Boat dealership layoffs spiked in the state of Michigan in April, when compared to other states, as government officials locked down the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey conducted by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas.   In a survey of 199 dealerships across the United States during the […]

  In a news cycle that’s heavy with bad news, it’s important to underscore the positive things happening around the marine industry. And there’s a lot to take note of, so I thought I’d spend some time sharing what we’re hearing.   Little by little, politicians are noting the importance of outdoor recreation in today’s […]

As the CARES Act stimulus program was running out of money last week, nearly 60 percent of the boat dealers that responded to MRAA’s research reported that they had applied but had yet to receive their funds.   As noted in an early-April survey, close to 90 percent of boat dealers had already applied or […]

No matter what your dealership’s situation – business as usual or otherwise – in most places around North America, traffic is likely to be slower than normal for a while as the COVID-19 crisis runs its course. While it’s certainly not the time to take your eyes off of finding revenue, there’s always time to […]

  Over the course of the last month, MRAA has been in touch with thousands of dealers, through one-to-one contacts and surveys that are keeping the pulse of their businesses throughout today’s market place. It became clear in week one that the top concern on their minds was their cash flow. It makes sense — […]

  I’ve spoken at numerous events over the last few years telling the story of how author Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” has impacted me, our team and our overall business here at the MRAA. The bulk of the message in this book, aside from the guide to creating your own “why statement” is that […]

In our work with dealers over the last few months, the two biggest concerns they’ve had surrounding their cash flow challenges are, as one could imagine, their two largest expense categories: their people and their floor plan expenses.   With the stimulus package loan proceeds beginning to refill dealership bank accounts, it’s clear that the […]

Nearly 80 percent of boat dealers have applied for a loan from the Small Business Administration as part of the federal stimulus programs, but the vast majority of those who responded to a survey conducted by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas report a lack of clarity on where things stand.   “I have […]

Boat dealers remain on shaky ground at the beginning of April as the nationwide shutdown of non-essential businesses forces them to consider cash position and expense structure, according to the monthly Pulse Report, published by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, Soundings Trade Only and Robert W. Baird. The report, which was published today, […]

This Guest Blog was authored by Jerry Mona of Left Brain Marketing The emergence of the COVID-19 crisis has severely impacted nearly every aspect of society. And, while there are more important concerns than going boating or fishing, these activities remain important to the lifestyle of many. In this article, we discuss the findings from […]