A new Quad Cities RV dealership – albeit with very seasoned industry pros – recently opened at the Scott County West Business Park in Blue Grass. With more than 330 years of combined staff experience in the recreational vehicle industry, really, how new can Premier RV, LLC be? Brad Thompson, the company’s president and owner, […]
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A new Quad Cities RV dealership – albeit with very seasoned industry pros – recently opened at the Scott County West Business Park in Blue Grass.
With more than 330 years of combined staff experience in the recreational vehicle industry, really, how new can Premier RV, LLC be?
Brad Thompson, the company’s president and owner, said he’s been working in the RV business since he was a 14-year-old in 1988, and now the new Premier RV celebrates its grand opening this month. His grandfather, uncle and father launched the family’s first RV dealership in 1960 in the Quad Cities, which was named Thompson & Sons Family RV.
“I’m really humbled by the fact that most of our new key employees and management are people that worked with us in the past,” said Mr. Thompson, who is third generation in the RV business.
He says that team of about 30 people brings more than 330 years of RV experience to the new company. Premier RV’s new employees have industry expertise in sales, service, parts, body shop, administration, finance and customer service.
Mr. Thompson stepped out of the RV business about five years ago, but said he missed being part of such a fun industry. The family’s former Thompson Family RV, which operated for 57 years, was sold in 2017 to Camping World.
Premier RV is at 746 Industrial Drive in the Scott County West Business Park. Opened in November in temporary quarters in Blue Grass, construction on its new location began in December with the team moving into parts of the new building in February.
The new dealership celebrated its grand opening last week and is planning a May 5-7 open house.
Industry experience and long-term relationships with manufacturers is why Mr. Thompson believes his new company can offer what customers want and deserve.
“We make things simple for our customers and can take care of all aspects of things for them,” he said, adding “…we have a very transparent process.”
Premier RV secured a wide variety of inventory and multiple units from manufacturers such as THOR Industries. Customers are invited to shop the company’s 4.5-acre sales lot where they keep every RV unlocked and open for viewing.
The dealership stocks units from leading brands including: KZ, Venture RV, Dutchman, Keystone, Jayco, and more.
Premier RV also subscribes to a national RV sales directory, which is expanding its reach beyond the Quad Cities region. With its healthy inventory levels and central U.S. location, Mr. Thompson says they have already done deals with customers from as far away as California, Minnesota, Oregon and Wisconsin.
He chose the Blue Grass-owned business park because of the location, interstate highway access, and the potential for growth. Located five miles west of Davenport and Interstate 280, he says Premier RV is in a great location to serve its Quad Cities and nationwide customers.
Premier RV owns 13 acres in the industrial park, nine of which are currently developed. It’s new 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building will be complete by the middle of April. It will feature 14 service bays staffed with RV Industry Association-certified technicians as well as a body shop with a 53-foot Crossdraft paint booth; a 4,800-square-foot stocked parts department; an indoor showroom; sales department; and administrative offices.
“The location in Blue Grass was a good fit for us,” he said. “The tax incentives…, the sewer and utilities already in place, and the room to grow were all a big plus. Hopefully, this inspires more business around us, too.”
Mr. Thompson hopes to build Premier RV into something that makes both his employees and customers proud. His dad always told him: “Anyone can sell a camper, it’s up to service to keep a customer.”
Brad Thompson’s Premier RV plans to do business “the old-fashioned way” … like his father and grandfather did – give customers what they want and what they deserve.
For more information, visit premierrv.com.
