Here’s the very real workforce conundrum many of you are facing: Retaining staff when times get tough. However, hiring them when you need them is just as difficult and more expensive. The Service Management Special Report showed that the workforce shortage is not just an issue in most service departments, but perhaps the No. […]
MRAA Blog
A Cycling Story
By Chris Kulaga, Lightspeed Product Manager Let’s rewind to 2003, a pivotal year for the British Cycling team. At the time, they were known for their average results—neither remarkable nor dismal, just existing in the middle ground of competitive cycling. Enter Sir Dave Brailsford, a visionary in the cycling world, who introduced the concept of […]
Repair Event Cycle Time
• Industry survey – Your feedback will help to uncover unexpected and effective service items that influence RECT We have heard it before. We will hear it again. Repair Event Cycle Time is the most important KPI to influence customer satisfaction. Boaters only have so many days to get out on their boat. Wind, Waves, […]
Brought to You by Diamond
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), we are dedicated to advocating for the interests of our members, many of whom are the small businesses that drive the marine industry’s success. To protect the interests of our members and cultivate a strong selling environment, our Government Relations (GR) Team is constantly advocating on […]
Building Tomorrow’s Marine Workforce
(NOTE: This is the second blog in a three-part blog series where MRAA members and staff share examples of how they have worked to develop the local workforce within their business and community.) By Wendy Ramsey, General Manager, Pirate Cove Marina Workforce development has become one of the most important topics in the marine industry […]
Improving Your Parts Department Performance
By Erick Jauregui, Fixed Operations Training Specialist for EasyCare The parts department is a critical yet often undervalued component of dealership profitability. Adopting strategic measures that can enhance inventory management and help bolster sales through targeted customer service is essential. Here is a comprehensive plan designed to help boost parts gross profits, leveraging market data, […]
Getting into the Minds of Tomorrow’s Workforce
• How to Motivate, Cultivate and Maintain a New Generation of Employees By Jon Stovall, General Sales Manager, Ocean Blue Yacht Sales In 2024 and beyond, we have a new generation of people coming into the retail marine industry. How do we, as business owners and managers, connect with a generation that thinks and acts […]
4 Ways to Advance Your Business
• Help build careers and strengthen your dealership with continuing marine-industry education As a dealership owner or general manager, we know you want to put your business in a position to win. You want your employees to have long careers and remain loyal to your store(s) while also needing your business to stay efficient and […]
Helpful Content to Inform & Engage Customers
Let’s imagine for a second that one of your new customers texts their sales contact at your dealership asking for offshore fishing tips. They add in a follow-up question about wind and its effect on fishing. While some dealers have fishing experts on staff and could answer them quickly and with expert advice, other teams […]
Fortify Your Service Department
• ABYC / MRAA Service Management Certification helps dealerships improve their service department’s performance, while advancing their team’s careers. To keep your dealership operating like a well-oiled machine throughout the market’s ups and downs, you need a service department that is performing at its best. Whether you have one service manager leading that effort or […]
