This year, the first-ever Sherman Goldenberg Award for Digital Excellence in Marketing will be presented by RV Trader at the Top 50 Dealer Award Ceremony during the 2024 RVDA Convention, on November 13th at 5:30 PM. We are thrilled to announce that Walnut Ridge Family RV Sales of New Castle, Ind., has been selected.
Named after Sherman Goldenberg, a respected leader in the RV industry, this award recognizes outstanding digital marketing efforts that showcase innovative strategies and technical advancements. It is part of the RV Business Top 50 Dealer Awards, which saw a record number of nominations for 2024.
Dealerships were carefully evaluated by an independent panel of industry experts, according Erin Ruane, Chief Sales Officer of Trader Interactive. “The Top 50 Dealer Awards program is designed to highlight RV dealerships like Walnut Ridge Family RV Sales that demonstrate excellence in operations, customer service, and now – thanks to RV Trader – digital marketing.”
Recognizing Dealers at the Leading Edge of Digital Marketing
The Sherman Goldenberg Award for Digital Excellence in Marketing considers several criteria based on a dealership’s ability to leverage novel technologies to enhance all aspects of the sales and marketing process. The modern dealership has to meet its customers where they are most comfortable, whether that’s in person, through legacy media, or online – the ideal dealer presents customers with an engaging, seamless experience across all of these channels.
Walnut Ridge Family RV Sales was selected for its impressive use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve both internal processes and customer interactions. The dealership employs AI to monitor and manage all communications, ensuring inquiries, appointments, and leads are addressed quickly and efficiently. The system can detect what the customer is specifically asking for and even draft responses for sales staff, so that no potential customer is overlooked. The dealership team has fully embraced this AI platform for the quality-of-life boost it provides to operations and clients alike.
Rick Kessler and Scott Stropkai, co-owners of RVBusiness, praised Walnut Ridge Family RV Sales for its commitment to innovation: “This award is a testament to the dealership’s forward-thinking approach and their outstanding use of AI to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency.”
We also wanted to take a chance to honor the following RV Trader dealer customers who were recipients of this year’s Top 50 Dealer Award:
- Airstream Adventures
Portland, Ore. - Alpin Haus RV
Amsterdam, N.Y. - Bama RV
Dothan, Ala. - Beaver Coach Sales & Service
Bend, Ore. - Bent’s RV
Boutte, La. - Bowling RV
Ottumwa, Iowa - Byerly RV Center
Eureka, Mo. - Camperland of Oklahoma
Tulsa, Okla. - Campers Inn RV
Jacksonville, Fla. - Colonial Airstream & RV
Millstone Township, N.J. - Crestview RV
Buda, Texas - Curtis Trailers
Portland, Ore. - Fun Town RV
Fort Worth, Texas - General RV
Wixom, Mich. - Gib’s RV Superstore
Coos Bay, Ore. - Great American RV SuperStores
Hammond, La. - Hemlock Hill RV
Southington, Conn. - Hilltop Camper & RV
Fridley, Minn. - Moix RV Supercenter
Conway, Ark. - Parkview RV Center
Smyrna, Del. - PleasureLand RV Center
St. Cloud, Minn. - Premier RV
Blue Grass, Iowa - Princess Craft RV
Round Rock, Texas - RCD RV Supercenter
Pataskala, Ohio - Skaggs Family RV
Elizabethtown, Ky. - Southaven RV & Marine
Southaven, Miss. - Southern RV
McDonough, Ga. - Steinbring Motorcoach
Garfield, Minn. - United RV Center
Fort Worth, Texas - Unlimited RV
Independence, Mo. - Veurink’s RV Center
Grand Rapids, Mich. - Vogt RV World
Fort Worth, Texas - Walnut Ridge Family RV Sales
New Castle, Ind. - Windish RV
Lakewood, Colo. - Woodland Airstream
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Beaver Coach Sales & Service, Moix RV Supercenter, and Princess Craft RV were honored with the 2024 Blue Ribbon Dealership Award, which recognizes excellence in customer service, community engagement, innovation, and integrity. The prestigious Blue Ribbon is only presented to five dealerships across North America, and we are proud to be partnered with all three U.S. winners.
In addition to honoring overall excellence, two specialty awards recognize industry leaders in business creativity and charitable endeavors. The Gaylord Maxwell Innovation Award was given to Campers Inn RV, who were also the inaugural winners in 2014. Curtis Trailers received the Arthur J. Decio Humanitarian Award for their philanthropic efforts.
As a leading marketplace for RV buying and selling, RV Trader is dedicated to fostering excellence and helping dealerships succeed in a competitive digital environment. We’re honored to be sponsoring this year’s Top 50 Dealer Awards, express our congratulations to all of the winners and can’t wait to see everyone at the RVDA Convention!
