Business: Campers Inn RV of Naperville and Airstream of Chicago
Address: 9740 S. Route 59, Naperville
Phone/website: 815-726-1900, www.campersinnrv.com
General Manager: Mike Spencer, 60, of Naperville
Years in business: Two
What does your business do? “We sell and service RVs, and also sell parts,” Spencer said.
How’s the business going? “Very good. Every dealership has a monthly goal and we exceeded our goal last month by $100,000. … We’re one of the only stores in our group that achieved that.”
This is a chain? “Yes. We have 38 stores (nationwide) and growing. There are several different RV brands that have locations across the country, but we’re the only one that’s still family-owned. It’s the Hirsch family. … Campers Inn RV is only half this store. The other half is Airstream of Chicago.”
How long have you worked here? “I took over as the GM in February. It’s been a whirlwind. One of the first things I did was rearrange things (on site) so people can see what we have. … Right now, we’re carrying between new and used about 175 units.”
Why do people buy RVs? “Mostly to travel with their family. You really can’t beat the RV lifestyle. You’ve got all the comforts of home traveling with you. There’s no packing and unloading. If you have pets, you can bring them along. You don’t have to worry about making reservations. It’s so affordable. That’s what’s really amazing. A travel trailer, for example, a good range would cost $250 to $500 a month for an RV that’s nicer than any hotel suite you’ll be in with a full kitchen, a full bathroom. That’s your monthly payment. If you go to a hotel two weeks a year, your average hotel is $250, $300 a night. That’s basically a whole year of payments on an RV. And you can use it whenever you want.”
What’s an RV cost? “Our lowest priced one is $15,995 plus, tax, title and fees. Our most expensive travel trailer would be our Airstream. They run about $200,000.”
Is it fun to travel this way? “It is. Most cars or trucks or SUV can pull a small RV.”
How did you get into the business? “I went to (University of) Notre Dame. Graduated in 1985 and I wanted to stay in that area. The RV business is one of the major employers in Elkhart County. There are approximately 500,000 RVs each year that ship out of Elkhart County. … I was a national sales manager for Holiday Rambler, a big-name brand motor home. I was brand manager for Keystone Montana. Then I got into the retail side and was on the national show team for Campers Inn. …. It’s been a great career.”
What do you like about this job? “Helping people. … It’s one of the few companies that allow us to treat our customers like family. … We don’t have a high stress atmosphere here. … We don’t call them sales people. They’re RV matchmakers.”
Do you rent out units? “No, we don’t.”
How did the virus impact your business? “The pandemic probably increased our sales by almost 40%. People didn’t want to go to hotels. When you own your RV, there’s nobody else living in it. And you can go anywhere. It’s a very nice community too. People leave stuff outside their units. Nothing gets stolen. It’s a tight-knit group.”
When are you busy? “Right now. March through the Fourth of July is our busiest time. People are getting their campers out of storage. We’re doing a lot of service work and people are making plans.”
What misconceptions do people have about RVs? “That they’re really expensive. RVs actually cost less than a lot of cars. You can finance an RV for 20 years because it’s a home.”
Any challenges? “I don’t get a lot of customers who say they’re shopping around because every RV is unique. … The customers can pick what they like best because there are so many variations they can choose from. But it can be confusing. That’s where the RV matchmaker has to step up and help and listen to the customer.”
Any future plans? “We want to get the word out to grow our business. We want to put in another indoor showroom, maybe a little campground here, make it friendlier and add amenities. … (We’re having) an open house on May 27.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “My advice is to put service ahead of profit because the profits will come.”
If you know of a business you’d like to see to profiled in Down to Business, contact Steve Metsch at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
