Van Cover Demand
No matter what material they are made of, van covers are a wear-out item, which creates a steady demand for aftermarket replacement covers. Fortunately, you don't need a canvas shop in the back room to tap this lucrative market. A variety of manufacturers offer packaged covers designed to fit trailer RVs to 30 feet or more in length. "The retailer needs to educate the consumer as to what cover he really needs," says Don Zirkelbach, executive vice president of Aldon Industries in Bradenton, Fla. "Customers generally don't understand what's available out there. A retailer needs to have samples of fabrics and maybe even little models to demonstrate the final product."