Southern Recreational Vehicle Company In October 2015, the top management of Southern Recreational
Vehicle Company of St. Louis, Missouri, announced its plans
to relocate its manufacturing and assembly operations to a new
plant in Ridgecrest, Mississippi. The firm, a major producer of
pickup campers and camper trailers, had experienced 5 consecutive
years of declining profits as a result of spiraling production
costs. The costs of labor and raw materials had increased alarmingly,
utility costs had gone up sharply, and taxes and transportation
expenses had steadily climbed upward. Despite increased
sales, the company suffered its first net loss since operations were
begun in 1982.
When management initially considered relocation, it closely
scrutinized several geographic areas. Of primary importance to
the relocation decision were the availability of adequate transportation
facilities, state and municipal tax structures, an adequate
labor supply, positive community attitudes, reasonable site costs,
and financial inducements. Although several communities offered
essentially the same incentives, the management of Southern
Recreational Vehicle Company was favorably impressed by the
efforts of the Mississippi Power and Light Company to attract
“clean, labor-intensive” industry and the enthusiasm exhibited by
state and local officials, who actively sought to bolster the state’s
economy by enticing manufacturing firms to locate within its
boundaries.
Two weeks prior to the announcement, management of
Southern Recreational Vehicle Company finalized its relocation
plans. An existing building in Ridgecrest’s industrial park was
selected (the physical facility had previously housed a mobile
home manufacturer that had gone bankrupt due to inadequate
financing and poor management); initial recruiting was begun
through the state employment office; and efforts to lease or sell
the St. Louis property were initiated. Among the inducements
offered Southern Recreational Vehicle Company to locate in
Ridgecrest were:
1. Exemption from county and municipal taxes for 5 years
2. Free water and sewage services
3. Construction of a second loading dock—free of cost—at the
industrial site
4. An agreement to issue $500,000 in industrial bonds for future
expansion
5. Public-financed training of workers in a local industrial trade
school
In addition to these inducements, other factors weighed heavily
in the decision to locate in the small Mississippi town. Labor
costs would be significantly less than those incurred in St. Louis;
organized labor was not expected to be as powerful (Mississippi
is a right-to-work state); and utility costs and taxes would be
moderate. All in all, the management of Southern Recreational
Vehicle Company felt that its decision was sound.
On October 15, the following announcement was attached to
each employee’s paycheck:
To: Employees of Southern Recreational Vehicle Company
From: Gerald O’Brian, President
The Management of Southern Recreational Vehicle Company
regretfully announces its plans to cease all manufacturing operations
in St. Louis on December 31. Because of increased operating
costs and the unreasonable demands forced upon the company by
the union, it has become impossible to operate profitably. I sincerely
appreciate the fine service that each of you has rendered
to the company during the past years. If I can be of assistance in
helping you find suitable employment with another firm, please let
me know. Thank you again for your cooperation and past service.
Discussion Questions
1. Evaluate the inducements offered Southern Recreational Vehicle
Company by community leaders in Ridgecrest, Mississippi.
2. What problems would a company experience in relocating its
executives from a heavily populated industrialized area to a
small rural town?
3. Evaluate the reasons cited by O’Brian for relocation. Are they
justifiable?
4. What legal and ethical responsibilities does a firm have to its
employees when a decision to cease operations is made?