Consumer Articles
Positive Signs Ahead for Damon Motor Coach
May 22, 2009
ELKHART, IN — Damon Motor Coach, a Thor Industries subsidiary, has felt the economic crunch over the past year, but is bouncing back. “We actually increased market share during the past 12 months,” said Matt Thompson, V.P. of Sales. “In recent weeks there is some very positive news for us and hope- fully the industry,” he added.
Damon has announced it is back to five full days of production and now has a backlog of orders. “This is a rarity in the hard-hit RV Industry, especially Elkhart County,” said Bill Fenech, President of Damon. “Although encouraging, it’s too early to call this a recovery,” Fenech says. The company is cautiously op- timistic about the recent improvement in business. He went on to say that he and his staff will be watch- ing production closely, and matching that with demand.
He also announced that Damon has hired back a group of previously laid off workers and intends to hire more. “Exact numbers will be dependent on sustaining current sales trends, however, Damon dealers are becoming more optimistic about future business,” Fenech concluded.
Jim Colton of Colton RV, one of Damon’s newest dealers, says Damon product is moving fast. “We re- ceived our first Daybreak model recently and it sold in two days,” Colton said. Lazy Days RV Sales, one of the nations largest RV dealers, has also noticed increased Damon sales. “Things are looking up! Damon’s all-new Avanti high-mileage Class A diesel has been a star performer. We had seven retail cus- tomers purchase these units in the past two weeks… this is outstanding,” says Ken Jacobson, Sales Man- ager for Lazy Days.
An Elkhart-based RV dealer is also encouraged by the recent trend. Hank Schrock, Owner of Total Value RV says Damon product is helping his business. “We’ve sold five Damon Class A motorhomes in the past few weeks… this is a great sign,” said Schrock. In March, Damon shipped nearly 10 percent of the entire Class A market, according to RVIA wholesale shipment reports. On the retail side, Damon’s Astoria model gained 25% market share and the Challenger model came in at just over a 19% gain.
Damon has invested in a new production facility during the downturn. The new production plant has been modernized and streamlined to help make the entire process, from design to finish, more flexible and efficient. The company, because of the full production week, is back to its regular schedule for cus- tomer factory tours.
Damon Motor Coach designs and manufactures a full line of affordably-priced, yet quality built Class A motorhomes. Brands include the Astoria, Tuscany and Essence diesel pushers; the Avanti front diesel puller; and the gas-powered DayBreak, Challenger and Outlaw models. Damon is a subsidiary of Thor Indus- tries, Inc., Jackson Center, OH (NYSE: THO), the world’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles.