Plans Underway for the 2021 RVB Top 50 Dealer Awards

Elkhart, Ind.-based RVBusiness has announced the resumption in 2021 of its RVBusiness Top 50 Dealer Awards, a popular, bar-raising, industry-wide program that – now in its 10th year – annually recognizes the professionalism and innovative practices of U.S. and Canadian recreational vehicle retailers.

The novel awards, organized by RVB and BJ Thompson Associates, are based on nominations from manufacturers who believe the dealers are outstanding in their field.

The ultimate winners are selected from those who elect to fill out applications for the annual honors by an independent panel of industry representatives who review the entries during an intensive two-day, closed-door session at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart.

And the whole process will once again culminate at an awards reception Nov. 10 during the RV Dealers Convention/Expo co-hosted Nov. 8-12 by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), RVDA of Canada and Mike Molino RV Learning Center at the Paris Las Vegas.

“We’re determined to get back to business with regard to the RVB Top 50 Dealer Awards after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic,” noted RVB Publisher Sherm Goldenberg. “And we were obviously excited to hear about RVDA’s plans to return to an in-person RVDA Con/Expo format in Las Vegas. We are also pleased, to say the least, by the warm reception we ultimately received from Top 50 sponsors. Everyone seems to want to get back to normal in the RV industry.”

This year’s sponsors include Airxcel Inc., Brown and Brown Inc., Contoure USA, Cummins Power Generation, Dometic Corp., Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp., Genesis Products, Northpoint Commercial Finance, NTP-STAG, Lippert, Protective Asset Protection and Wells Fargo CDF.

“We are looking forward to the RVDA Con/Expo, one of the first in-person industry events in a good while and to the opportunity of presenting dealers with the 2021 RVBusiness Top 50 Dealer Awards,” said RVBusiness partner Gregg Fore. “Dealers work hard to earn Top 50 stature and they can use the awards as part of their overall marketing strategies on both a regional and national scale throughout the year. That’s something we can help them do.”

Not only does RVB provide press release templates through which dealers can publicize their Top 50 status in their respective markets, reported Top 50 awards administrator BJ Thompson, but it also announces the year’s winners in national trade and consumer publications as well as digital platforms reaching millions of RVing consumers.

RVB also supplies award winners with Top 50 window signage for their stores and shows and, new this year, is making available directly from vendors fashionable apparel with Top 50 logos for dealers and their staff members.

“It will be great to again see our RV industry friends and recognize dealer excellence in business and customer service at the Con/Expo,” added Thompson. “Plus, we’ll be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Top 50 program. So, there are several good reasons to look forward to our awards party in November at RVDA’s Con/Expo, a fun event that may well include a quick appearance by some bagpipers and a round once again of ‘Amazing Grace.’”

Nominated dealers are to be notified in May about this year’s program, which will again include two special honors: the Gaylord Maxwell Innovation Award sponsored by Lippert for creative business practices and the Arthur J. Decio Humanitarian Award sponsored by Wells Fargo CDF for excelling in charitable pursuits.