Gary & Lori Flagg:
Opposites Attract at FlagShip RV

FlagShip RV's owners, Gary and Lori Flagg have been together for 12 years, and admit that in their marriage and their dealership, opposites really do attract.

"She's the interior, and I'm the exterior. She's behind the scenes, and I'm out front," Gary explains, and Lori quickly jumps in, "We've always worked well together because I'm laid back and Gary's the live-wire."

A New York state native, 59-year-old Gary spent the 1960s and '70s traveling the country as a piano player, and he jokingly refers to that time as 'B.L.' or 'Before Lori'. A gig in Ocala eventually led him to relocate and change careers, and in 1997 he started FlagShip RV in Region 7. He hired Lori in sales and the rest, as they say, is history.

"I go, go, go and she puts the brakes on," Gary explains. FlagShip RV has more than 60 employees with dealerships in Ocala and Clermont, and they carry and service new and used motorhomes, fifth wheels and travel trailers from all the top manufacturers. FlagShip's grown leaps and bounds; this year sales were up 36% from last year and they'll retail more than 750 units.

Gary still refers to himself as a former entertainer and likens the success of the dealership to a standing ovation. "We started eight years ago with very little, but through a lot of hard work, devotion and the man above, we went from basically zero and this year we'll end up with close to $32 million in sales, so that's like a standing ovation, when you did a good job and get the reward."

At 42, Lori’s been involved in the RV Industry most of her adult life and labels some changes in the industry lately as simply tremendous. Most notable: the belief that bigger really is better.

“It’s slide-outs galore!” Lori laughs, “Who’d have ever thought eight years ago that you’d have three to four slide outs on a class-A motorhome? What’s on the horizon next? That’s interesting to think,” she ponders,
“Just how much bigger can a unit get and how much more sophisticated can it get? Well the answer is a lot more.”

Gary and Lori openly label themselves as workaholics and say that’s
why it took them until this year to attend their very first FRVTA Convention, but it was well worth the wait.

“We had a marvelous time,” Lori gushes, as Gary jumps in with specifics
“The workshops and seminars were very informative and you need to attend; if you haven’t you don’t know what you’re missing.”

As for the best thing about being involved in the RV Industry, this
admittedly polar-opposite-pair points to their slogan, “FlagShip Means
Friendship,” as words to live by. “In this industry we’re able to meet
the nicest people,” Gary offers. “The key is realizing that maybe you can’t make everybody happy, but we can make everybody feel like a new friend.”

Lori adds, “One of the best things is to see them drive out of here with great big smiles on their faces ready to go travel the country. That’s the greatest feeling.”

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