Intro/Letter From the Editor - Ryan Main - Sales

Another hugely successful show is now in the books, and we are officially looking towards the melting of the snow on our favorite campsites. I would like to extend a very gracious thank-you to the reps who found time in their busy schedule to attend our show this year and extend their expertise to our friends and customers. To Ernie Penner of Triple E, Scott Parkhurst of Alpine, David Josephthal of Starcraft, and Chase Booth of Springdale thank-you for your help in making our show so successful this year.

I also had a rare opportunity at our show this year that I would like to share with our readers. On Saturday afternoon I had the pleasure of arranging a deal with Doug and Doreen Bottley of Brandon. In the course of our negotiating I found out that not only are the Bottley's lifelong Pik-A-Dilly customers, but their purchase at the show would mean that they had purchased RV's from not only me, but from my dad (Don), as well as my grandfather (Frank). This is a first for me, and is a tremendous honor for me to be held in the same regard as both of the great sales relatives before me. We have had many opportunities to sell to different generations of the same family, but this is the first time we've had a customer purchase from three generations of Main salesmen.

As successful as our show was this year, I have another opportunity to extend to those who may still be thinking of buying ahead of spring.  As 2010 will mark the end of my 20's age-wise, I have arranged that every sale between now and the beginning of my 30's will come with a bonus of two Faulkner zero-gravity recliner chairs and an entry into a draw for a weekend for two at Elkhorn Resort. To qualify all paperwork must be signed by the end of the day on March 6th. As always should you have any feedback, comments or questions please email me at rmain@pikadilly.com. 

Dealership News - Don Main - General Manager

Thanks to all that attended our Annual Show and Sale at the Keystone Centre last weekend. This year’s show was one of the most successful of all time. Many people took advantage of the special buys that were offered, and we had a great deal of fun with the 'Survivor Game' which allowed those that purchased a new RV the opportunity to 'vote off' the prizes they didn’t want. All buyers were awarded one of 8 additional prize packages.

We introduced the new Alpine product from Keystone RV and it was a big hit! It generated tremendous interest, some sales and looks like it will be very popular product. Alpine is very luxurious, yet its price point is less than most think when they view it for the first time. It carries a big “WOW” factor. If you missed it, you might want to stop in some day for a personal peak!

Our special purchase of the 2600 and 2670 model Summerland travel trailers stole the show. They are both fully equipped family models (the 2670 has a slide-out room) and at $16,977 and $19,977 respectfully, they are priced so low that even we couldn’t believe the deal we were able to make with the manufacturer. We still have a few of each floor plan available, but they are moving quickly, so if you’re still in the market, better act fast!

The new outdoor kitchens were a huge hit. With a stove, fridge and sink accessible from outside, it makes for very easy prep and cleanup. If you enjoy cooking outdoors, one of these new travel trailers or fifth wheels are a must see.

We sold a lot of our in-stock inventory on the weekend but thanks to good planning by our sales department, new stock is arriving almost daily. In fact, as I’m writing this the boys are un-hooking two new arrivals in the yard. So, if you missed the show or weren’t able to locate the floor plan you were seeking, it may be a good idea to drive by and check us out.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that accessory sales were booming during the weekend. Our association with RV Care is paying great dividends for our customers. Not only have we created a national service network, we are able to make some fantastic quantity buys and our customers are the winners. The price point on all the accessories we displayed at the show was less than we’ve seen in years! Savings of 50% weren’t uncommon! We are constantly searching for new ideas so come in and have a look when you’re close. We’re pretty proud of our offering and especially happy with the pricing.

2010 appears to be shaping up to be a good year in the RV business. A lot of our friends and customers view our show as the kick-off to spring, and judging from the response of this years show, spring has arrived. I hope your family is as excited about this year as we are at Pik-A-Dilly. Hope to see you all soon. 

Sales Department News - Dave Shepherd - Sales Manager

First off, a thank-you to all who attended our indoor Show and Sale Feb. 4th to 7th.  It was a great show.  The introduction of new products, some special purchases and a positive attitude from our sales staff and our customers made it one of the most successful shows in the last decade.

The show may be over but the savings are not.  The hottest products at the show were easily the 2 Summerland floor plans (2600TB & 2670BHGS) that we made a special purchase on.  We have them both on display in our showroom and there are still more available.

Keep you eye out for the introduction of another new product to the Pik-A-Dilly line up.  Coming soon – Avalanche by Keystone. Avalanche provides a stepping stone for those looking for more comfort but not ready to move all the way to the recently introduced Alpine.  With many of the luxury features found on high end coaches (Corion countertops, solid cherry cabinet doors, huge LCD TV’s, and 50 amp service), Avalanche allows you to live in the lap of luxury without paying the high end prices.  Watch for the Avalanche to arrive soon! 

Service Department News - Heather Arthurson - Service Manager

Just a brief update this month on the goings-on in the service shop. We are still hard at work trying to complete all of our insurance claims. We are also now bringing in all units sold at our show to prep them for delivery. The show was a success, so now the service department needs to prepare these units for customer delivery. Please make arrangements for your delivery appointment as early as possible, because the closer we get to spring the busier the service department is. We do not want any dissappointed customers because they waited too long to set up a delivery date. 

Parts Department News - Shannon Davis - Parts

Thanks to all of our wonderful customers our show was a success! It was so successful, in fact, that we have decided to extend our show prices for another few weeks.
 
Some examples:
All 9x12 and 6x15 Snowbird Mats are priced to sell!
 
Tote-n-Stor 15 gallon storage tanks - reg. $159.01  Only $127.20
 
Wheel chocks only $5.83 each
 
Olympian portable bbq's reg. $209.18 Show price $159.00
 
String lights reg. $177.95 Show price $134.67
 
And many, many more.
 
If you couldn't make it to the show, rest assured, we still have some great deals for you to take advantage of. Come on in and see us, or call for details at 728-2015. 

Campfire Recipe

A bit of a twist on the campfire recipe this month. I found a recipe for a cake shaped like a campfire, which will provide you an indoor fire to tide you over until the real campfires are lit again!!

Campfire Cake

Ingredients

• 2 pound cakes
• 2 1/2 cups chocolate frosting
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons white frosting
• 12 to 15 glazed chocolate doughnut holes
• Confectioners' sugar
• Red and orange decorators' gel
• Red, orange, and yellow fruit leather
• Scissors

Instructions

• With a knife, shave the square edges off the cakes to give them a log shape. Next, mix 1/4 cup of chocolate frosting into 1 cup of white to make a light tan. Place one log on a platter (a dab of frosting on the bottom will help hold it in place). Frost it with the chocolate and tan frostings as shown. To create bark and tree rings, scrape the tines of a fork across the chocolate frosting, then scratch a spiral into each tan end.
• Pour the doughnut holes into a bowl and sprinkle them with confectioners' sugar. Arrange 10 doughnut-hole embers in a single layer next to the frosted log, sticking them in place with frosting.
• For the branch stub, cut a 1-inch slice from one end of the second log and trim it into a 2-inch circle; set the piece aside. Frost the bottom of the log and set it in place as shown. Use frosting to stick the stub to the second log. Create bark and rings again.
• For flames, take a piece of fruit leather and, with the backing still in place, lightly wet half (lengthwise) of the fruit side with water. Fold it in half lengthwise and press to seal. Cut out flame shapes with scissors as shown, then remove the backing.
• Slice 2 doughnut holes in half. Put a dollop of the remaining white frosting onto the cut surface, then set a flame on top. Squeeze decorators' gel over the decorated doughnut holes, then set them on the platter. Use any remaining doughnut holes to fill in the gaps between the logs. Decorate them with more flames and gel, if desired.

March Calendar of Events

March 14 - Daylight Savings Time - Don't forget to adjust your clocks
March 17 - St. Patrick's Day
March 20 - First day of Spring
March 29 - April 3 - Royal Manitoba Winter Fair - Keystone Centre - Brandon, MB