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Lazydays (RV dealer)

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Lazydays
Industry[Recreational Vehicles]
Founded1976
FounderHerman Wallace
Headquarters
Tampa, Florida
,
United States
Area served
Tampa, Florida and Tucson, Arizona
Key people
Herman Wallace (founder)
Ron Wallace (founder)
Don Wallace (founder and owner, 1993-2004)
Tim Sheehan (CEO, 2012-)
ProductsRecreational vehicles
OwnerTim Sheehan
WebsiteLazydays RV

Lazydays is an recreational vehicle dealership with locations in Tampa, Florida, and Tucson, Arizona. The Tampa location is the largest RV dealership in the world and has a 300-site RV campground.

Lazydays is one of the most successful RV dealerships in the United States, selling one of every 10 new diesel motorhomes. It was named #1 in Class A vehicles for its industry in the nation, has a score of A+ from the Better Business Bureau, and has received awards from both Tiffin Motorhomes and Winnebago. Both the Tampa and Tucson locations were featured on the reality TV show Big Time RV.

History

Founded in Tampa, Florida, in 1976, Lazydays was originally owned by the Wallace family, which included Herman and his sons Don and Ron. Lazydays was founded with only two travel trailers and $500.[1] During its first five years, the dealerships limited itself to selling travel trailers and mini motorhomes. Sales grew to $13 million by 1980 and $50 million by 1983. Herman Wallace retired in 1993 and Don Wallace took over the business. Bought in 2004 by LDRV Holdings Corp, Lazydays Tampa is the largest RV dealership in the world, with more than 1,200 RVs in stock at any given time.[2][3] The current CEO is Tim Sheehan.[4]

Lazydays established a second location in 2011 in Tucson, Arizona, when it purchased a dealership owned by Beaudry RV.[5]

Services and programs

Lazydays offers both RV service and parts, with dedicated shops for all kinds of repair and maintenance, including collision, body, chassis, glass, and windshield repair. They also offer upgrades, remodeling, and accessories.[6] With nearly 300 service bays combined between its Tampa and Tucson locations, Lazydays employs more RVIA/RVDA certified technicians than any other dealership in the country, servicing all RV brands.[7]

Tampa customers can join the Crown Club program, which provides exclusive benefits to its members, such as access to specially trained sales and service consultants, some with as many as 30 years of experience, RVIA/RVDA and master certification providing premium RV service. Plus, members can partake in training and education and have access to a member-only clubhouse with a restaurant, bar and private swimming pool.[8]

Lazydays also offers a Fly and Drive program designed to help buyers pick up their new RV by reimbursing up to $1,000 in travel expenses to customers who book their trip through Lazydays’s concierge service.[9]

The 300 site Lazydays Campground located on the 26 acre property which includes 2 restaurants, an air conditioned rally center, a screened and heated pool and hot tub, tennis courts, laundry service and high speed wireless internet.[10]

Financing, insurance, and protection plans for RVs are located on site.[11] Customers can also take an RV Driver’s Confidence Course, designed to teach RV driving, and participate in many educational programs related to owning an RV.[12]

Products

The two locations carry the nation’s largest selection of RV brands, including Airstream, American Coach, Athens Park Homes, Born Free, Coachmen, Crossroads RV, DRV, Dutchmen, Dynamax, Entegra Coach, Fleetwood RV, Forest River, Grand Design, Heartland, Holiday Rambler, Jayco, Keystone RV, Lance, Livin Lite, Monaco, Northstar, Open Range, Pacific Coachworks, Prime Time, Redwood RV, Starcraft, Thor Motor Coach, Tiffin Motorhomes, TrailManor, Travel Lite, and Winnebago, among others. These brands represent RV models of all types, including gas and diesel Class A motorhomes, Class B motorhomes, Class C motorhomes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, toy haulers, pop-up campers, and truck campers.[citation needed]

Philanthropy

The Lazydays Employee Foundation is a non-profit organization established using voluntary payroll deductions from employees, and is used to help underprivileged children. It also features a group called "The Dream Team" who volunteer to perform community services, such as building playgrounds.[1]

The Lazydays Employee Foundation teamed up with Hillsborough Kids to help homeless teenagers by creating the Lazydays Center for Youth Development. Homeless teenagers can use the facility to get clothing, toiletries, and a possible home. The Foundation pledged to pay $70,000 a year for five years to provide salaries for staff members.[13] The foundation has hosted an annual golfing tournament to raise funds towards homeless youths aged 18 to 24 in Hillsborough County for four years as of April 30, 2014. The foundation raised $101,000 towards helping at-risk children during its third Annual Golf Tournament, while the 2014 tournament managed to raise a total of $107,000.[14][15][16]

The foundation also supported the trek of 10-year-old Zach Bonner, who chose to walk 668 miles from Atlanta to Washington from May 7, 2009 to July 11, 2009 and was featured in the movie The Little Red Wagon.[17]

The Lazydays Employee Foundation has been recognized at the Be More Awards in 2012, receiving “The Judges Choice Award” and “Brilliant Innovation Award.”[18]

Reality television

Lazydays in Tampa and Tucson are featured on the Travel Channel’s reality TV show Big Time RV. The series premiered in July 2014. Season 2 will begin filming in November 2014 at both locations. The series follows on RV shoppers as they make their purchase decision, allowing viewers to see inside a variety of luxury RV models.[19]

Accolades

According to Business Wire, "one of every ten new diesel motor homes" in the United States is sold by Lazydays.[20] In 2008, it received a top five blue ribbon award from RV Dealers Magazine.[21] The dealership was named #1 in Class A vehicles for its industry in the nation, and #1 in Class A and Class B vehicles for its industry in the state of Florida for 2013 and 2013 Overall Top Motorhome Dealer – single location.[3] It received a Dealer of the Year Award in 2012 and 2013 from Tiffin Motorhomes and overall top American Coach Dealer in 2012 and 2013.[22] It was also named one of the top dealers of Winnebago RVs. It was awarded "Top Winnebago Industries Dealer Single Location," "Top Winnebago Dealer North America," "Top Dealer Winnebago” and “Winnebago Circle of Excellence Dealer” in 2014.[23] For 2013, Lazydays was the #1 Dealer for the Fleetwood RV Bounder, Storm and Tioga models. Lazydays has an A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b "About Lazydays". Lazydays. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. ^ Meinhardt, Jane (2013-08-19). "Judge sets $24.6 million price tag on Lazydays RV property". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. ^ a b Dougherty, Chris (2014-03-12). "World's Largest Dealership, Lazydays Ranked No. 1 Class "A" Dealer in the Nation". RV News Service. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  4. ^ Thurston, Susan (2014-01-17). "Lazydays new CEO seeks to shift RV dealership into high gear". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. ^ "Lazydays expands to Tucson". Tampa Bay Business Journal. 2011-04-21. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  6. ^ "RV and Motorhome Service". Lazydays. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  7. ^ "About Lazydays - Tampa". Lazydays. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  8. ^ "Lazydays Crown Club". Lazydays. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  9. ^ "Fly & Drive". Lazydays. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  10. ^ "Tampa Campground Info". Lazydays. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  11. ^ "Insurance for RV lifestyles of all kinds". Lazydays. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  12. ^ "TAMPA RV EDUCATION AND TRAINING". Lazydays. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  13. ^ "Hillsborough Kids, Lazydays team up to help homeless teens". Tampa Bay Times. 2010-10-14. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  14. ^ "Lazydays Foundation Tournament Helps Local Homeless Youth". RV Pro. 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  15. ^ "Lazydays Golf Tourney Earns $101K for Charity". RV Business. 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  16. ^ Gerber, Greg (2014-05-19). "Lazydays Foundation raised $107,000 in golf tourney". RV D@ily Report. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  17. ^ Greber, Greg (2009-11-05). "Lazydays Foundation sponsors boy's journey to help homeless kids". RV D@ily Report. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  18. ^ "The Lazydays Employee Foundation Honored With Three WEDU Be More Awards". PRNewswire. 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
  19. ^ Thusten, Susan (2014-05-23). "Lazydays to star in new Travel Channel show about buying an RV". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  20. ^ "One of Every Ten New Diesel Motor Homes in U.S. Sold by Lazydays, According to New Registration Figures". Reuters. 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  21. ^ "Top 50 RV Dealers Named by RV Business Magazine". Truck Trend. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  22. ^ "Tiffin Motorhomes". Tiffin Motorhomes. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  23. ^ "Winnebago recognizes top motorized dealers". RV Daily Reports. 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  24. ^ "Lazydays". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
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