Did you do something different at your boat show(s) this year? How did it turn out?
We created a different layout from our normal. We brought more pleasure boats and less fishing boats. We also put are higher dollar boats out front and center. Not toward the back. This seem to get more traction than normal on these boats. What I would change is moving are center console out of the corner and putting that more out front. All an all it was a great show! – Leo Lach, TMBC- Grandville
We expanded our footprint throughout the shows, which allowed us to invite more brands to participate and gave us a better visual presentation by spreading boat models further apart. Also, we took advantage of in-water boat demo areas, partnering with engine brands, to take customers out on boat rides. Lastly, we excluded under-performing brands so we could focus staff resources where it mattered most – at the booths where customers wanted to be. As a result, this year’s sales, from the same shows as last year, are up 30% to 45%. – Frank Ferraro, Nautical Ventures
We added several kiosks with iPads which were locked to the respective boat manufacture “build a boat” pages- was received quite well with both buyers and their children! – David deAndrade, White Lake Marine
We did things much differently this year than previous years. We started out by purchasing a lot more booth space which allowed us to display more inventory. It also allowed for more space for customers to maneuver and get a better look at our boats. We received many compliments not only from prospects and buyers, but from all our manufacturers who worked our booth with us.
We also had a lot of the inventory built with more boat options as well as a larger selection of different engine brands. We allowed our normal boat show discount percentages. We normally give each boat buyer a free gift which has generally been a Yeti Tundra ice chest, but this year we allowed the buyers to choose from 3 free gifts, one of which was a free year of maintenance, hoping that will allow them to experience our awesome service and parts department and hopefully continue to come back. 95% of buyers chose the maintenance.
We brought in our parts manager and service coordinator to work the floor with us because many times we have customers who only have parts and/or service questions and our salesman get tied up with them. This was extremely successful because they were instrumental in getting 3 customers to trade their units in for new units – MAJOR WIN! – Christi Romero, The Sportsman
