Imagine walking into a room full of friends who share your best interests and are confident that you are invested in their best interests. What does that feel like? I liken it to walking into a room full of trust, learning and support.

That is the feeling I had when I walked into the Sunset meeting room in Rhode Island where the National Marine Trades Association Council met May 15-18. The marine industry has so much to share with each other and when we support the work we are all invested in, we cultivate community that results in collaboration and excellence. We do this on an association level at MRAA because we feel that we need to be united as an industry to fight the challenges that we all face, like the workforce shortage issue and getting new boaters on the water.

Turning this around, how can dealerships cultivate communities in their local area and is it worth the energy, and possibly financial, investment? Absolutely, it is worth it and the results of crafting a community around your company has dividends that will pay for years.

Creating spaces for people who live in your market to come out to an event that you put on or are present at to show investment in enriching the community will increase visibility for your brand and demonstrate your commitment to the people who live in your area. By partnering with your local marine trades association or your city’s chamber of commerce, you will increase your visibility to your market and show your investment to the community.

Partnerships with local groups to cultivate community could increase your access to potential buyers and employees. Putting your dealership brand out in front of the community, investing in children’s activities and your brand’s impact will holistically increase. For example, touch-a-boat events are targeted at getting children out and interested in learning about boats and boating. What do children bring with them? Adults! Those adults could be your prospect customers and potential employees.