MRAA Blog

How to Get More Done Faster

Over the weekend, I stumbled over something that might help both of us in the heat of the season – the boating season for you, and the product development season for the team at the Marine Retailers Association. While you’re busy selling and servicing boats, we’re busy working with industry experts to create new workshops, […]

How to Coach In the Heat of the Season

Memorial Day Weekend is a memory. The winter shows are over. The spring cleaning is done. All the boats once in storage are now in the water. The units sold at the shows have been delivered. And sales training is complete. Wait a minute! Do we ever stop learning or practicing our skills? Do athletes […]

A Seat at the Table

Today’s boating industry could teach politicians a thing or two about coming together for the greater good. And who knows? Perhaps we’ll get the chance. This week, the industry is gathering in Washington, D.C., at the American Boating Congress, which attracts people from just about every corner of the recreational marine business. While the No. […]

Marketing Certification to Consumers

One of the most frequently asked questions by dealers considering getting Certified is: “What is the industry doing to make consumers aware of the benefits of doing business with a Certified dealer?” The answer is: Quite a bit! First and foremost, we believe in empowering YOU to tell your story of how Certification makes you […]

The Tale of Two Milkshakes

Hi, I’m Bob and I’m a chocolate milkshake-aholic! Because of this addiction, I frequent places that serve such divine pleasure. One place that got my attention this week promotes a Happier Hour and offers milkshakes at half price. They are hand-dipped, old-fashioned shakes topped with whipped cream and a cherry, all for $1.61 including tax! […]

How to Protect Your Dealership’s Most Valuable Assets

What’s most valuable to your dealership? Is it your customer database, physical assets, your boat brands? These are all important for sure, but none of them are more important to your business than the knowledge and know how of the people that do the work, which is captured in your dealership’s processes. Such valuable assets […]

That was then, this is now

When I first entered the marine industry in 1999 after a long and rewarding career in the auto business, we were designing and building websites for dealers at a company called BoatVentures, which later became Channel Blade. During that time, we worked closely with a great number of boatbuilders that had Vice President- or Director-level […]