In the face of rapidly changing and advancing technology like GPS, AIS, electronic chart display, cellular devices and the like, the fundamental navigation needs of mariners have changed significantly over the last decade. These changes have presented the federal government — including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of
Efforts to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard continue on Capitol Hill. The Congressional Budget Office just published a report on RFS that evaluates how much biofuel production needs to grow to comply with the program, as well as its impact on food prices, fuel prices and emissions under several different
Talks on a new highway bill are gearing up in Congress as the all-encompassing Highway Trust Fund is set to expire August 1. The House passed an $11 billion bill by a vote of 367 to 55 to help keep the Highway Trust Fund afloat until Spring 2015. The Senate
Even the marine industry’s best service departments will sometimes encounter an upset customer. By learning strategies to handle these situations properly, dealerships can create loyalty and collect valuable information that can strengthen both customer relationships and service department processes and procedures. At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking
Manufacturer and supplier support of the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo is up 20 percent as of the end of June, compared to the same time last year. The 2014 MDCE is scheduled to take place Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Last year, the
As the marine industry gets back on track for growth, hiring has become a key area of focus for many marine dealers. Yet statistics reveal that typical businesses only hire the best person for the job about 20 percent of the time. At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo,
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has added a new benefit for association members through its MRAA Rewards Program. MRAA members are now entitled to discounts on both initial brand setup and model year and monthly update fees for Marine Dealer Technologies’ Digitial Showroom Manager, an interactive, cloud-based tool
In both sports and business, evidence suggests that the best performers focus on the fundamentals, and the teams that make the fewest mistakes are the ones that win the most games. More marine retailers lose out on deals due to lack of attention to the basic sales process than because
MINNEAPOLIS, July 1, 2014 — More than 80 percent of consumers conduct research online before buying a boat, yet few marine dealerships are properly positioned to capture these leads and transform them into customers. At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., dealership
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas was honored at the Midwest Society of Association Executives 58th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 17 with the MSAE Award of Excellence for its “Shifting From What to Why” campaign. Shortly after coming on board as MRAA president in 2011, Matt Gruhn embraced
