MRAA Members Save on Residential Surcharges for the Holiday 2019 Season

Both FedEx and UPS have announced that they will not apply peak season surcharges on residential deliveries this holiday season, giving e-commerce retailers much to celebrate. However, as in the past, both carrier companies continue to implement additional peak surcharges on large shipments, or those requiring additional handling for the holidays.

Online sales are expected to grow this holiday season, and as e-commerce booms, the packages and products moving through carrier facilities diversifies. Larger, heavier, and bulkier shipments requiring additional handling decrease efficiency for the carrier and will be subjected to fees as a result. It’s important to familiarize yourself with both UPS and FedEx peak season surcharges in preparation for the retail boom. It may also make sense to look into available service alternatives such as less-than-truckload options, in order to remain profitable during the holidays.

The MRAA Shipping Program gives retailers options. In addition to exclusive FedEx discounts on select services, members also have an advantage with competitive freight pricing for larger shipments as well. To take advantage of this free member benefit, enroll today at PartnerShip.com/26mraa. For more information, call PartnerShip® at 800-599-2902 or email sales@PartnerShip.com.

Dealer to Dealer: November 2019

What is one big trend are you watching as you
begin to prepare for 2020?

“Pontoon Inventory levels.” – Chad Taylor, Taylor’s South Shore Marine

“Triple & quad center consoles” – Jim Dragseth, Whiticar Boat Works, Inc.

“Watching the alternative propulsion methods. GreenLine Yachts is building the only true Hybrid currently available in the US market. So we have jumped into this space to be on the leading edge of the next wave of boating. Moving away from fossil fuels. “ – J.R. Means III., Bayport Yachts

“We are watching for a trend in boat leasing.” – Bryan Schiffli, AMC Marine

What trends are you currently following? Tell us below in the comment section.

MRAA Creates “The Guide to Phone Skills” White Paper

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas published its latest white paper, “The Guide to Phone Skills,” powered by the Marine Industry Certified Dealership program.

This 10-page digital publication provides marine retailers with tips on hiring and training staff members, auditing a dealership’s phone responses, advice on scripting calls, and how to market a phone number.

“It isn’t a secret that today’s customers are not the customers of the past,” says MRAA Vice President, Liz Walz, “The Guide to Phone Skills not only discusses how today’s customers have evolved, but also provide a guide for retailers to implement in order to create a positive customer experience as soon as they pick up the phone.”

“The Guide to Phone Skills,” was developed as supplemental material to the 2019 Continuous Certification course, Align Your Dealership With Today’s Customer, presented by, MRAA Vice President Liz Walz and Jim Million, of Million Learning.

“The 2019 Quarter Three Continuous Certification curriculum is focused on providing marine dealerships with the guidance they need to better align themselves with the shopping and ownership experience of today’s customers,” says Liz Keener, MRAA’s Certification Manager. “This white paper offers retailers with a how-to guide to connecting with today’s technology-empowered customers.”

MRAA members can login and access the full publication at MRAA.com/guides. “The Guide to Phone Skills” and Quarter Three of the MICD Continuous Certification program are available now.

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, contact us at 763-315-8043.

Grady White Partners with MICD Program to Promote Dealership Education

Grady-White Boats and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas have partnered together to bring the Grady-White dealer network a path to a delivering a greater customer experience through the Marine Industry Certified Dealer program.

MRAA’s Dealer Certification program provides boat dealers with a proven roadmap for dealership success, focusing them on continually improving their organizations through an emphasis on operations, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction.

“We are excited to announce the partnership with Grady-White and its dealer network through the Marine Industry Certified Dealer program,” says Liz Keener, MRAA’s Certification Manager. “Grady-White has invested in creating a culture of continuous improvement for its dealer network by incentivizing  and encouraging education and training, specifically through the MICD program.”

For more information on the program, please visit MRAA.com/Certification or contact us at 763-315-8043.

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.

A Rewarding Experience For All

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is the opportunity to connect our industry’s manufacturers, suppliers and service providers to the great work that our MRAA team does in fueling dealer success.

As a testament to the importance of that work, one dealer went out of his way last week to tell us “I’m so proud to be a member of the MRAA. It is very obvious that you are not only concerned for the industry, but for me as an individual. You don’t come to me asking for money, you come with solutions for my business and to make me better.”

One glance at one of our most recent posts on the Dealer Week Facebook page demonstrates that this is not just one person’s sentiment. Dealers rave about their excitement to attend and participate in the most visible solutions-providing service we provide on a yearly basis: MRAA’s annual conference.

But here’s the thing: None of our team’s work would be possible without the support of our partners — the manufacturers, suppliers and service provider members, and the exhibitors and sponsors who invest in our annual conference. They make the literal world-class education possible at Dealer Week, in our Certification program, and throughout the many products and services our team creates and offers all year long.

The rebranding and relaunch of our annual conference and expo has given us the ability to connect with our partners on a much deeper level. At this year’s Dealer Week, we’re thrilled to welcome 106 exhibitors and sponsors, some 60-plus of whom are current MRAA Partner Members, which means they support MRAA’s tools, resources and educational programs on a year-round basis. They invest in MRAA Membership to help our dealer members grow and find greater success.

Within the Dealer Week Expo Hall, you’ll find MRAA partners who are ready to help you tackle the issues you are facing, and to offer tools and resources to help you reach for new opportunities. It’s rewarding for me to help them deliver on their business goals, but it’s even more rewarding knowing that their investment fuels the positive impact MRAA can have on its members, the entire dealer community and ultimately, today’s boaters.

New York State Expands Lawsuit Against International Commission Following Record Flooding

On November 15, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Attorney General Leticia James expanded the state’s lawsuit against the International Joint Commission (IJC) for failing to implement proper flooding protocols for the Moses-Saunders Power Dam along the St. Lawrence river. This filing builds on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s lawsuit against the IJC, now including damages from all state agencies. The state is seeking compensation totaling over $50 million for damages that include: damages to state property; New York State payments to repair damages to property, municipalities and residents; damages to natural resources, including value of lost recreational activities. The full press release can be found here. 

Are you being affected by flooding?  Please contact our Government Relations Manager, Adam Fortier-Brown at adam@mraa.com for more information.

NOAA Designates Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary

On Saturday, November 9, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recognized an 18-mile stretch of Maryland’s Potomac River as the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. In attendance was Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, and senior NOAA and U.S. Department of Commerce officials. The sanctuary’s formal designation took place on September 3, 2019. This is the first such designation since 2000.  The national marine sanctuary protects remnants of 118 World War I-era wooden steamships and vessels dubbed the “Ghost Fleet.” 

More information can be found on the sanctuary’s website.

American Boating Congress 2020 Registration opens with Early Bird Pricing

Registration is now open for American Boating Congress (ABC), which will be held Tuesday May 12 – Thursday, May 14, 2020.  The event will be held at the InterContinental at The Warf in Washington, DC.  This event is open for U.S. members, and provides attendees with the opportunity to meet their elected officials, hear from influential guest speakers, attend useful workshops and seminars, and let their voices be heard with key policymakers.

Click here to register.

U.S. Senate Holds Hearing on Outdoor Recreation, and Passes Amendment Supporting the Outdoor Economy

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee held a full committee hearing on three outdoor recreation bills that would support the outdoor recreation economy. The three bills together would help expand access to public lands for recreational use. The hearing can be found here. 

Separately, the Senate passed an amendment to direct the government to study each line item in each land and water management agency that funds recreation. This will allow policymakers to track the outdoor recreation economy, which makes up 2.2% of GDP, to guide future investments into the outdoor economy.

If you have any questions, please contact MRAA Government Relations Manager, Adam Fortier-Brown.

MRAA joins with Recreational Fishing and Boating Community to applaud Atlantic Striped Bass Decision

On October 30, members of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Management Board voted 11-4 in favor of requiring an 18% reduction in striped bass harvests in the commercial and recreational fishing sectors from North Carolina to Maine. The MRAA supported this decision after being presented with evidence that the species was being overfished. 

If you have any questions, please contact MRAA Government Relations Manager, Adam Fortier-Brown.