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12-10-2018, 01:25 PM
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#81
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,634
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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.
__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
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12-10-2018, 01:49 PM
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#82
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Tehachapi, California
Trailer: none
Posts: 515
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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?
__________________
Greg
Formerly owned a 2007 24' HiLo/ 2003 Tahoe combo. Interested in the 5.0TA
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12-10-2018, 01:56 PM
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#83
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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12-10-2018, 02:25 PM
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#84
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,111
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hilola
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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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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12-10-2018, 03:43 PM
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#85
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Tehachapi, California
Trailer: none
Posts: 515
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubicon327
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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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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Greg
Formerly owned a 2007 24' HiLo/ 2003 Tahoe combo. Interested in the 5.0TA
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12-10-2018, 04:32 PM
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#86
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hilola
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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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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Happy Motoring
Bob
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12-10-2018, 04:45 PM
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#87
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
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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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).
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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12-10-2018, 04:54 PM
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#88
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I believe ETI will be producing a Northern Like bumper pull some time in the future.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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12-10-2018, 05:41 PM
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#89
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Wenatchee, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19'
Posts: 179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Seneca
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?
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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.
Chuck
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12-10-2018, 06:03 PM
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#90
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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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....
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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12-10-2018, 06:45 PM
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#91
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21. '15 Ford Explorer V-6
Posts: 1,554
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
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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.......my memory must be fading, the only character I remember is Julia Roberts
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'
“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
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12-10-2018, 06:52 PM
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#92
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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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.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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12-10-2018, 07:07 PM
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#93
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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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.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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12-10-2018, 07:17 PM
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#94
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,217
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Movie
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Clark
.......my memory must be fading, the only character I remember is Julia Roberts
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Now you’re talking. Ain’t nothin wrong with your memory.
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
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12-10-2018, 07:22 PM
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#95
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Hope, Indiana
Trailer: Escape 21
Posts: 277
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Clark
.......my memory must be fading, the only character I remember is Julia Roberts
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That’s about the only thing about this whole conversation that I have enough input, to have enough input on.
__________________
Trent
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12-10-2018, 07:30 PM
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#96
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: DFW, Texas
Trailer: 2018 21 Sept 7 2018
Posts: 1,073
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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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12-10-2018, 07:34 PM
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#97
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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12-10-2018, 07:39 PM
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#98
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldtimer
Hopefully Reece n Tammy will expand on this issue at the Escape rally this coming spring in May
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By then we all will be tired talking about it...........and will not want to talk about it......
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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12-10-2018, 07:50 PM
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#99
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: DFW, Texas
Trailer: 2018 21 Sept 7 2018
Posts: 1,073
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Maybe so n maybe not
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12-10-2018, 07:52 PM
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#100
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
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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
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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