From humble beginnings to RV industry expert
Colin Blondin has followed in his father’s footsteps, immersing himself in the world of RVs
Colin Blondin's passion for RVs was ignited at a young age, thanks to the influence of his father—a fantastic role model and a 37-year veteran in the RV industry. Colin began by taking on a variety of roles at the dealership—washing and cleaning RVs at only 14 years old. By the time he was 19 years old, he had embarked on his own career in RV sales at Fraserway RV.
“Being 19 years old and working with a lot of 60-year-old-plus veterans was an unusual thing in this space,” he explained.
Now he has the distinction of being one of the Top 10 in North America for PleasureWay van sales.
A look back: This is Colin's very first sales photo! - Photo courtesy Colin Blondin
An evolving market
Over the years, Colin has witnessed a number of significant changes in the industry, such as a growing preference for compact models, and a more diverse demographic.
“The evolution of the RV industry in recent years has been marked by an influx of new enthusiasts,” he said. “It’s a trend that gives me a sense of excitement. Concurrently, a growing preference for compact RV models reflects a shift in consumers' interest towards fuel efficiency, particularly as owners opt for smaller tow vehicles such as SUVs. Also the looming integration of electric vehicles into the RV landscape makes me wonder what the future holds, for sure. I am very curious to see the effect that will have in the next 5 to 10 years. I do get asked about electric RVs a lot as I am heavily involved in the van segment at our dealership, with PleasureWay and Leisure Travel Vans being two amazing Canadian products that I am so grateful we get to carry.”
- Photo courtesy Colin Blondin
Embracing the community
Beyond sales, Colin finds fulfillment in community engagement, particularly through Fraserway's partnerships with organizations like the Make a Wish Foundation and local food banks. Reflecting on his father's wisdom, Colin emphasizes the importance of customer care—a principle ingrained in him from the start of his career.
“One thing that I will always remember my father saying," he said, “was ‘take care of the customers and they will take care of you.’ The RV industry is a small community and it’s built off of referrals shared around campfires all over the place. I have customers that started with me 15 years ago buying a tent trailer, have owned everything in between and now they’re actively working with me for a motorhome. It’s a pretty cool feeling to have customers for life.”
- Photo courtesy Colin Blondin
Restoring a classic
Outside of work, Colin's passion for RVing extends to his personal projects, including the restoration of his 1969 Boler.
“My Boler is a 1969 (second year of production),” he said. “It’s a flat top which is pretty unique—1968 and 1969 are the years where the roofs were flat. When they started to produce them in 1970, they started adding a fin to the roof to increase interior height. I filled fibreglass holes, repaired a collapsing roof, replaced the floors, replaced the countertops, and put in a water system. I think the most challenging thing was the fibreglass repair and repairing the collapsing roof. What I learned from that process is that if you put your mind to it, anything is attainable. You realize how simple it is to fix RVs on your own. I have no background in repair, just DIY with YouTube and the internet as my instructions.”
Encouraging others to explore the RV lifestyle, Colin invites curious adventurers to take the plunge.
“I think if you are curious about RVing, try it out,” he said. “There are plenty of rental companies out there to help you get your feet wet, including us at Fraserway. If you fall in love with the RV lifestyle like I have… come see me I’ll be around to help for the next 20 or so years at least. Haha.”
Check out Colin Blondin on Instagram to learn more about his love of travel vans and other RVs.
