Despite recent tough times in the leisure motorhome market, caught in a crosswind of rising fuel prices and tightened financing, Roy Robinson RV Center in Marysville continues to win industry honors for its sales and service performances.
Gordon Bjorg, president and owner of Roy Robinson Inc., announced recently that the dealership has been honored with Winnebago’s 2008 Circle of Excellence Award.
“We’ve weathered the market better than RV dealers in California, Texas and other parts of the country, “ said Sales Manager Gary Morris. “One reason is that 80 percent of our business comes from repeat customers who buy and service their RVs here. We’re one of the ones who are going to still be in the market after this storm blows over.”
It’s the 21st year that Robinson RV Center has won that distinctive award from Winnebago, based on direct feedback by motorhome customers immediately after their purchase and six months later.
The award criteria, which evaluates a dealership’s sales, market share, stocking levels and staff training, also assesses service department training, performance and customer satisfaction.
Winnebago has raised the qualifications for the award for three years in a row so that all dealers, including previous winners like Robinson, have to increase the level of their performance to qualify and win the award.
“We’ve been doing very well in the service department, too,” said Service Manager Dave Kidwell, “because we are so diversified. We service everything from engines to the chassis and the ‘house’ needs inside. Because there is no Ford dealership between here and Tukwila that handles Ford RVs, we’ve become certified to work on those, too, so we can help people in this area. That also gives us contact with new customers.”
Robinson is one of fewer than five dealerships in the nation that also carries Winnebago’s Itasca brand. It will soon be carrying Itasca’s latest lines, the ERA Van Conversion and the Navion iQ motorhome.
Robinson RV Center also won Winnebago’s 20/20 Vision Award for 2008. In all the states west of the Mississippi River, the RV Center was ranked first among 50 Itasca dealers and fourth among 150 Winnebago dealers.
Butch Smith, operations manager for the dealership’s RV parts inventory, said the Winnebago award “shows the customer comes first here … we’ve been here a long time taking care of people … we even see customers’ kids and grandkids coming to us for RVs.”
The RV center’s Internet promotion has been a great help, too, Morris said.
“We embrace change. Some people don’t. We’ve used the Internet for many years now and it’s paid off for us,” he said.
Also, RV Business magazine this fall selected the Robinson RV Center as one of the top 50 recreation vehicle dealerships in the nation.
Last April, Robinson RV Center made a major move that helped its sales and attracted new customers by acquiring nearly six acres adjacent to the dealership, said Frank Graham, business development manager.
The expanded center includes about 120 motoromes, a full service RV parts and accessory center and expanded office, administration and training facilities.
For its overall performance and community involvement, Roy Robinson Chevrolet, Subaru and RV Center received the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce’s 2008 Business of the Year award.
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