MINNEAPOLIS, January 5, 2022 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, in honor of its 50th anniversary, announces the launch of a Year of Dealer Resources. During 2022, the MRAA will focus on a new topic each month and release benefits, education and resources via MRAA.com. Monthly updates will include a mix of resources available to members and non-members, new education, and tools from the MRAA archives.
The yearlong program is designed to be timely and highlight the various ways MRAA can serve marine dealers across North America. In January, the year kicks off with a focus on resources related to Employee Development.
“We wanted to celebrate our 50th Anniversary by doing what MRAA does best: Helping dealers find success,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “This monthly program delivers very timely and very relevant education and resources to boat dealers, through MRAA’s events, such as Dealer Week (in-person and online), and programs like Dealership Certification, Training ‘N’ Tactics and our Mastermind Groups, as well as educational curriculums like that found in our Continuous Certification program. Our focus on a monthly theme gives us the platform to focus intently on the most impactful issues our dealers are faced with throughout the year, and it also allows us to showcase just how much educational content MRAA has to offer in our quest to help dealership teams learn, implement and grow their business.”
Industry studies, dealer surveys and direct feedback have revealed that workforce is a major concern for retailers, which is why it is the perfect topic to focus on in January. Dealers of all sizes need help with training methods, managing burnout, retaining quality employees and workforce enhancement. It also fits perfectly with the theme of Dealer Week Online, Jan. 11-13. The online conference spotlights employee development through the sharing of critical insights, trends and strategies within three specific pathways (Leadership, Sales and Marketing and Service & Parts) to help dealerships thrive in 2022. The virtual event is free to attendees of Dealer Week 2021 in Austin, Texas, and still open to new online-only registrations as well.
February’s subject of Lead Generation and Nurturing is well-timed because dealers need to make it abundantly clear they’re open for business, in spite of a lack of inventory and nearly empty showrooms. An influx of first-time boat buyers accompanied by massive industry demand prove that an investment in follow-up and nurturing is critical for customer retention. March will focus on Service Efficiency and, in particular, Repair Event Cycle Times. MRAA will share with dealers the resources they can implement to become more proficient in service. The first quarter of 2022 concludes with April’s theme of Pre-Owned Boat Buying and Selling, a topic that can help dealers put units on their showroom floor, appease customer demands and add to their bottom line.
The 2022 MRAA Year of Dealer Resources Schedule*
•January: Employee Development
•February: Lead Generation & Nurturing
•March: Service Efficiency / RECT
•April: Pre-Owned Boat Buying & Selling
•May: Recruiting, Hiring and Onboarding
•June: Customer Experience
•July: Adaptability / Change Management
•August: Service, Parts & Accessories
•September: Dealership Operations and Facilities
•October: Employee Retention
•November: Marketing
•December: Dealership Financials
* Subject to change based upon market trends / conditions
“Between all the benefits, education and tools we’ve released over the years, we understand it can also be somewhat daunting to sort through,” says Mike Davin, MRAA Brand Director. “As we continue to release new resources in 2022, the themed months give us an opportunity to highlight what’s available in a more digestible way while also signaling to dealers that we’ve got relevant resources on a specific topic.”
MRAA will incorporate the monthly themes into its marketing and social media plans for 2022, presenting the content to both non-members and members to give them an opportunity to grow and strengthen their businesses. Resources available to both non-members and members will be delivered in the form of case studies, guides, downloadable one-pagers, data shares, exclusive new webinars, focused blogs and content, partner contributions, January’s Dealer Week Online and past conference recordings, Certification tools and templates, TNT videos, member benefits and other unique offerings.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
