Is it time for less Marcus

[ctpres]

His picture is just about everywhere in CW and related enterprises. If he is planning on a political run - OK I understand - but maybe it's time change. How about the employees? I am sure some have made significant achievements in donating their time and effort. Maybe saved a life or some other heroic action. Veterans. How about our input on outstanding employees. Considering the number of employees - there have got to be some really amazing stories.

[Quartermoon]

Small business owner weighing in .....

Publicly recognizing your people for a job well done is an excellent marketing tool and an awesome motivator. But Marcus is right - at the end of the day the buck stops with him.

I would enjoy learning/reading about employee accomplishments. It implies longevity and passion. One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how many employees (not necessarily at CW) aren't fans of their chosen industry. I encourage and help my employees to buy and use as much home theater gear as possible and they are passionately opinionated. I've been in RV dealerships where none of the salesmen were RVers themselves.

I watch and enjoy The Profit, although it does seem like businesses are chosen for the amount of drama they bring to the table. It would be refreshing to see just one business that was completely cooperative. However, I have over 10 episodes back logged on the DVR, so maybe there's one in there somewhere.

As to the original question - maybe less Marcus isn't necessary, but add in more personal, local interest.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

downtheroad wrote:
Good grief...who cares what Marcus does.
In no way what Marcus does affect what I do or think or the price of potatoes.

Could care less what Marcus does - or if CW decides to sell potatoes..:R

~

[Chiefcpo]

Wow guess lots of people never shop wally world or home d pot, or lowes!!! Trying to find help at any of them is lots harder that getting help or assistance at any CW. JUST MY OPINION, as a contractor, and RVer.

[Escargot]

dspencer wrote:

downtheroad wrote:
Good grief...who cares what Marcus does.
In no way what Marcus does affect what I do or think or the price of potatoes.

My understanding is that he has lots of energy and likes to stay busy. Good for him. He still puts his pants on one leg at a time.

X2 for sure!!

X5
Seriously, who cares?

Marcus is living his life the way he sees fit.
Maybe some of the rest of us should think about following suit; you know, as in "Live and Let Live".

[2012Coleman]

I hate reality TV, but if a bunch of goofball producers approached me about a "New Show" about some hobby of mine, I'd jump at it. The post from Marcus above makes it worthwhile to me to put up with the difficulties of a trip to CW. The people who manufactured my TT (THOR) would never go that distance. At least I have the CEO of CW at my back.

I just wish they would stop ending me invitations to join the Good Sam Club. :h

[ctpres]

mlemonis wrote:
I love the fact that everyone on this forum feels comfortable enough to say how they feel. See the greatest thing about this country is what's happening right here. People feeling comfortable to discuss what's on their mind. For those of you who do it, Amen. For those of you who watch and listen, that's fine also. We have 7000 employees. I'm just one of them but ultimately the one responsible to get it right. The reason you see my face is so you know who to blame or hold accountable for what you don't like. It may not be perfect but it helps. As far as TV, who cares. It's a show about saving small business not anything else. I believe in what I do and will continue to wake up and go to bed with nothing being more important than camping world and good Sam. I'm Hunan and will continue to work harder to learn and get better.

ML

OP here! My comments had nothing to do with TV show, which I usually watch and enjoy from a business standpoint - only CW. Keep up the good work. Chuck Turner

[mlemonis]

I love the fact that everyone on this forum feels comfortable enough to say how they feel. See the greatest thing about this country is what's happening right here. People feeling comfortable to discuss what's on their mind. For those of you who do it, Amen. For those of you who watch and listen, that's fine also. We have 7000 employees. I'm just one of them but ultimately the one responsible to get it right. The reason you see my face is so you know who to blame or hold accountable for what you don't like. It may not be perfect but it helps. As far as TV, who cares. It's a show about saving small business not anything else. I believe in what I do and will continue to wake up and go to bed with nothing being more important than camping world and good Sam. I'm Hunan and will continue to work harder to learn and get better.

ML

[FunnyCamper]

Dog Folks wrote:

crudeman wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
I hate those guys like Marcus that are driven to succeed and work 70+ hours a week, something the rest of us are unwilling to do.

You know this about the rest of us, really?

I agree with crudeman. I was taught many years ago in a Dale Carnegie class: "Successful people do what unsuccessful people refuse to do"

And my personal saying: "If you are so smart, what aren't you rich?"

To those that don't want to see so much of Marcus, the solution is simple............don't look. Those of you being forced to look at gunpoint are excused. 🙂

I agree with you.

also if ya want instant money and success, become a reality star on tv.

hard work and long hours and ambition is key to almost all success out there. ya want it or not. simple as that.

[2012Coleman]

Dakota98 wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:

Dakota98 wrote:
I think the OP was requesting positive remarks regarding CW employees, & not more comments about Marcus. I'm sure there are MANY GOOD employees. They just can't do the job they would like to, because of management policies / procedures.

I'm not sure how management policies / procedures could cause the service people at CW in St. Augustine to forget that my TT was in for service. As for reality TV - well, I won't comment.

If there is not a proper check-in procedure in place & the department head is not reviewing incoming & outgoing service work orders daily then YES, Who's in charge ? :h

It's pretty obvious that there ARE policies and proceedures in place. Your statement about people not being able to do their jobs because of management policies / procedures makes no sense at all. I can't imagine using that as an excuse of why I could not/did not do my job - I'd actually expect to be fired or demoted for using that.

What I see when walking into either of my two regional CW stores is a lack of motivation and total indeference to customers. We bought at CW and while shopping during a particular hot day in June, we were taken by golf cart into the far corner of a huge lot and left to look at units. We sought out a sliver of shade under the front of a 5th wheel for almost 20 minutes waiting for the guy to come back.

If you like working with your manager having his/her nose in everything you do, constantly checking your work, making sure you are following procedure, thats fine - for you. It is no way to run a business though.

Anyone - regardless of education level can be motivated to do a good job - I've never met anyone that didn't. I have been on the motivating end over a staff working in a large major manufacturer automotive distribution warehouse - I'm talking over 1 million SQ ft. You can write reams and reams of policies and procedures, but that's not going to stop anyone from crashing a wire guided lift truck into the racks. Motivating your employees to follow procedure is one quality of a good manager.

A person who was the CEO for a transportation company I used to work for had the following saying: A manager with little to do is a good manager. If you as a manager are constantly having to enforce policy, or have your thumb into every little thing your employees are responsible for, then you are not a good manager at all. Your employee in turn is the face of the company to your customer. Failure at that level is certainly not due to a lack of policy or proceedure.

[beemerphile1]

wa8yxm wrote:
Marcus is the founder and CEO of Camping World...

Half right.
CEO - yes
founder - no

[Dog_Folks]

crudeman wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
I hate those guys like Marcus that are driven to succeed and work 70+ hours a week, something the rest of us are unwilling to do.

You know this about the rest of us, really?

I agree with crudeman. I was taught many years ago in a Dale Carnegie class: "Successful people do what unsuccessful people refuse to do"

And my personal saying: "If you are so smart, what aren't you rich?"

To those that don't want to see so much of Marcus, the solution is simple............don't look. Those of you being forced to look at gunpoint are excused. 🙂

[FunnyCamper]

pasusan wrote:
If you really want to get a message across, please people - PROOFREAD - so it doesn't become nonsense. This thread seems worse than others and we've got Marcus checking it. Geesh!

And of course you don't know who you are, because you didn't proofread. :R


As far as the OP and too much Marcus... I don't have an opinion.

useless post. well, someone has to post one 😉

[FunnyCamper]

ctpres, oh I get this thread more now.

you are suggesting his marketing with his mug in the face of everyone is not enough. valuable advertising space NOW should be more about 'the whole' company picture vs. his alone. OK, I can see that.

also you are basically talking about the companies marketing strageties and how to motivate from within to get employees to do a more stellar job in CW. OK...I get ya.

YOU are throwing out your suggestions on how he should ramp up his biz.
ok...got ya.

makes more sense to me now cause I just didn't feel where you were going with this.

seriously tho, write the company. throwing it out here is just going to get a ton of posts that will go off topic etc. CWs business practices would be best addressed directly to them.

[ctpres]

OP, what are you asking? that CW have more employee stories/charity help etc. out in the public for people to read? and if so WHY? this just doesn't make sense to me 🙂
finish what job?
OP Here. For me this started out and was all about Marcus continuing to use his picture in valuable advertising space. In the beginning there was a very large segment of RV consumers with bad feelings/attitude about doing business at CW. They needed a reason to try CW again and Marcus was showing everyone that he was there to fix things. Is it all fixed? probably not - from my own recent experiance I would say he has made great progress. Is there still a lot of CW bashing going on, even in this forum - sure there is. So I would say the turn-around job is not finished. One executive can only do so much - a couple thousand employees can do a lot and with a little motivation could do a little extra every day. I don't want this to get into a "how to motivate employees discussion" I just think the CW ad space with Marcus's picture might now be used to present the outstanding employees of CW. I got what I wanted and that is for Marcus to think about it and it seems he is. Just a suggestion from a "returning" customer.