By Valerie Ziebron, President of VRZ Consulting and Dealer Week 2025 Educator The more customers use their boat, the more likely they are to stay in boating. Those of us in the industry who love and live for boating can consider it a given that once a boater, always a boater. Unfortunately, statistics tell a […]
MRAA Blog
Maximize Boat Use and Customer Retention
• How to Develop a Winning Post-Sale Engagement Strategy at Your Marine Dealerships By Derrick Marshall, New Business Account Executive at Lightspeed, an MRAA Strategic Partner In today’s marine market, selling the boat is just the beginning. True success lies in what happens after the sale — specifically, how often customers use their boats and […]
The Untapped Potential of F&I
• Why Structured Product Programs Are Essential for Modern Marine Dealerships By JD Baker, Vice President of Specialty Sales, Protective Asset Protection, an MRAA Platinum Partner For marine dealers navigating today’s shifting market, the pursuit of healthy, sustainable growth is more challenging than ever. While the excitement of new boat sales still drives much of […]
Surface Protectant: Protect Customers’ Boats
Sharing the Benefits of Surface Protectant for Gel-coated/Clear-coated Boats By Larry Wenger, Vice President of National Sales, Ultimar, an MRAA Platinum Partner As a dealer, when you take in a boat on trade, it’s pleasing to see the boat has been well cared for and in top condition. But too often, customers don’t know how […]
How to Encourage the Cautious Shoppers
• Overcome Customer Objections and Empower Hesitant but Interested Buyers to Take Action By Tyler Kelly, Recreational Dealer Field Sales Manager, Motility Software Solutions, an MRAA Platinum Partner After a trip out on the water enjoying the warm sun and fresh air, how could anyone not fall in love with boating? The 85 million Americans […]
Charting a Course Through Tariff Uncertainty
Matt Ginsburg, Managing Director, Huntington Distribution Finance†, an MRAA Education Champion The marine industry has long relied on a global supply chain to source key components and materials. That international reach brings efficiency, but it also means that shifts in trade policy, such as tariffs, can introduce cost variability and operational uncertainty. Recent tariffs on […]
What’s Working Now: 12 Proven Retail Tactics from Boat Dealers Like You
• Real-World Dealer Insights from May 2025 Pulse Report You know the market is tightening. While it’s good to focus on your business outcomes, it’s also imperative to explore retail tactics that boost your customer relationship, earn repeat business and trust and enhance your dealership’s reputation. It’s also important to understand what some of […]
Make Your Boating Event Better
• For dealership events, it’s all in the specifics, so aim for the bull’s-eye! In recent A Bit of Optimism podcast with Simon Sinek, guest Phil Rosenthal, the star of “Somebody Feed Phil” and executive producer of “Everybody Loves Raymond”, shared a great line about how the hook is the specific. For example, how can […]
Why Now Is the Best Time to Invest in Your Marine Industry Career
The marine industry’s top certification programs just got more flexible AND more affordable. Enroll in any Position-Specific Certification by July 3 and save $75 before PSC goes fully on-demand.
How to Help Boating Customers Clear Hurdles
• Rapid Marine uses proactive approach to engage, educate and encourage Minnesota boaters about new boating safety law Imagine there are 10 hurdles in your way, standing between you and the finish line. If you’ve ever had a chance to run hurdles on a track team, staring down 10 hurdles, each measuring 42 inches high […]
