Newmar is involving dealers in the Newmar Academy consumer-training program, which it first conducted last year at the company’s Nappanee, Indiana, service center.
North Trail RV hosted the first off-site Newmar Academy last month at the dealership and its neighboring Bermuda Lakes RV Resort in Fort Myers, Florida. Holiday World RV is Newmar Academy’s second stop. The dealership’s Katy, Texas, location is hosting training this week.
Holiday World RV Marketing Director Debbie Hodson said Newmar contacted the dealership’s service department about the academy.
“They have a really nice rig for training,” Hodson said. “It is an old Newmar fifth wheel that is completely outfitted, so you can see all of the control panels. The training is very hands-on, and that training unit is pretty impressive.”
Winter Storm Fern created some delays in the usual Newmar Academy schedule this week. Ice in the Houston area led the dealership to cancel a planned attendees tour Monday. The 15 or so attendees will divide into two groups after today’s training for the tour.
“Our service manager and our parts manager will take half of the group through our parts and service areas and show them our collision repair shop,” Hodson said. “The other half of the group will go and tour a handful of Newmar motorhomes. We have three Class A motorhomes that we pulled into the showroom because of the weather. We have several more lined up just outside the front door.”
Hodson said approximately five potential attendees dropped out because the winter storm kept them from attending.
Subsequent Newmar Academy stops will include Freedom RV in Tucson, Arizona; Transwest RVs in Frederick, Colorado; and Beaver Coach Sales in Bend, Oregon. The academy will visit Newmar Kountry Klub’s International Rally in Rock Springs, Wyoming, this summer.
One September stop, at Steinbring Motorcoach in Garfield, Minnesota, is on the schedule.
Newmar will also host the academy at its service center, with 10 dates scheduled between April and November.
The training covers the RV’s mechanics and maintenance tips. Newmar and supplier experts lead the training.
North Trail RV Parts and Service Director Brett Howard said the dealership was happy to host the first dealer-based event.
“We got to meet some new people and share our facility with them,” Howard said. “I do not know what the ratio was, but there was definitely a mix of our guests, people who purchased from us, and new guests that have not purchased from us yet. We got lots of positive feedback about the training and the dealership.”
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. and Spartan RV Chassis representatives led sessions during the Florida academy. Howard said the dealership is among the few U.S. dealers certified by both chassis manufacturers.
Last year, North Trail RV was named a Mahlon Miller Diamond Service Award winner and one of Newmar’s top 10 dealers by sales.
Other vendors offering education sessions during the four-day academy are River Park, Starlink, WiFi Ranger and Winegard. Newmar-led sessions focused on HVAC and general maintenance issues, among other topics.
Newmar Service Product Trainer Norbert Drust said dealers were eager to join the Newmar Academy tour in Texas.
“They wanted to have this type of training at the dealership,” he said. “It boosts knowledge of the product for the customer. It also draws customers into the dealership. They get to the facility and get to know some of the personnel there and develop a relationship. I think it will be a good experience for the customer, the dealer and Newmar. We will all benefit from this experience.”
Freedom RV owner Devin Murphy has worked with Newmar on similar training events in the past. He said he is looking forward to hosting the academy in February.
“We were able to teach our customers a lot about their RVs,” Murphy said. “A lot of people at those previous events decided to trade in and upgrade to new ones. We think this will be a great way to meet some new customers. I was very excited that they chose us to try it out in this area.”
