Why OEMs Must Play a Bigger Role in Dealer Inventory Support
In today’s market, RV, boat, and powersports dealers are facing tighter margins, rising floorplan interest rates, and slower seasonal demand. As a manufacturer, offering dealer inventory support is no longer optional — it’s a competitive advantage.
Your dealer network is your front line. If they can’t move inventory, neither can you. And while most OEMs already offer retail incentives or co-op marketing, what many are missing is a strategic wholesale tool that helps dealers turn aged inventory before it becomes a loss.
Turn Rates Are Slowing — and OEMs Feel It Too
According to RV Business, turn rates across North America slowed in Q4 2023, with dealers holding more aging stock than usual. This affects reorders, production planning, and cash flow — all of which trickle back to the manufacturer, making dealer inventory support crucial.
By offering solutions like Wholesale Whale, OEMs give their dealers the ability to:
- Offload aged or mismatched units to other dealers
- Receive blind offers without public price exposure
- Free up floor space and capital for newer inventory
This keeps your network healthy, engaged, and ready to reorder — even when retail conditions soften.
Real Dealer Support Goes Beyond Retail Incentives
Helping your dealers doesn’t just mean sending rebates. It means helping them operate more like lean, modern businesses. Platforms like Wholesale Whale offer:
- Automated listing triggers to catch aging inventory early
- QuickFlip functionality to move trade-ins in under 60 minutes
- Private dealer-to-dealer transactions that preserve brand value
With blind bidding, your dealers maintain control while receiving real market feedback. No auction delays. No backdoor deals. Crucially, effective dealer inventory support is about empowering your partners.
The OEM Advantage: Healthy Dealers = Stronger Sales
When dealers feel supported, they’re more confident in ordering — and more loyal to the brand. As AutoSuccess reports, OEMs that invest in dealer tools and technology consistently see stronger reorder cycles and fewer channel disruptions.
Don’t just build inventory — help your dealers move it.
Learn how Wholesale Whale can help you support your dealer network with faster inventory movement and a smarter wholesale strategy, enhancing your dealer inventory support.