• MRAA’s Dealer Week Conference and Expo offers marine dealerships an unmatched experience for education, networking and advancement. After removing the covering for the temporary tattoo on my right shoulder, the words in the bright red heart with an arrow piercing through it read, “Mom!” But from my inverted angle, those same three letters read […]
MRAA Blog
Identifying Opportunities in the Dealer-Manufacturer Relationship
Collaborative effort between the MRAA board and leading manufacturers and suppliers focuses on driving improvements in the customer experience. By Matt Gruhn, MRAA President In the world of major unit retail, stark differences exist between the auto and marine industries. Major unit sales volume, alone, drives the bulk of the disparities between how each industry […]
The Nexus of Success
The relationship among dealers, manufacturers and customers is more critical than ever. By Matt Gruhn, MRAA President In 2018, an eye-opening report surfaced about the health of the marine industry. It revealed the attrition rates of first-time boat buyers. Close to 40% were selling their boats and leaving boating within the first five years of […]
Don’t Split Up the Team
How the strength of the dealer-manufacturer relationship drives customer loyalty. By Matt Gruhn, MRAA President “Don’t split up the team,” Christina Fliakos said. Nearly 50 dealers and manufacturers paused their conversations and turned to Fliakos, who is Senior Manager of Parts and Service Processes at Brunswick Corp.’s Service Center of Excellence. They had been buzzing […]
Beer vs. Boats
In the game of trying to stabilize inventory, there really is no difference. By Matt Gruhn, MRAA President Have you ever played The Beer Game? No, I’m not talking about a frat-house game. I’m talking about The Beer Game as chronicled in the book The Fifth Discipline. The book shares the story of three businesses — a […]
7 Tips for Driving Up Dealership Profitability
There’s not much that grabs attention like a promise of a 23% increase in profits. That’s why I bet Gallup got a lot of clicks on the report it released this fall, suggesting that teams with the highest levels of employee engagement had 23% higher profits than those with the lowest levels of employee engagement. […]
Take This Job and … LOVE It!
The first work-related tune that pops in a lot of people’s heads is probably “Take This Job and Shove It,” a David Allen Coe song made popular by Johnny Paycheck (got to appreciate that last name!). According to Wikipedia, the song represents a working man’s attitude toward a gig he’s worked long and hard at, […]
General Election Update – Implications for Recreational Boating Industry
By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager & Mike Sayre, MRAA Director of Government Relations As the results from the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, continue to take shape it is clear that Donald Trump has emerged as winner of both the popular and electoral college votes, and will be named the 47th President […]
6 Tips to Elevate Your Online Marketing Strategy: The Power of Exposure
By Courtney Chalmers, VP of Marketing, Boats Group, an MRAA Strategic Partner With longer boat sales cycles and more buyers making purchase decisions online – and likely before they meet a seller in person – you need to adapt your marketing strategies. Achieving maximum visibility across digital channels throughout the sales journey is essential for […]
Unlocking the Power of Texting
Elevate Communication, Marketing and Lead Generation for Your Marine Dealership By Bryan Tierney, Lightspeed Sales Engineer In today’s rapidly changing marine industry, communicating effectively with customers has become essential for success. With rising customer expectations and an increasingly digital-first approach, many marine dealerships are finding that texting offers a powerful way to keep customers engaged, […]
