b'BY BEN QUIGGLEAdirondack chairs are becoming more popular as suppliers like Great American Directnow offer them in a variety of colors. PVC furniture, as shown here from Lynkris, can be a cost-effective way to add seatingpoolside or at a campsite.Finding ways to add rental income, like incorporating CRS AquaBanas into a lakefront Campers want outdoor seating, like this picnic table from Jamestown Advanced Products,area, can help owners see a healthier bottom line.and a patio space that looks inviting. Photo credit: Mount Hood Village RV ResortCampground Owners Looking for Attractive, Durable FurnitureGlamping continues to transform the out- tween $50,000 to $100,000, said Donna Fout, durableplasticitems, ing at Mulliken, Mich.-based Polly Products,door hospitality industry, from the integration ownerofWilliamsburg,Va.-basedGreat and products like that. said that the longevity and ease-of-mainte-of new accommodation units such as yurts, AmericanDirect andthe Eventraditionallog nance of recycled products is a plus fortipis, and cabins to the addition of more ac- Williamsburg/Busch Gardens Area Kamp- furniture has seen some campground owners.tiverecreationamenities,likeinflatable grounds of America(KOA). Those guests are upgrades over the years. Moreownersarewater parks and jumping pillows. used to having a beautiful, quality patio set at For Pequot Lakes, Minn.- environmentallycon-But perhaps one of the more subtle areas their own homes, and when they come to a basedFiresideLodge sciousandrecycledwhere glamping has made an impact is in the park, they expect the same type of furniture. Steve Thomas FurnitureCompany, plastic furniture is de-area of campground furnishings. While camp- If you spend a little bit more, it can boost cedar log furniture is still signed to last decades,ground owners are seeking products that are your Net Promoter Score (NPS), she added. abestseller,buttheynowalsooffera she explained.durable and affordable, they are also looking Plus, your campers may stay a little longer WoodShop line, which allows for cus- Still, wood tables andfor furniture that is sleek and attractive. because they have a better comfort level. tomization of look, color and texture. benches are steady sell- Sandra AnsonThe right furnishings can accent a new At Pilot Rock, the campground furnish- We originally designed that line for brick- ers, according to Thomas, as campgroundcabin or yurt and elevate it from just another ingslineofCherokee,Iowa-basedRJ and-mortar stores, but then we did a second- owners keep an eye on the bottom line.unit at a park to one campers are willing to Thomas Mfg. Co., glamping has also driven ary design that is specifically aimed towards Steel frames and lumber are popular justpay a premium to stay in, according to the sales toward the higher-end products. thecampgroundsector,saidMichael becauseoftheeconomyofit,hesaid.furnituresuppliersthatWoodallsCamp- Our customers are looking for more col- Trosvig, the companys director of marketing. Wood is the least expensive material.ground Management(WCM) spoke with. ored products, explained Steve Thomas, Recycled plastic also is coming into its Here is a look at some of the key providersI tell our customers that most of the RVs owner of RJ Thomas. They are beginning to ownintheoutdoorhospitalityindustry.of campground furnishings that WCMspokethat are pulling in their parks are priced be- lookmoreatthermalcoatedfurniture, Sandra Anson, director of sales and market- with.Allen Ventures Inc. user-friendly, and we have noticed more brand-new customers popping up than in previousIn business since 1986, Deerfield, Wis.-based Allen years, he explained.Ventures Inc. sells picnic tables, benches, grills and a Schwalbach said his company focuses on providing high-quality items and also sells a lot ofhost of other items to campgrounds and RV parks. recycled lumber that campground owners use for various projects.Dave Schwalbach, owner of Allen Ventures, said (608) 423-9804 www.allenventures.comthe company was working on a few new products, but Chadwick Manufacturinghe couldnt elaborate quite yet.We are also working on making our website more AllenSmith,ownerofChadwick,Ill.-basedChadwick Manufacturing has seen quite a fewchanges in his more than 50 years working withcampground owners, but the one thing that neverchanges is the demand for picnic tables and grills.Theyre always looking for picnic tables andgrills. It doesnt change much from year to year, re-ally, he said.Picnic tables and grills are Chadwick Manufac-18 -April 2020Woodalls Campground Management'