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Old 12-10-2018, 01:25 PM   #81
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A large influence in my decision to go with the Escape brand trailers was the concept of purchasing a high quality, fairly unique trailer from a small family run business where customer satisfaction is a major component of their business plan. I have no interest in seeing ETI grow to become an ultra large faceless player in the North American RV market. But that is just my opinion.
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Old 12-10-2018, 01:49 PM   #82
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A couple questions that may indicate where ETI might be headed: were the two other RV companies that KV Private Equity invested in sold factory-direct prior to investment? If so, have they retained that business model?

Anyone know?
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Old 12-10-2018, 01:56 PM   #83
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Here's a hint.
https://northern-lite.com/locations-usa.php
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Old 12-10-2018, 02:25 PM   #84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hilola View Post
A couple questions that may indicate where ETI might be headed: were the two other RV companies that KV Private Equity invested in sold factory-direct prior to investment? If so, have they retained that business model?

Anyone know?
The other company, Off Grid Trailers, has this message on their website:
"In late 2017, Off Grid Trailers was acquired by a family oriented Canadian private equity firm. While the founder decided to move on in mid 2018, the passion and family feel of the company continued. Under new leadership in 2018, Duane and the team at Off Grid Trailers continue to believe that customers are always the source of success, and that craftsmanship and quality can always improve. Not so different from pushing boundaries in adventure and overlanding, the team at Off Grid Trailers continues to improve through unique design, manufacturing, and genuinely listening to our current and future customers feedback."

It appears that they always have and continue to only sell factory direct.
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Old 12-10-2018, 03:43 PM   #85
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Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
The other company, Off Grid Trailers, has this message on their website:
"In late 2017, Off Grid Trailers was acquired by a family oriented Canadian private equity firm. While the founder decided to move on in mid 2018, the passion and family feel of the company continued. Under new leadership in 2018, Duane and the team at Off Grid Trailers continue to believe that customers are always the source of success, and that craftsmanship and quality can always improve. Not so different from pushing boundaries in adventure and overlanding, the team at Off Grid Trailers continues to improve through unique design, manufacturing, and genuinely listening to our current and future customers feedback."

It appears that they always have and continue to only sell factory direct.

Thanks! And it appears the truck camper company already has a dealer network. I am assuming they already had it prior to the KV investment.
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Old 12-10-2018, 04:32 PM   #86
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Thanks! And it appears the truck camper company already has a dealer network. I am assuming they already had it prior to the KV investment.
You would be correct. They are similar in quality to Escapes and were on our short list. Are available all over the US.
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Old 12-10-2018, 04:45 PM   #87
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You would be correct. They are similar in quality to Escapes and were on our short list. Are available all over the US.
While Northern Lite is right now a truck camper company, they built bumper pull all-molded towables in the past. Just like Scamp, they had a devastating fire. This is a pic of their hybrid model, the front portion tips out (canvas).
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Old 12-10-2018, 04:54 PM   #88
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I believe ETI will be producing a Northern Like bumper pull some time in the future.
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Old 12-10-2018, 05:41 PM   #89
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My perspective (experienced tent and backpacking camper, new to the world of trailers):

I found the option selection process a little daunting, but the people in Chilliwack extremely patient and helpful. I doubt I even began to take full advantage of the customization opportunities, as a newbie their benefits are lost on me. That said, I like the idea of my unit being custom made to order over a couple of weeks rather than rolled off an assembly line in less than a day. As for dealer networks vs. direct sales, I found my interactions with dealers, both on their premises and at rv shows sufficiently, er, alarming, that I prefer the direct sales model (and dealt with both Escape and Casita in my purchase process, so it's not just Escape that has pleasant and professional customer sales reps).

About this new strategic partner: Folks, you don't know enough about what's going on behind the curtain to have an informed opinion. Some things are clear--ETI is a growth opportunity to be nurtured, not a cash cow to be milked, the job description for the new president omitted the 'Chief Executive Officer' part of the title (but who knows why?), the other two companies currently in the portfolio are a slide in camper manufacturer and a manufacturer of tear drop trailers (cost reduction/capacity utilization/purchasing volume opportunities there?), there is an emphasis on a transition from founder led to process driven culture (but what happens when you still need one founder, but not the other, and they're married?). Etc. Etc.

My guess is that this is a positive development. When a small business has great success, it attracts outside investors and it confronts the frequently unmentioned fact that growth brings with it its own challenges. I mean, when a dawg catches a bumper, what's a dawg to do?
Sorry, Seneca, but I disagree.

When a venture capitalist company "buys into" a growing company, they usually nurture the company, growing and expanding until the company is really looking good, then they milk it for all it's worth, finally selling the remains.

The VC is looking for a president . . . will Reace and Tammy have voting rights, or be under the president? I suspect they will be under the president, who will make all the strategic decisions.

Sorry to be such a pessimist, but I've seen this scenario play out time and time again. Corporate raiders, I think they're called.

I truly hope I'm wrong . . . Escape Trailer Industries is such a unique company.

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Old 12-10-2018, 06:03 PM   #90
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Reminds me of the scenario in Pretty Woman, Richard Gere was the take over expert who would acquire the assets of a troubled company and then sell them off. Ralph Bellamy played the role of the troubled owners....
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Old 12-10-2018, 06:45 PM   #91
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Reminds me of the scenario in Pretty Woman, Richard Gere was the take over expert who would acquire the assets of a troubled company and then sell them off. Ralph Bellamy played the role of the troubled owners....
.......my memory must be fading, the only character I remember is Julia Roberts
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Old 12-10-2018, 06:52 PM   #92
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I propose another discussion. KV acquires Tesla and develops self-driving electric trailers and campers and then GM buys KV and closes the factory, moving production to Mexico.

Over to you.
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Old 12-10-2018, 07:07 PM   #93
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Forgot to put "for a ton of money" after the second "KV" and before "and closes the factory". We are talking a Private Equity firm here.
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Old 12-10-2018, 07:17 PM   #94
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.......my memory must be fading, the only character I remember is Julia Roberts
Now you’re talking. Ain’t nothin wrong with your memory.
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Old 12-10-2018, 07:22 PM   #95
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.......my memory must be fading, the only character I remember is Julia Roberts
That’s about the only thing about this whole conversation that I have enough input, to have enough input on.
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Old 12-10-2018, 07:30 PM   #96
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Hopefully Reece n Tammy will expand on this issue at the Escape rally this coming spring in May
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Old 12-10-2018, 07:34 PM   #97
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Just in case anyone is curious...
KV Private Equity's acquisitions:
  1. 2017 May 04: KV Private Equity acquires Northern Lite Manufacturing
  2. 2017 Oct 03: KV Private Equity Announces Acquisition of Off Grid Trailers
  3. 2018 Aug 01: ETI changes name to 0823531 B.C. LTD. (haven't found a press release)
  4. 2018 Oct 30: Acquisition of Campion Marine
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Old 12-10-2018, 07:39 PM   #98
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Hopefully Reece n Tammy will expand on this issue at the Escape rally this coming spring in May
By then we all will be tired talking about it...........and will not want to talk about it......
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Old 12-10-2018, 07:50 PM   #99
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Maybe so n maybe not
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Old 12-10-2018, 07:52 PM   #100
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Stratigic Partnership?

Hi: All... Of course all our banter is speculation until the true nature is handed down from the top!!! Alf
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