Lazydays (RV dealer)

Lazydays
Industry [Recreational Vehicles]
Founded 1976
Founder Herman Wallace
Headquarters Tampa, Florida, United States
Area served
 Tampa, Florida;Tucson, Arizona; Loveland, Colorado; Denver, Colorado; Longmont, Colorado [1]
Key people
 Herman Wallace (founder)
Ron Wallace (founder)
Don Wallace (founder and owner, 1993-2004)
Tim Sheehan (former CEO, 2012-2016)
William P. "Bill" Murnane (Current Chairman & CEO)
Products Recreational vehicles
Website Lazydays RV

Lazydays was founded in 1976, and is the world’s largest RV dealership. Based on 126 acres outside Tampa, FL, Lazydays also has dealerships located in Tucson, AZ as well as three dealerships located in Denver, Loveland and Longmont, CO.[2][3] With more than 2,500 new and pre-owned RVs, Lazydays has the largest selection of RV brands in the nation, as well as 300 service bays and two on-site campgrounds with over 700 RV campsites. Lazydays RV Accessories & More offers more than 40,000 accessories online, and the Florida and Colorado locations feature RV rental fleets.[4][5] The Loveland/Johnstown dealership is also home to the world’s largest indoor RV showroom.[6]

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 and has received awards from Tiffin Motorhomes, Featherlite, Fleetwood, American Coach and Winnebago. Both the Tampa and Tucson locations were featured on the reality TV show Big Time RV, which is currently in its third season on Travel Channel.[7]

Lazydays RV is the exclusive RV sponsor of the Florida Gators, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Denver Broncos.


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.[8] 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 which claims to have the largest single site RV center in the country.[9][10] The current Chairman & CEO is William P. "Bill" Murnane. [11]

Lazydays established a second location in 2011 in Tucson, Arizona, when it purchased a dealership owned by Beaudry RV.[12] Lazydays acquired three dealerships in Colorado from RV America and Discount RV Corner, which are located in Denver, Longmont and Loveland. With the acquisition of the dealership in Loveland, Lazydays RV is now home to the world’s largest indoor showroom. [13]

Philanthropy

The Lazydays Employee Foundation was formed in 2005. It is a non-profit organization established using voluntary payroll deductions from Lazydays employees, and the proceeds are used to help underprivileged children. It also features a group called "The Dream Team" who volunteer to perform community services, such as building playgrounds.[8]

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.[14] The foundation has hosted an annual golfing tournament to raise funds towards homeless youths aged 18 to 24 in Hillsborough County for six years as of April 30, 2016. 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.[15][16][17] In 2016, the 6th Annual Golf raised the largest amount to date, thanks to over 90 sponsors.

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.[18]

The Lazydays Employee Foundation has been recognized at the Be More Awards in 2012, receiving “The Judges Choice Award” and “Brilliant Innovation Award.”[19]

Television

Lazydays' Tampa and Tucson dealerships are featured on the TV show "Big Time RV" which airs on Travel Channel and Great American Country. The series follows on RV shoppers as they make their purchase decision, allowing viewers to see inside a variety of luxury RV models.[20] The third season premiered in September 2016. [21]

Accolades

According to Business Wire, "one of every ten new diesel motor homes" in the United States is sold by Lazydays.[22] In 2008, it received a top five blue ribbon award from RV Dealers Magazine.[23] 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.[10] It was 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.[24] For 2013, Lazydays was the #1 Dealer for the Fleetwood RV Bounder, Storm and Tioga models. In 2016, Lazydays RV Resort was awarded a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor, a "Top 50 Dealer Award" from RV Business and the “New Dealer of the Year" award from Featherlite. [25][26]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.rvnews.com/article.php?id=829
  2. ↑ http://www.rvnews.com/article.php?id=829
  3. ↑ http://www.cbs8.com/story/33007443/football-season-is-here-its-prime-time-for-rv-tailgating
  4. ↑ http://www.cbs8.com/story/33007443/football-season-is-here-its-prime-time-for-rv-tailgating
  5. ↑ https://rv-pro.com/news/lazydays-opens-rv-accessories-store
  6. ↑ http://www.rvnews.com/article.php?id=829
  7. ↑ https://www.bbb.org/west-florida/business-reviews/rv-dealers/lazydays-in-seffner-fl-6078071
  8. 1 2 "About Lazydays". Lazydays. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  9. ↑ Meinhardt, Jane (2013-08-19). "Judge sets $24.6 million price tag on Lazydays RV property". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  10. 1 2 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.
  11. ↑ http://www.rvbusiness.com/2016/10/lazydays-sheehan-resigns-as-president-ceo/
  12. ↑ "Lazydays expands to Tucson". Tampa Bay Business Journal. 2011-04-21. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  13. ↑ http://www.rvnews.com/article.php?id=829
  14. ↑ "Hillsborough Kids, Lazydays team up to help homeless teens". Tampa Bay Times. 2010-10-14. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  15. ↑ "Lazydays Foundation Tournament Helps Local Homeless Youth". RV Pro. 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  16. ↑ "Lazydays Golf Tourney Earns $101K for Charity". RV Business. 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  17. ↑ Gerber, Greg (2014-05-19). "Lazydays Foundation raised $107,000 in golf tourney". RV D@ily Report. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  18. ↑ Greber, Greg (2009-11-05). "Lazydays Foundation sponsors boy’s journey to help homeless kids". RV D@ily Report. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  19. ↑ "The Lazydays Employee Foundation Honored With Three WEDU Be More Awards". PRNewswire. 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
  20. ↑ Thusten, Susan (2014-05-23). "Lazydays to star in new Travel Channel show about buying an RV". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  21. ↑ http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/big-time-rv/656843/
  22. ↑ "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.
  23. ↑ "Top 50 RV Dealers Named by RV Business Magazine". Truck Trend. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  24. ↑ "Winnebago recognizes top motorized dealers". RV Daily Reports. 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  25. ↑ https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34627-d2283009-Reviews-Lazydays_RV_Resort-Seffner_Florida.html
  26. ↑ https://rv-pro.com/news/featherlite-honors-lazydays-new-dealer-year
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