Oliver’s Campers has been part of the Norwich community since 1966, when Bob and Shirley Oliver launched the business as a side venture from their yard. They were recently named the 2026 Small Business of the Year By Commerce Chenango. This award specifically recognizes this local business for six decades of service, deep roots in the Chenango County community. (Photos by Sophia Root)

CHENANGO COUNTY - Commerce Chenango is proud to name Oliver’s Campers the 2026 Small Business of the Year.

This award specifically recognizes this local business for six decades of service, deep roots in the Chenango County community, and continued evolution across three generations of family leadership.

Oliver’s Campers has been part of the Norwich community since 1966, when Bob and Shirley Oliver launched the business as a side venture from their yard. Bob was a manager at Norwich Pharmaceuticals with a modest vision: a fun retirement project built around a shared love of the outdoors.

Today, Oliver’s is a multi-location sales and service dealership specializing in towable RVs and campers. The business sells and services new and used trailers from a range of manufacturers and, since 2014, has operated a secondary venture renting RVs to large events and music festivals. From a side yard on West Hill to a dealership with a presence in the Syracuse market, the dealership’s growth has been steady and deliberate.

Ownership passed to Bob and Shirley’s middle son, Jim Oliver, in 1991. Jim moved the business to a standalone location and spent decades building it into the operation it is today. His wife, Marilyn Oliver, has been a constant presence inside and outside the office.

Their oldest son, Andrew Oliver, now manages day-to-day operations, representing the third generation of family leadership. Other family members, Jordan Oliver, who was integral in the expansion to the Lafayette and Syracuse markets, and Tyler Oliver, who helped shape the business’s employment structure and workplace culture, have each left a lasting mark on the company.

Andrew Oliver states, “What has kept customers returning to us across generations is our business model built on honesty and integrity. Rather than chasing monthly sales quotas, we focus on building lasting relationships.”

Oliver’s offers the same price to every customer, with no hidden fees and no haggling. According to Andrew, customers who bought their first camper from Bob on West Hill, then from Jim on Route 12, now return to purchase from him. That line across three generations of the same family, offering the same values that defined the business at its founding, is something the Oliver family considers its greatest compliment.

In 2001, the family lost both the patriarch Bob, and Jim’s brother, David, within nine months of each other, to cancer. The loss of two key figures in the business, in the same year, was a blow that hit on every level. Then, in 2005 and again in 2006, the Chenango River flooded the dealership. First with ten inches of water throughout the building, and the following year with four feet many trailers were lost to the flood as well as parts and office equipment. Months of cleanup followed while the business continued to operate. The dealership persisted through each of these periods, speaking to the resilience that has defined the Oliver family’s approach from the beginning.

The rise of big-box dealers and internet-based competition has also required adaptation. Oliver’s shifted its advertising from word-of-mouth to a broader digital presence to reach customers beyond the immediate region. The RV industry saw significant downturns in 2008 and 2009. Recent market trends have presented fresh challenges, but the business has maintained its footing through their customer-focused business model.

Behind the operation is a team that extends well beyond the Oliver family. In earlier decades, James Dillenback and Cathy Martin were pillars of the business. Today, a dedicated group of employees keeps the dealership running daily. Andrew states, “Oliver’s would not be where it is today without each one of our employees: Karlie, Jason, Cory, Mike, Chelsea, Josh, Billy, Art, Skip, Evan, Nick, Cabrarrah and Wayne.”

Community investment has been a consistent part of the dealership’s identity as well. Oliver’s donates trailers for local events, contributes to children’s programs, and makes a range of charitable gifts each year. Oliver’s philosophy is straightforward: the more the business can do to strengthen the community around it, the better a business it becomes.

Oliver’s Campers will be recognized as Small Business of the Year at the Annual Commerce Chenango Awards Gala at the Canasawacta Country Club on Thursday, June 18th at 5 p.m.