MRAA Hits the Road

The past few weeks have been busy for dealers like you. Just as you’re seeing the last blast of summer sales, you’re also jumping on planes or driving across the country to visit your reps and peers at manufacturer dealer meetings. And we have been, too!

In the past month, members of the MRAA team have visited meetings for Chris-Craft, Lowe, Bennington, Tiara, Alumacraft, Barletta and Chaparral. And we have more coming soon! We’re spreading the news about Dealer Week, MRAA membership and the Marine Industry Certified Dealership program with the goal of offering you solutions to improve your business and fuel your growth. We’re also sharing information about the Dealer Week Early Bird discount, which ends Sept. 30, and passing along a Certification bundle that allows you to bundle Bronze membership with Certification to take advantage of valuable resources and benefits while completing the Certification program.

If you missed us at your meeting, or if you want more information on anything MRAA has to offer, Nikki can help. Reach Member Development Manager Nikki Duffney at 763-333-2420 or at nikki@mraa.com for the full scoop.

MRAA, NMMA BoatPAC to Host Two Florida Events

BoatPAC, the joint political action committee of MRAA and NMMA, will host two upcoming events in Florida with key members of Congress and industry champions.

Next Tuesday, Aug. 27, BoatPAC will host Congressman Mike Waltz in the Orlando/Daytona area at Mission Inn from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

BoatPAC then heads to Tampa for an event with key industry champions during IBEX, on Oct. 1 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Jackson’s Bistro.

For more information on BoatPAC and how you can contribute, visit boatpac.org.

Nautical Ventures Takes Over Management at Anglers Marina

Through a lease-option, Nautical Ventures Group has taken over operations of Anglers Marina in Dania Beach and will rebrand the entity as Nautical Ventures Marine Center.

On the 10-acre site, Nautical Ventures will build a new 200-unit drystack, a 15,000 square-foot state-of-the-art showroom, a six-bay parts service facility, a ship’s store, a waterfront restaurant with tiki bar, improve overall infrastructure for 120 wet slips, and be the future home of Nautical Ventures Boat Club. A newly built, custom houseboat is docked onsite, serving as an interim sales, brokerage and boat club office.

Four Service Providers Commit to MRAA Platinum Partnership

Digital Power Solutions, Epic Finance, Keller Media Works, and Total Control Software have committed to the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas at the Platinum Partner level.

Through Partner Membership, marine manufacturers, suppliers and service providers commit to align their brands with the programs and opportunities that MRAA works to provide the dealer body in order to help fuel the success of the industry. Support from Partners allows the Association to expand its offerings and create a positive, long-term impact for marine retailers.

Digital Power Solutions
“We are elated about the opportunity to partner with MRAA and look forward to working with the MRAA dealer network,” says Steve Moore, CEO/Founder, Digital Power Solutions. “TRADE CYCLE Marine installs easily on any boat dealer website and the lead content is unparalleled in the industry. In addition to instantly increasing website leads, Digital Power Solutions educates boat dealers on how to initiate various proven marketing methods where TRADE CYCLE Marine can be integrated such as social media, eNewsletters, email campaigns, a dealer’s service drive, Google and Facebook marketing and much more, most of which are cost-free!”

Digital Power Solutions offers the industry’s first website trade-in lead conversion system, TRADE CYCLE Marine. The system allows boat dealers to utilize their existing website to better leverage leads that are collected online by providing website visitors with the estimated value of their current boat in exchange for customer information.

Epic Finance
“Epic Finance is committed to handling each customer and dealer partner with the greatest of care and transparency,” says Chris Rowden, Director of Sales and Dealer Development at Epic Finance. “Our job is all about customer service and making our dealer partners more successful as well as contributing to the memories and happiness of boat buyers. Epic’s partnership with MRAA has been invaluable and we look forward to making the relationship even stronger as a Platinum Partner.”

The Epic Finance team has more than 130 years in combined financial experience.  Through partnerships with the some of the nation’s largest banks, regional banks, credit unions and subprime lenders, Epic Finance has the ability to offer a full spectrum of recreational lending services to the marine retail community.

Keller Media Works
“We love this industry.” says Ben Keller, owner of Keller Media Works. “The vibrant details of the boat business capture the imagination and the heart in amazing and unique ways. Partnering with MRAA is a natural step towards our goal of assisting marine companies tell engaging stories from all aspects of the industry, in order to help grow it. We are proud to support MRAA in their mission, and all the membership by helping tell their inspirational, and aspirational stories.”

Keller Media Works is a full-service media and marketing company that helps grow marine retailers by creating stunning visual content and engaging their audiences through vibrant images and stories.

Total Control Software
Since 1992, Total Control Software has been supporting marine and RV dealers across North America. Its user-friendly software solution allows dealers the freedom to focus on building their business instead of focusing on the day-to-day operations.

“2019 has been a year of grow for the MRAA, especially in the area of Partnership,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “We are estatic to announce the addition of our four newest Platinum Partner Members. With there support, the association can continue to create valuable educational resources to our marine retail members.”

About the Marine Retailers Association of the America
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.

Dealer to Dealer: August 2019

As we push toward the end of the prime selling season, what is the one goal you want to accomplish by the end of the year?

“Figure out why our new boat sales are lacking behind 2018 when every other aspect of our business are well ahead.” – Joe Lewis, Mount Dora Boating Center

“The one goal I’d like to accomplish would be to reclaim my sanity. Somewhere between Memorial Day and Labor day, all normal sanity was sucked out of my mind. Hopeful some cooler days and smooth sounds will restore my fried brain cells.” – David deAndrade, White Lake Marine

“Top of my list is to reduce the inventory. Our inventory is high for this time of year and the manufacturers are asking for new 2020 orders to either met or exceed last year’s orders. Being in this business for over 40 years we know that every election year the business tapers off towards election time. But after the elections, whether a Republican or Democrat is elected, there is business as usual. So we will adjust our inventory accordingly in 2020.  

Also we are training in house for new technicians. We are using our older tech’s to train the younger new tech’s and compensating the older tech’s for their training.” – Jim Wiborg, Bob Hewes Boats

“Be billing 80% of paid trades payroll hours.” – Jim Dragseth, Whiticar Boat Yard

“We’ve outgrown our current location, both in size and scope. Our goal is to secure a bigger, deep water location that will allow us to inventory more boats, expand our service operations, accommodate more employees, add a full-service marina component, and more. Ideally we would migrate to the new location during 2020.” – Roger Moore, Nautical Ventures

“We need to sell through our overstocked and aged inventory. There’s also a challenging time ahead so far as inventory planning and management goes. Our primary goal is to identify when and where to shift our ordering and delivery dates, as well as volume of inbound orders.” – Greg Knop, Family Boating Center

What do you want to accomplish in the upcoming months? Tell us below in the comment section!

NMLA Releases Annual Statistical Report

Portfolio boat lenders expecting positive business during 2019; boat loan delinquency performs below 1% for 7th straight year.

The most comprehensive marine finance market study of lending trends and operations in the United States has been released by the National Marine Lenders Association (NMLA). The 2019 Annual Statistical Report provides detailed data relating to the industry’s two leading retail business line entities — financial institutions who originate and hold retail or floor plan boat loans and service companies who originate and broker consumer boat loans to financial institutions. The report is a compilation of information from 50 lenders who represent a sizeable share of the marine finance market.

As specified in the Report, the recreational marine finance industry continues to experience strong economic health. Performance statistics reveal that boat loan delinquency has remained stable since 2012 and that 78% of portfolio financial institution’s boat loan customers were in the 35-54-year age group. Average boat loan turnover rate was reported at a healthy 48 months.

The entire 101-page 2019 NMLA Annual Statistical Report is now available for purchase in PDF format.

Continuous Certification: It’s Like Learning How to Swim

Last week, MRAA Lead Certification Consultant, Bob McCann, used the analogy of learning how to swim during our MICD Certification consultant training.

You can imagine it… You’re a kid in a pool. A trusted adult is standing a few feet away and motions you to swim toward them. At the last second they take a step back. What?! You were almost to the finish line and they made a step backwards that challenged you to go farther, to do more.

The MICD Continuous Certification curriculum is kind of like that. Each quarter offers new content that is designed to challenge the way you run your business. We want to make you think.

In Q1, Jim Million takes a step back and provides information on how you can work toward a coaching and mentoring culture that will lead to a more effective workplace.

Q2 addresses the productivity of your leadership team. Ty Bello takes a step back and identifies the areas that may be blocking you from being productive.

Liz Walz and a panel of experts take a step back and help you reconsider how you allocate your staff’s time and talent in sales, marketing and customer service and how your departments collaborate to grab the attention of prospects and customers in Q3.

And if you have caught on, you would guess that Q4 is sure to push you further and challenge the way you run your business in order to bring greater success, as Theresa Syer shows you how to understand and influence your customer’s Key Emotional Drivers.

We hold our Certified dealers to a high standard. They have proven that they have the desire to be the best and be a dealership that continues to strive to be better. So we will continue to take a step back and challenge you to swim.

Tiara Yachts | Tiara Sport Makes Three-Year Commitment with MRAA on Dealer Certification

Tiara Yachts and Tiara Sport along with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas have partnered together to bring the Tiara dealer network a pathway to delivering a greater customer experience through a 3-year commitment to the Marine Industry Certified Dealer program.

To encourage participation by their dealer network, Tiara Yachts and Tiara Sport will offer a per boat incentive to dealers who complete the Certification process and maintain their status through the Continuous Certification program.

“We are very excited to partner with the MRAA on this program and launch it to our Tiara Yachts and Tiara Sport dealer network at our 2019 Dealer Summit. Working towards continuous improvement, education and training helps to build an all-around stronger Tiara Dealer network,” says Dave O’Connell, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Tiara Yachts and Tiara Sport.

MRAA’s Dealer Certification Program provides boat and engine 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. In addition to commiting to the Certification program, Tiara Yachts and Tiara Sport have signed on to be an MRAA Platinum partner.

“We are ecstatic to partner with the Tiara Yachts and Tiara Sport dealer networks through the Marine Industry Certified Dealership program and MRAA partnership,” says Liz Keener, MRAA’s Certification Manager. “Tiara continues to put focus on creating a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging and rewarding marine retailers who invest in education and training, specifically through the MICD program.”

The MRAA team will be in attendance at the Tiara’s 2019 Dealer Meeting to highlight the partnership with Tiara Yachts and Tiara Sport and the Marine Industry Certified Dealership program. For more information on the program, please visit MRAA.com/Certification or contact us at 763-315-8043.

A Peek Behind the Curtain

Do you know about the people who show up every day to do work on your behalf – advocating for the marine industry and the talented people who work the front lines? We are your marine trades associations and collectively we are the National Marine Trades Council.

Last week, around 30 marine trades association professionals, gathered in Anacortes, Washington to continue to push the industry forward with our pooled expertise. We touched on important topics like workforce & talent management, sharing resources to support our members, continuing education and association best practices. We welcomed back Canadian associations to the council this year, which was a great addition. Having insight from the community with the shortest boating season in North America was insightful.

Building a community of trusted friends that understand the challenges and rewards that come out of your daily activity is rich with benefits. We share similar pains, we celebrate aligned victories and we keep showing up to support each other to achieve the best results we can.

Who is your community? Is it your 20 Group, local area dealers, MRAA members or your local MTA members… whoever you build community with, I encourage you to show up and share your expertise with others. You never know when you might be offered a nugget of valuable information in casual conversation that could change the way you operate.

Edmonston Elected Chairman of Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council

BoatUS Vice President of Government Affairs Chris Edmonston has been elected chairman of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council. Senior-level representatives from state and federal wildlife agencies, saltwater and freshwater fishing organizations, recreational boating groups, recreational boating and fishing industries, conservation organizations, tribal representatives and the tourism industry comprise the 18-member body. The council advises the U.S. Secretary of the Interior on recreational fishing, boating and aquatic resource conservation issues.

Edmonston and the council will work on items such as improving access to recreational activities on America’s waters, conserving fisheries and waterways, combating invasive species, and a wide array of other topics that impact boating and fishing.

Throughout the council’s 26-year history, its members’ advice and recommendations have played a vital role in helping the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shape its fisheries and boating programs that are funded by boater and angler tax dollars. This includes the recent funding of $20.6 million in Boating Infrastructure Grants for 56 projects in 35 states that will create and improve transient dockage facilities for recreational vessels 26 feet in length or greater, offering hundreds of new slips and improved amenities for visiting boaters to safely tie up for the afternoon or night.