MRAA Surpasses 2018 BoatPAC Fundraising Goal

BoatPAC is the recreational boating industry’s political action committee. Since 2015, MRAA and NMMA have to support candidates running for Congress who will represent and protect the interests of the recreational boating industry on Capitol Hill. Last February, MRAA pledged to raise $20,000 from within the retail sector. In the 2018 calendar year, the MRAA board of directors and general membership donated more than $22,000 to BoatPAC. MRAA would like to thank all those that donated, your dollars help to support strong advocates for recreational boating and ensures that our priorities are protected.

But, we still need your help. Each year, we update our compliance records to ensure that we have a prior approval form signed by our members, which authorizes BoatPAC to communicate with or solicit you and your executive and administrative employees. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) requires that we have this form on file in order to send you BoatPAC related communications. Please know that BoatPAC will be respectful of your corporate policies when partnering with you on all communications.

Please help us update our records by signing the online BoatPAC Prior Approval form today.

Dealer to Dealer: February 2019

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

First Year of Continuous Certification Receives Rave Reviews

The Marine Industry Certified Dealership (MICD) program recently wrapped up its first full year of programming, and dealers have shared extremely positive feedback for the curriculum.
 
The Continuous Certification program replaces the previous Re-Certification process. Instead of simply checking the same boxes each year to remain Certified, dealers now complete a year-long education program that teaches them how to improve upon their already premier operations. Continuous Certification delivers relevant, timely, high-impact, in-depth education customized exclusively for Certified Dealers.

The 2018 courses include: Take Your Dealership from Good to Great with CRM by Sam Dantzler, Improve Loyalty with a Customer Experience Mindset by Theresa Syer, How to Create a High Accountability Dealership with John Spence, and Strategy: A Path to Improved Performance with David Spader.

After completing the courses, which include videos, skill check quizzes, discussion questions, activities, a final skill check and implementation-based homework, 95 percent of dealers reported that the information in the course was useful, practical and relevant. Ninety-three percent of dealers reported the courses were worth their time and money; 92 percent said they were likely or highly likely to improve their business as a result of the courses. And 91 percent said they’d recommend the course to their dealer friends.

“I am super impressed with Dealer Certification,” said Fred Book, director of customer relations at Marine Center of Indiana in Indianapolis. “Great content. Great speakers. MRAA in my opinion is doing an excellent job with this program. Our dealership has been doing this for many years and to see it evolve into this is super amazing.”

The MICD program has already kicked off Year 2 of the Continuous Certification program with the first quarter course, Develop Your Dealership’s Workforce Outside In by Jim Million, available to those who have already enrolled in the 2019 program.

MRAA Releases “Call for Solutions” for Dealer Week, Other Initiatives

MRAA today launched an open “Call for Solutions” to solicit educational partnerships throughout 2019. Instead of a traditional “Call for Speakers” for a single event, MRAA is interested in potential solutions across all of its educational offerings, including both its annual conference and expo, Dealer Week, and a host of other educational initiatives.

“Some topics are perfectly suited for a live presentation at Dealer Week, and we’re excited to receive those suggestions,” says Mike Davin, MRAA’s Director of Education. “Other material, however, is more appropriate to a white paper or an in-depth online learning course. For us, it’s all part of an ongoing process of dealer education throughout the year, so for 2019 we’re opening up our call to a greater variety of content.”

MRAA develops online and in-person courses, digital publications, webinars, tools, templates, sample processes, and a number of other educational offerings for dealers all year long, in partnership with experts from both inside and outside the marine industry.

In addition, during the next few months, the MRAA staff and MRAA’s Education Committee will be researching a plethora of potential trainers, educators and other experts for our 43rd annual conference, Dealer Week, which will provide an ALL NEW experience to our guests and partners Dec. 8-11 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla.

Potential partners can submit their solutions via an online form located here:

2019 MRAA Call for Solutions

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.

About Dealer Week
For more than 40 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week evolves as MRAA’s rebranded and reimagined annual conference and expo, a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. The MRAA envisions a brighter future for marine retail, and Dealer Week is the preeminent means for bringing that vision to life. The event will be hosted Dec. 8-11 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. Learn more at DealerWeek.com.

Dealer Week Surpasses 100 Dealer Registrations in First Week

One week after launching registration for Dealer Week, the all-new MRAA Annual Conference and Expo, more than 100 dealers have registered to attend the event.
 
The 100th registrant was Bob Bense, President and CEO, Superior Boat Repair & Sales of Rancho Cordova, Calif.
 
“We signed up for the new Dealer Week because the MRAA team continues to deliver information and resources that help us to prosper and grow as a marine dealer,” Bense said in an email to organizers.
 
Bense joins dealer registrants from 19 states and Canada who have already signed on to the event. That total only includes dealer registrants, not the numerous sponsors or exhibitors who have committed to the event, or the MRAA staff.
 
Upon learning that he was the 100th registrant for the event, Bense and his wife and co-owner, Kathy Bense, created a list of 50 reasons why they love MRAA’s events and have benefited from them as business owners. Those reasons include:

  • We enjoy time spent meeting dealers from all over the country and the world.
  • We get ideas, fresh ideas, to implement at the dealership.
  • We get to hear really entertaining and thought provoking speakers that inspire us to be better and do better.
  • We get to get away and get a break from the dealership, which helps us to relax and unwind with our staff.
  • We are able to meet with new vendors and learn about new products that we can purchase to help our business grow, like software.
  • We rekindle relationships with old friends that work at the boat manufacturers, some that are decades old.
  • We learn how to ride the wave through the good years and how to hold on to what we have created, during the bad.
  • We get the privilege of meeting other husband and wife dealership owners and we share what makes it all work.
  • We are reminded that we sell JOY, memories and a great quality of life.

“Each year, our team spends a lot of time and energy promoting the key deliverables of our annual conference, including the powerful education, the expo hall packed with business solutions, and so forth, but frankly, the list that Bob and Kathy sent us underscores that this event delivers real-world, meaningful impact for real business owners,” said Matt Gruhn, MRAA president. “It’s quite humbling for our team to witness this sincere outreach, and it only inspires us to meet and exceed all those expectations – and add in a few surprises as well. We are so excited to welcome all the dealers who have signed up for Dealer Week, and we sincerely appreciate everyone who has given Dealer Week an early vote of confidence.”
 
So far, Bob and Kathy have registered for the event, but they plan to bring other members of their team.
 
“The culture at Superior Boat Repair & Sales is to continually grow and learn,” Bob wrote to the MRAA. “We will be bringing several of our team members to the 2019 Dealer Week.”

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.

About Dealer Week
For more than 40 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week evolves as MRAA’s rebranded and reimagined annual conference and expo, a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. The MRAA envisions a brighter future for marine retail, and Dealer Week is the preeminent means for bringing that vision to life. The event will be hosted Dec. 8-11 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. Learn more at DealerWeek.com.

Correct Craft Becomes MRAA, Dealer Week Strategic Partner

Dealer Week will take place Dec. 8-11 in Tampa, Fla.

Correct Craft has joined the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas as a Strategic Partner, the highest level of MRAA Partner Membership, in support of MRAA’s newly reimagined Annual Conference and Expo, Dealer Week.

The MRAA has created an all-new approach to partner memberships by developing a year-round program that embeds these highest-level partners in MRAA’s strategic dialog and planning. In addition to their financial commitment, these partners have committed to bring industry knowledge, experience and other resources to support dealer education, through three-year partnerships.

“Correct Craft is honored to join MRAA as a Strategic Partner,” stated Correct Craft President and CEO Bill Yeargin. “Correct Craft and the MRAA organization are moving forward and through this partnership we believe we will be able to help advance our ‘Making Life Better’ culture for dealers that are on the front lines. We are excited that together we will be able to provide innovative opportunities for dealers which will make boating a more fun experience for our customers.”

Since 1925, Correct Craft has been a global marine industry leader. The Correct Craft family includes tournament inboard, freshwater fish and utility and recreational boats, as well as marine propulsion, an innovation subsidiary and watersports parks across the world.

Under the re-branded name of Dealer Week, MRAA will launch a new event experience designed specifically for boat and engine dealers along with their teams. In addition to the world-class educational programming that the marine industry has come to expect from the MRAA, Dealer Week will feature deep collaborative opportunities that deliver business solutions in all-new ways.

As part of this effort, MRAA created the Strategic Alliance, through which partners can support not only the MRAA and Dealer Week, but also provide input on MRAA’s strategic initiatives and priorities. The highest tier in the Strategic Alliance, known as Strategic Partners, represents an invitation-only opportunity to participate in and help shape strategic dialog with the MRAA board and staff. It also provides for maximum exposure to the marine industry in a year-round promotional campaign that seeks to identify these partners as the backbone of the MRAA, both from a financial and strategic perspective.

“Correct Craft and its leadership team share a passion for dealer excellence, as evidenced by the robust relationship MRAA has developed with them through Dealership Certification,” said Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “We’re so excited to be able to further fuel that passion with the significant opportunities we are co-creating in partnership with Correct Craft, our board and our other Strategic Partners for Dealer Week.”

About Correct Craft
Celebrating 94 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, and Bryant boat companies, Pleasurecraft Marine Engine Group, Watershed Innovation and Aktion Parks. For more information please visit www.correctcraft.com.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the MRAA, our team believes that for the marine industry to thrive, the dealers on the front lines of the industry must first find success. With that in mind, we work to create a strong and healthy boating industry by providing dealers with tools, resources and educational programs — such as MRAATraining.com, the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program, and Dealer Week, The MRAA Conference & Expo — and by representing those businesses with a powerful voice. For more information, visit mraa.com.

About Dealer Week
For more than 40 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week evolves as MRAA’s rebranded and reimagined annual conference and expo, a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. The MRAA envisions a brighter future for marine retail, and Dealer Week is the preeminent means for bringing that vision to life. The event will be hosted Dec. 8-11 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. Learn more at DealerWeek.com.

Dealer Week Registration Opens With New Earliest Bird Pricing

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas today launched registration for its newly reimagined annual conference, Dealer Week. Attendees can sign up for the event now at DealerWeek.com.
 
Dealer Week continues MRAA’s four-decade tradition of producing dealer-focused educational events. However, to bring this year’s experience to another level, MRAA went back the drawing board. The process began by reviewing research on the way people learn; it continued by studying and attending trailblazing conferences that are pushing the format forward; and it culminated with a strategic planning session that brought together dealers, manufacturers, suppliers and other marine industry leaders to capture what they wanted in an annual event.
 
Every aspect of the event was considered, including registration. That’s why attendees can sign up earlier than ever before with a new price point, Earliest Bird, that lasts through March 31. Earliest Bird offers pricing of $424 for MRAA Members and $524 for Non-Members, the lowest rates available in 2019.
 
“We’ve received so much early interest in Dealer Week that we decided to open registration earlier than we ever have before,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “We also decided to come out with the special rate because although this is going to be the biggest event we’ve ever hosted, we wanted to make sure it was the best possible value for dealers.”
 
MRAA is also offering a new guarantee for attendees. If they come to the event and report that they didn’t learn anything they can implement in their dealership, MRAA will refund the price of their admission.
 
“We wanted people to feel comfortable signing up early, knowing that they were guaranteed to get something out of the event,” says Mike Davin, MRAA’s Director of Education. “This is what we do – we build programs to make marine dealers more successful. With Dealer Week, we’re committed to delivering the most impactful dealer education event in the industry, with ideas that our attendees can immediately implement in their businesses.”
 
Stay tuned for further announcements about Dealer Week in the near future. Dealer Week takes place Dec. 8-11, 2019, at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla.

About Dealer Week
For more than 40 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week evolves as MRAA’s rebranded and reimagined annual conference and expo, a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. The MRAA envisions a brighter future for marine retail, and Dealer Week is the preeminent means for bringing that vision to life. Learn more at DealerWeek.com.

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.

Brunswick Dealer Advantage named MRAA, Dealer Week Strategic Partner

Brunswick, other Strategic Partners, will participate in dialog to help set
MRAA initiatives and priorities.

Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) and its Brunswick Dealer Advantage initiative have signed on as a Strategic Partner of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, the highest level of MRAA Partner Membership, in support for Dealer Week, MRAA’s newly reimagined Annual Conference and Expo.

Celebrating its 43rd annual conference in 2019, MRAA has created an all-new approach to partner memberships and conference support by developing a year-round program that embeds these highest-level partners in MRAA’s strategic dialog and planning. Brunswick Dealer Advantage, a leading supporter of the MRAA and its annual conference for many years, signed on for a three-year commitment.

“Brunswick Dealer Advantage has been a long-time supporter of the MRAA, and we are happy to partner with Matt and the MRAA team again in support of Dealer Week,” said Kirsten Schuchardt, Brunswick Dealer Advantage’s director of sales and dealer services. “The primary goal of Brunswick Dealer Advantage is to provide opportunities for our dealers to grow and to be successful in this industry. Dealer Week will give dealers more resources and tools to do just that and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

Brunswick Dealer Advantage represents one of the many programs available from Boating Services Network, Brunswick’s newly formed services division focused on expanding boating participation levels.  In partnership with dealers, marinas, and other marine service providers, Boating Services Network aims to attract the next generation of boaters and deliver superior boating experiences.  “As Boating Services Network leads Brunswick’s efforts to tap into emerging markets and attract the next generation of boaters, our dealers are critical to the success of those efforts,” said Cecil Cohn, Boating Services Network vice president. “Dealer Week and our partnership with the MRAA provides us with unique opportunities to support our dealers, as well as other industry partners who are aligned with the same mission to grow and improve the industry. We appreciate this opportunity and are excited for the future of this event.”

Under the re-branded name of Dealer Week, MRAA will launch a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower boat and engine dealers and their teams so they can continue to lead the marine industry to greater growth and success. In addition to the world-class educational programming that the marine industry has come to expect from the MRAA, Dealer Week will deliver deeper collaborative opportunities and richer experiences that will showcase business solutions in all-new ways.

As part of this effort, MRAA has created a collaborative Strategic Alliance, through which Partners can support not only the MRAA and Dealer Week, but also provide input on MRAA’s strategic initiatives and priorities. The highest tier in the Strategic Alliance, known as Strategic Partners, represents an invitation-only opportunity to participate in and help shape strategic dialog with the MRAA board and staff. It also provides for maximum exposure to the marine industry in a year-round promotional campaign that seeks to identify these Partners as the backbone of the MRAA, both from a financial and strategic perspective.

“We are so excited to be working with Partners whose goals and vision for the marine industry totally align with what we’re working to accomplish for our members,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA president. “After a number of years partnering with Brunswick on Dealership Certification and other programs, we know that the team at Brunswick believes that healthy and successful dealers lead to a healthy and successful industry, and we’re so grateful for its continued commitment to work together to develop the resources and educational programming to make that a reality.”

About Brunswick Dealer Advantage
Brunswick Dealer Advantage is Brunswick Corporation’s industry-leading dealer services program designed to help dealers build long-term growth and profitability. The program is available at no cost to all Brunswick marine, fitness and billiards dealers in the US and Canada. Launched in 2007, the program is now serving over 2,800 Brunswick dealerships.

Brunswick Dealer Advantage offers a suite of business building services to support all major areas of dealer operations. These services offer new ways to attract more customers, reward employees, improve dealership operations and lower costs. Dealers can choose the providers that best fit their unique needs and sign-up is only a phone call away. Learn more at brunswickdealeradvantage.com.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the MRAA, our team believes that for the marine industry to thrive, the dealers on the front lines of the industry must first find success. With that in mind, we work to create a strong and healthy boating industry by providing dealers with tools, resources and educational programs — such as MRAATraining.com, the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program, and Dealer Week, The MRAA Conference & Expo — and by representing those businesses with a powerful voice. For more information, visit mraa.com.

About Dealer Week
For more than 40 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week evolves as MRAA’s rebranded and reimagined annual conference and expo, a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. The MRAA envisions a brighter future for marine retail, and Dealer Week is the preeminent means for bringing that vision to life. Learn more at dealerweek.com.

Cobalt 20 Group commits full endorsement of MRAA’s Dealer Week

Group of industry-leading dealers endorses, registers for MRAA’s annual conference.

The Cobalt Boats 20 Group, one of the marine industry’s leading dealer groups, has given its full endorsement of Dealer Week, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas’ Annual Conference and Expo, to be held Dec. 8-11, 2019, in Tampa, Fla.

Made up of 20 non-competing dealers, 20 Groups meet regularly throughout the year to share financials, best practices and insights in an effort to collaborate on each others’ success. The Cobalt 20 Group, which is facilitated by David Parker of Parker Business Planning, represents many of the marine industry’s top dealers, including not only eight of the top 10 Cobalt dealers in the world, but also 13 of the Top 100 Dealers; including six of the top 20 among the Top 100 and three Hall of Fame inductees/two-time Dealers of the Year.

“Our colleagues represented in the Cobalt 20 Group appreciate all the great work that the MRAA does on behalf of its dealers,” the Group said in a joint statement, “and we are fully confident that Dealer Week will be a huge success.”

The influential group of dealers has a history of supporting dealer-focused industry initiatives. For example, in 2011, when MRAA underwent a leadership change, the Cobalt 20 Group gave significant financial support and an endorsement of the organization to then-incoming-President Matt Gruhn. This latest announcement continues the group’s show of support for the association and the initiatives it has set forth in strengthening the opportunities it provides marine retailers.

“Our focus is and always has been about helping dealers grow and find greater success,” says Gruhn. “As Dealer Week has been built for dealers and by dealers, we are thrilled to have the support and endorsement from the Cobalt 20 Group and each of these dealers as we embark on this new era.”

About Dealer Week
For more than 40 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week evolves as MRAA’s rebranded and reimagined annual conference and expo, a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. The MRAA envisions a brighter future for marine retail, and Dealer Week is the preeminent means for bringing that vision to life. Learn more at dealerweek.com.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the MRAA, our team believes that for the marine industry to thrive, the dealers on the front lines of the industry must first find success. With that in mind, we work to create a strong and healthy boating industry by providing dealers with tools, resources and educational programs — such as MRAATraining.com, the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program, and Dealer Week, The MRAA Conference & Expo — and by representing those businesses with a powerful voice. For more information, visit mraa.com.

Join Us in D.C. and Educate Your Representatives

You are the industry’s most effective advocate. No lobbyist is as influential as an employer or employee from a Congress member’s district or state. Attending ABC and participating in Capitol Hill visits with others from your state is the best way to educate your representatives on issues that impact your business. It’s your opportunity to build and strengthen relationships that lead to a brighter future for the recreational boating industry.

This May 13-15, MRAA and other representatives of the recreational boating industry will convene in Washington DC for the annual American Boating Congress. ABC is the industry’s primary political and legislative gathering, where all sectors of recreational boating work for three full days to present a unified front to congress on the critical issues impacting our industry.

MRAA will once again be participating as a sponsor and co-host of the event. The program will include appearances by Washington lawmakers and media personalities, customized visits to Capitol Hill, and exclusive events. Please contact MRAA’s Public Policy Manager Will Higgins to learn more: William@mraa.com.

Register for ABC here.