2021 RV Aftermarket Conference A Huge Success

Last week, the 50th annual RV Aftermarket Conference took place in Atlanta, Georgia. The event brought together 219 aftermarket suppliers, distributors and manufacturer’s reps, a significant growth from the last in-person event, held in 2019. The Conference featured hundreds of 30 minute meetings in a speed-dating format, where companies in the aftermarket segment use the time to network and discuss current and new products and services, and develop strategies for expanding their business in the coming year.

Beyond the business meetings and the RV Aftermarket Awards, this year’s event featured a special consumer-focused workshop. With the RV industry growing significantly thanks to the influx of new customers to the RV Lifestyle, the Conference added an optional session designed to help members bridge the knowledge-gap between the new RV consumers and how Aftermarket products are applied. Included in the inaugural session were influential RV dealers, Curt Hemmeler, Executive Director of the RV Technical Institute, and The Wanderpreneurs, an RVing family who documents their travel journey for thousands of friends, family and fans. The session used consumer preferences, purchasing intent and satisfaction data from the Go RVing RV Owner Demographic Study and the 2020 RV Buyers Survey to develop ideas that better support a great parts and accessory purchasing experience by looking three key questions:

1. How can the Aftermarket better prepare new RVers for their first trip, especially related to education around properly using accessories?
2. What can the aftermarket do to make sure that current RVers remain RVers, specifically among 2020 first time buyers who are split on continuing to own an RV?
3. It is important among these new first-time buyers to reinforce why the purchased an RV while addressing factors that may lead them to leave the RV market. What can the Aftermarket do to help with this?

Looking into the past and the future was a running theme for the 50th Anniversary of the Conference. Over the past half-century, RV industry leaders have used this critical event to build upon one another's expertise and insight to enhance the RVing experience for every enthusiast. This ongoing dedication to impact existing and future RVers was commemorated in a special video for event attendees:

The 2022 RV Aftermarket Conference will be held August 8-11, at the Embassy Suites San Antonio Riverwalk, in San Antonio, Texas.