MRAA Blog

Re-Start With Your Why

  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 […]

Can your SBA loan be used for floor plan expenses?

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 […]

4 ways to help your community in this time of need

The world is lacking in a range of supplies from crucial life-saving equipment like ventilators, to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to keep our essential workers safe, and basic necessities, such as food and personal care items. Though this isn’t great news, companies and organizations all across the globe are rallying together to help.  Here’s how […]

Dealer loan applicants in holding pattern

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 […]

The Training Path

We were classified into the “non-essential” category, by the State of Idaho. So we met just after the state shut everything down, to discuss options for our employees. Our leadership team came to the decision that the “right thing to do” was to retain our team and have them be paid for the two weeks […]

Dealers on a ‘giant ticking clock’ amid shutdown

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, […]