RVWA Newsletter_Aug 2026

The IDS RV Industry Trends Report is a comprehensive overview of what dealers will be focusing on in 2022. This report compiles insights from surveys, RV industry experts, and hundreds of RV dealers across North America to highlight what dealers can expect in the year ahead.

AUG 2026

THE Hive

In partnership with

Track Day Recap 2026 Volunteers helped raise over $250 for the RVWA Charitable Foundation and stuffed 350+ backpacks with winter gear and back-to-school supplies for kids of all ages.

2026

Mentorship Program

According to Forbes, mentorship dramatically improves career advancement for women in business: mentored women are promoted 5x more often, and 71% say their mentor heavily influenced their career growth. However, a major gap remains, as 63% of businesswomen have never had a formal mentor.

RVWA pairs members with industry experts to guide them in achieving career & personal growth. MENTORS and MENTEES are needed!

"To elevate, educate, and promote"

Learn more & Apply

RV WOMAN’S ALLIANCE 2026 INDUSTRY SURVEY RVWA's 2026 Industry Survey was conducted by independent research firm Cairn Consulting Group across 388 RV industry professionals, and offers the clearest picture yet of where women stand in our workforce.

Numbers worth knowing

49% PARTICIPATION DIRECTION

of industry professionals say the RV industry is heading the right direction on women's participation

from 29% in 2021

47% WORKFORCE

POTENTIAL WORKFORCE 76% of companies face challenges finding interested women from 67% in 2023

more women than 2 years ago

from 24% in 2021

54% RECRUITMENT

71% 42% ACTIVE RECRUITMENT

in manufacturing specifically

of companies are actively recruiting women

from 66% in 2021

nearly 30 points in 5 years

3% PRIORITY DROP

of companies now evaluate workforce gender composition from 14% in 2023

56% CROSS-SECTOR GAP

of respondents say their company has fewer women compared to other industries

nearly double from 2023

43% WAGE GAP

of respondents believe the wage gap between men and women is greater than 10%

THE HIGHEST IN THE SURVEY’S HISTORY

The software behind the dealership

ABOUT IDS

Build for the way RV Dealers actually work. IDS (Integrated Dealer Systems), builds the dealership management platform purpose-built for the RV industry. From the service drive to the F&I office, the IDS-Astra platform gives dealers the tools to work smarter, serve customers faster, and make decisions backed by real data.

Tools to Run a Sharper Dealership

BLOG

CASE STUDY

REPORT

WEBINAR

We ran an experiment across four AI tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity.

See how Village RV transformed customer service by moving sales management online. Eliminating Payment Errors Completely at Chisolm Trail RV

Key operational benchmarks for your dealership, delivered every month.

Most RV dealerships treat parts as a support function, not a profit driver. However, is it true? The Parts Department Is More Profitable Than You Think

Can Your DMS Influence Your AI Search Results?

RV Dealership Industry Insights

Download this month report →

Watch On-Demand →

Read the blog →

Explore how →

Women are coming together to learn, build, and lead in order to transform a traditional travel trailer into a one-of-a-kind vision vehicle showcasing innovative products from 25 different companies across the RV industry. The finished RV will be unveiled at the Elkhart Open House Expo in September and raffled off to one lucky winner next March! THE VISION VEHICLE CHASSIS TO CLASSY

Flex your acting skills in skit videos that showcase vendors’ products. Find Beatrice the Bee on the RVWA app for a chance to win an Educational Symposium golden ticket .

Learn More →

** Volunteers needed every Wednesday, 4–8 pm, to bring the vehicle to life, to help with the build.

Upcoming events

Educational Symposium

OCTOBER 14 - 15, 2026

✅ General Tickets · $319 (from Aug 1 - Sep 25)

“Empowerment Through Vulnerability” theme focusing on turning vulnerable moments into a source of growth and strength for the future Networking throughout 2 days Sponsored in part by Thor Industries

📅 Book your hotel at Chicago Marriott Schaumburg by September 25, for $159/night

Nominate → Award nominations open through August 31st.

Keynote: Dr. Amber Selking

Educational Workshops: Courtney Clark and Kim Becking

Open House Breakfast

SEPTEMBER 29, 2026

📅 7:00-8:30 am at Lippert HQ next to RV Hall of Fame ✅ Registration opens NOW ✅ FREE to attend for RVWA members.

Register Now →

* Breakfast & industry networking before Open House Expo * Unveiling finished Chassis to Classy Vision Vehicle

Enter to WIN THE VEHICLE →

Dr. Rachel Lindvall

Bill Coughlin

Upcoming events

Safe Haven Shelter Volunteering

SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

📅 Shifts: 9 AM - 1 PM or 12 PM - 4 PM ✅ Include: 12pm lunch & volunteer T-shirts Volunteers needed to help paint at Safe Haven shelter in Elkhart, IN Sign Up →

AirXcel · Alliance RV ★ · Amerimax · BAL · Brawn/UFP Factory Built · Camping World ★ · Cabin Coffee Co. · Campers Inn RV ★ · Carefree of Colorado · Coleman-Mach · Century Chemical ★ · Community Foundation of Elkhart County ★ · Cummins ★ · Dometic · Duo-Form Plastics · Elizabeth Hall · Equalizer Hitch · Forest River, Inc. ★ · Genesis Products ★ · Global Link/CPG Brands ★ · GE appliances · Henkel ★ · IDS (Issue Partner) · ITC · Indiana Trust Wealth Management · Jayco ★ · Kenda Tire · LaVanture Products · Lippert Components ★ · Monteith Tire · Nexus RV ★ · NTP-Stag ★ · Pletcher Sales · Ramco Engineering · Ranger Distribution · Renogy · RV Business ★ · RV Pro ★ · Rock Run Industries · RV Industry Association ★ · RV TV ★ · Sharpline Converting · Sigma Switches · Swavelle Group · Silwy · Suburban · THOR Industries ★ · Terran Industries · Truma · US Bank · Valto Engineered Materials · Valterra · Veurinks RV · Waste Connections · Winnebago Industries ★ · Xtreme Heaters Thank you to our 2026 sponsors

ANNUAL CORPORATE PARTNERS are committed to RVWA's vision, mission, and strategic work

2026 Calendar Support RVWA

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Venmo

How to get involved 01 Spread the word

02 Host an event

RVWA membership is free to everyone working within the RV industry. Tell a colleague, a friend, a daughter, a peer in the next bay over.

Bring an RVWA gathering to your city. We'll help you scope it, staff it, and fill the room.

03 Sponsor a Bill

04 Donate to the Foundation

Stewart Scholar Invest directly in the next generation of women entering the RV industry through training and certification.

Make a tax-deductible donation to support education and training for women in the RV industry.

Donate →

Be A Sponsor →

To elevate educate, and promote. The RV Women's Alliance — building the next generation of leadership in the RV industry, one cell of the hive at a time.

FIND US rvwa.org

VI S IT 1712 Lincolnway W, PO Box 227, Osceola, IN 46561

info@rvwa.org (574) 250-6886

Download our app

© 2026 RV Women's Alliance. All rights reserved.

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