{"id":37600,"date":"2024-08-19T14:50:58","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T18:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/?p=37600"},"modified":"2024-08-19T14:50:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T18:50:58","slug":"senior-citizens-are-the-largest-demographic-buying-well-equipped-recreational-vehicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2024\/08\/senior-citizens-are-the-largest-demographic-buying-well-equipped-recreational-vehicles\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior Citizens Are The Largest Demographic Buying Well Equipped Recreational Vehicles"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Recreational vehicles fitting a variety of lifestyles and budgets are available at Alpin Haus\u2019s four locations, a family business currently operated by Andy Heck.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Christine Graf<\/p>\n

More and more Americans are taking to the roads in RVs, with upwards of 45 million people vacationing in RVs this summer. More than 11 million households own recreational vehicles, and approximately 1 million Americans live in their vehicles full time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to industry statistics, RV sales are strongest among the 55-64 age group, this demographic representing 20 percent of all sales. Millennials (ages 18-34) come in second, accounting for 15 percent of purchases. Tied for third at 13 percent are the 65-plus age group and the 35-44 age bracket.<\/p>\n

\u201cAge 50-plus is the sweetest spot for us for sure,\u201d said Andy Heck, president of Alpin Haus. \u201cBut 35 to 50 is also doing well. Things do tail off at 65-plus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Established by Heck\u2019s father, Bud Heck, and his friend John Daly, Alpin Haus opened its first store in Amsterdam in 1964. Today, the family-owned business has 275 employees spread across six locations. Stores offering RVs are located in Amsterdam, Saratoga, Orange County, and Oak Ridge, New Jersey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe started as a ski shop and then got into selling RVS. Then, we added swimming pools and in the late 90s, we started adding locations,\u201d said Heck.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span>Alpin Haus entered the RV business in 1967, initially selling pop-up trailers. As the industry evolved, they expanded their offerings, adding luxury vehicles to their large inventory.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe RV lifestyle has changed over the years, and we\u2019ve been part of that growth,\u201d said Heck, noting that \u201croughing it\u201d is a thing of the past. \u201cWhether it\u2019s an entry-level travel trailer or a large motor home, they are all so nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

In recent years, RVs have become more technologically advanced. Many are now equipped with LED and smart climate control technology, solar panels, and integrated entertainment systems. Manufacturers also offer a wide range of interior design choices, ones that feature innovative space-saving solutions and slide outs.<\/p>\n

\u201cSlide outs give you a lot more living space, and they became big during the 2000s,\u201d said Heck. \u201cNow, it\u2019s tough to find RVs without slide outs.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to bathrooms, he said the sky\u2019s the limit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome of these RVs have nicer bathrooms than people have in their house. They are pretty impressive,\u201d Heck said.<\/p>\n

At Alpin Haus, RV prices start at $14,900, topping off at around $500,000. The company\u2019s biggest sellers are travel trailers in the $25,000-35,000 price range. Entry-level motor homes are also popular, the vehicles priced at $79,000 and up. Financing is available for all models, and RVs can be rented at the company\u2019s Amsterdam location.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alpin Haus offers a large variety of makes and models, the majority of which are manufactured by Thor, Winnebago, and Forest River, the three major players in the RV industry. Heck estimates that those three manufacturers make up 90 percent of the industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During COVID, he said his company sold every RV they had on the lot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole industry saw a huge uptick, and everything we had sold. The factories were shut down for a period of time, so we were struggling with supply. It was slim pickings, and it took a couple of years to get back to normalcy in terms of supply,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

At the same time that supply chain issues were resolved, sales began to drop, in part because of inflation and rising interest rates. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThings are tougher right now,\u201d said Heck. \u201cThe RV industry has been in a recession for the past two years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although sales of new RVs are lackluster, Heck reports that the used RV market is extremely strong, demand far exceeding supply.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not enough used inventory, and everything we get we sell,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Heck remains bullish on the industry, expecting sales to return to normal in 2025, bolstered by government-funded infrastructure upgrades, ones intended to improve access to national parks, forests, and public lands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re also seeing a lot of multi-generational camping, and because of Instagram and Facebook, more and more people are wanting to visit National Parks,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople want to get outside and explore.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Christine Graf More and more Americans are taking to the roads in RVs, with upwards of 45 million people vacationing in RVs this summer. More than 11 million households own recreational vehicles, and approximately 1 million Americans live in their vehicles full time.\u00a0 According to industry statistics, RV sales are strongest among the 55-64 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":37601,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-senior-living-retirement"],"yoast_head":"\r\nSenior Citizens Are The Largest Demographic Buying Well Equipped Recreational Vehicles - Glens Falls Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2024\/08\/senior-citizens-are-the-largest-demographic-buying-well-equipped-recreational-vehicles\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Senior Citizens Are The Largest Demographic Buying Well Equipped Recreational Vehicles - Glens Falls Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Christine Graf More and more Americans are taking to the roads in RVs, with upwards of 45 million people vacationing in RVs this summer. 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