help in making the company’s first acquisition an easy and enjoyable experience, and credited Performance Brokerage Service’s Jesse Stopnitzky for his help in providing a great experience.
