Arrkann Trailer & RV Centre
Family business builds legacy through the generations
Ruben Friedenberg had a simple recipe for success when he started
ArrKann Trailer & RV Centre with his sons Rick and Ken in 1977. “Ruben developed our vision statement: ‘Growth through customer service and dedication’ – it still works, and we still use it,” says Rob Minarchi, Director of Sales and Finance.
If success can be measured by awards, it’s clear that his approach has been passed through the three generations of family members who still operate the company. This year, ArrKann Trailer & RV Centre received its fourth consecutive Gold award for RV Dealer in the Readers’ Choice Awards and Minarchi adds that they are the only Canadian RV dealership to be named to RV Business Magazine Top 50 North American dealerships for the past eight award years.
Just as telling is that they not only have repeat customers – they have repeat generations. “We have customers tell us that their grandparents bought their first trailer from us – how many grandchildren remember where their grandparents bought their first car?” says Minarchi. “Camping enthusiasts start with a tent trailer, and as their lifestyle and family changes, they move to a travel trailer, maybe a larger trailer, or a fifth wheel, and possibly a motorhome – and now we serve their children and grandchildren who recognize that we’ve been with them all along the way.”
For better customer service, ArrKann Trailer & RV Centre has also grown, establishing premier centres at its five locations. “Our service personnel take courses all over North America to keep us up to date on the best practices,” he says.
At the same time, their sales department ensures they have the latest products. “Everything is at a touch of a button, these days – awnings, jacks, automatic levelling,” says Minarchi. “And since our customers have requested them, we are now bringing in motorhomes, which have backup and side view cameras that make them much easier to operate.”
ArrKann Trailer & RV Centre continues another aspect of the family tradition with its community involvement program. “We sponsored about 20 activities last year, including loaning out our community events trailer,” he says, “and we also have a major project where we give employees time off work to volunteer as a group. This year, about 20 (including spouses) helped clean up the Bissell Centre’s Moonlight Bay Ranch to ready it for the season.”
So, when Ruben Friedenberg developed his recipe for success, he also developed a recipe for a legacy.