Is it (Airstream) all a Fad ?

[Bob Miller]

That's the question that Airstream President Bob Wheeler asks himself in this article about the recent upsurge in his companies product. Here's some interest reading:

How America learned to love the Airstream again

While the article mentions "Building to Order", the Los Angeles Airstream dealer is currently advertising on TV that they has "Over 100 Airstreams on the lot, ready for immediate delivery."

But, then again, legendary Los Angeles auto mogul "Mad Man Muntz" used to advertise: "I lose money on every sale, but I make up for it by selling in volume"

I hope that the giant popping sound isn't yet another bubble about to burst.

[MC1]

"This year, Airstream spent $6 million to build new office space and expand its factory by several thousand square feet. It also hired 130 people to catch up with demand."

So many other companies are relocating their manufacturing to Mexico and over seas. I take my hat off to Thor/Airstream for not only keeping the manufacturing here but actually expanding and hiring workers.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by MC1

...So many other companies are relocating their manufacturing to Mexico and over seas. I take my hat off to Thor/Airstream for not only keeping the manufacturing here but actually expanding and hiring workers.

Are you saying that RV manufacturing is moving overseas, or did you mean that simply as an observation about manufacturing as a whole? The former would be news to me, and I'd like to know more. The latter, of course, would not be news, but I don't see how it reflects any particular credit on Thor Industries…

The real question raised here is whether growth in the RV industry as a whole (reflected here in one of its iconic nameplates) is a bubble, a long-term trend, or (as I suspect) a cyclical upswing related to cheaper gas, a strong stock market, and baby boomer retirements. I think Bob Wheeler is wise to be cautious about over-expanding.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Are you saying that RV manufacturing is moving overseas, or did you mean that simply as an observation about manufacturing as a whole?

Yes Jon, as a whole, generally speaking.

[Bob Miller]

Yep, I guess this problem all started back when we started outsourcing automobile production to, let me think, where was it? Now I remember, Canada.... LOL

[stillwater]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

Yep, I guess this problem all started back when we started outsourcing automobile production to, let me think, where was it? Now I remember, Canada.... LOL

Yes that's right. No one ever buys any automobiles in Canada. We all use dog sleds.
I have to go now. I need to go shoot a moose to feed my dog team.

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

Yep, I guess this problem all started back when we started outsourcing automobile production to, let me think, where was it? Now I remember, Canada.... LOL

No prob! We have the resources, the expertise, the will, and the ability to think outside the box to get it done. Send it up here. We can use the profits to feed our Moose herds.

[cpaharley2008]

Read the article and the one point I came away with is Airstreams are great campers, as long as they are parked and not moved. Otherwise any one of those 3000 rivets will start to leak and the floor will rot, but parking it on a foundation somewhere to live in is a good idea.

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Read the article and the one point I came away with is Airstreams are great campers, as long as they are parked and not moved. Otherwise any one of those 3000 rivets will start to leak and the floor will rot, but parking it on a foundation somewhere to live in is a good idea.

Touché

[Randy P.]

Originally Posted by stillwater

I have to go now. I need to go shoot a moose to feed my dog team.

Good one!

[steelypip]

Are Airstreams a fad? Sure. Absolutely. And that fad market will bust (and the bust will probably carry off a bunch of other RV manufacturers when it does, just like the last two times I remember).

But they're not just a fad. People have been buying Airstreams since the 1950s. I don't think the serious buyers are going to stop after the fad wears off.

[Alf S.]

Originally Posted by steelypip

Are Airstreams a fad? Sure. Absolutely. And that fad market will bust (and the bust will probably carry off a bunch of other RV manufacturers when it does, just like the last two times I remember).

But they're not just a fad. People have been buying Airstreams since the 1950s. I don't think the serious buyers are going to stop after the fad wears off.

Hi Steelypip... Airstream is owned by Thor... along with a bunch of other RV mfg's with total annual sales of about 3.5 Billion. Hard to bust that bubble.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by Alf S.

Hi Steelypip... Airstream is owned by Thor... along with a bunch of other RV mfg's with total annual sales of about 3.5 Billion. Hard to bust that bubble.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

Airstream has had it's ups & downs. . They have had several owners over the years and Thor took them off of Beatrice Foods (the same peeps that brought you Hot Air Hand Dryers) hands with a no-money-down deal. Life hasn't always been that good for Airstream. And Thor started out with Hi-Lo Trailers and what happened to them you ask?

In business it's still all about RIT and Bottom Line.... Having been around for almost 80 years is no guarantee for tomorrow, just ask Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Plymouth and Mercury what happened to them....
BTW: Don't bother asking Edsel...LOL

And remember, it was the President of Airstream that asked the question, "Is it all a Fad" not moi.

[Alf S.]

Hi: Bob Miller... Here's the latest pic. of our rig. Why we even parked beside a Big Country by Heartland/ Thor 5th. wheel and had some folks knock on our door asking for a tour of "Escape Hatch II".
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[honda03842]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

I though so too and asked that Post #10 be killed. When it was allowed to stand it needed a reply....

Did you 'need' to reply or did you 'want' to reply?

The quickest way to end things is often no reply.

[Alf S.]

Hi: honda03842... Thankyou... HWLLLB
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[MC1]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Back to regular programming...

Yup.....I'm a fan of the Fad!

[Iowa Dave]

Can we just get along? Rodney King

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Can we just get along? Rodney King

To that end we have removed a number of off topic and political comments for this thread. Folks please remember that political commentary is not appropriate at FGRV.


Thanks for understanding

[Dextersp1]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

That's the question that Airstream President Bob Wheeler asks himself in this article about the recent upsurge in his companies product. Here's some interest reading:


I hope that the giant popping sound isn't yet another bubble about to burst.

I think there are several things going on:

The aging population are buying them as they retire.

More people are living and working out of their RV as they travel.

More people are living out of a RV as they work because apartment and home prices are too expensive.