After two years of diminished live shows due to pandemic capacity restrictions, the NTP-Stag Expo opened Monday with crowd numbers resembling pre-2020 events.
Nary an open seat was found at the PRO Kick-Off Breakfast, even though attendance was limited to attendees with RV University badges. Former NFL coach Brian Billick started the event by talking about the Prime Directive, the one thing leaders need to share with their team that guides all decisions.
Billick told attendees they needed to set SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. He wove in stories about his coaching career and his daughter’s career as a vice president, human resources at
Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Billick said staff needs to know more than a leader’s instructions. They need to understand the impetus for action.
“People don’t buy what you do but why you do it,” he said. “They don’t care what you know til they know you care.”
Even in a highly technological and analytical world, Billick said leaders understand the value of human connections. The ability to develop and sustain relationships is key to success, he said.
After Billick’s presentation, attendees streamed down the hallways to meeting rooms. They attendedRV University seminars, 30 sessions over the course of the day, before and after lunch.
During lunch, sponsored by Valterra Products, company General Manager Bryan Fletcher discussed the state of business today. He told attendees everyone is back in the selling business, and shoppers will need more attention to close a deal.
Although the situation is a little more complicated than the past two years, he said, the expertise dealers can provide is invaluable.
NTP-Stag President Bill Rogers followed Fletcher with his own state of the business speech. He said in 2023, product and value proposition will make the RV industry a bigger part of the outdoor recreation economy.
Rogers urged dealers to pursue alternative products, such as aftermarket overlanding, off-roading and other adjacent markets.
“Now is a great time to expand,” Rogers said, “and we can help you do that.”
The Expo exhibit floor opened in the late afternoon. The traditional rush of attendees through two lines of NTP-Stag sales staff applauding began a five-hour exhibit opening.
The exhibit floor will open again at 9 a.m. Mountain time this morning after former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann provides a keynote speech at the breakfast, sponsored by Carefree of Colorado.
