Yarmouth, Maine — New boat offerings at Yarmouth Boat Yard have grown once again. The dealership recently signed on to become a dealer for Cutwater Boats.
Cutwater Boats produces four models, each a contemporary interpretation of the classic downeast style, offering exceptional interior volume, a long list of standard features, and a revolutionary new hull form that combines a range of hydrodynamic design elements to deliver superior ride comfort, speed, economy, range and handling characteristics. And for all their onboard attributes, each Cutwater model is trailerable, making these boats perfect for exploring Maine’s many waterways.
“Expanding our offerings here at Yarmouth Boat Yard to include the Cutwater line fits perfectly into our business model. We already sell Ranger Tugs at our Moose Landing Marina location so logistically, it’s a pretty simple addition,” explained Steve Arnold, owner of Yarmouth Boat Yard, Moose Landing Marina, and Freedom Boat Club of Maine. “With Maine’s extensive shoreline and frequently changing weather patterns, cruiser style boats are very popular with our customers. These functional cruisers deliver performance, comfort and style that we believe our customers will love.”
“We were extremely impressed with how well Moose Landing Marina has done representing Ranger Tugs in Maine so when we were looking for a new dealer for our Cutwater Boats line, it made sense to reach out to their sister location Yarmouth Boat Yard,” stated Jeff Messmer, Vice President of Cutwater Boats. “Steve excels at building strong teams of professionals and we are confident they will excel at representing, servicing and promoting our boats in the northeast market.”
About Yarmouth Boat Yard
Yarmouth Boat Yard has been servicing and selling new and quality used boats since 1948. The full-service marina offers over 100 slips and both outdoor and indoor heated winter boat storage. Our expert technicians can handle everything from painting and detailing to engine overhauls, routine maintenance, or preparing your engine for the season. Our certified electronics specialists can assist with service and installation of all your marine electronics. For more information on Yarmouth Boat Yard, visit YarmouthBoatYard.com or call 207-846-9050.
About Cutwater Boats
As a division of Fluid Motion, LLC, manufacturer of the popular fleet of Ranger Tugs, Cutwater Boats offers complementary styling and performance, built to the same high standards of quality that have earned Fluid Motion a position of leadership in the boating industry, to provide cruising families a broad spectrum of choices in size, style and configuration. Count on the experience and resources of Fluid Motion to drive the emergence of Cutwater Boats as a favored choice among those who recognize an exceptional value when they see it.
MRAA to Host Second Annual Opening Night Awards Celebration
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that it will host the second annual Opening Night Awards Celebration at the upcoming Marine Dealer Conference & Expo.
The MRAA Awards Celebration will shine a spotlight on marine industry workforce efforts, showcasing a series of awards and scholarships to be presented by both the MRAA and the MRAA Educational Foundation. Other recognitions will include Marine Industry Certified Dealerships, as well as the second annual MRAA Lifetime Achievement Award.
“In bringing this exciting event back to the marine industry for a second year, we’re looking to not only top the energy, laughs and celebratory vibe of last year’s event, which kicked off our annual conference in style,” explains Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA, “but also to recognize the men and women who work tirelessly to make our industry such a great place to work.”
The MRAA Educational Foundation will present several life-changing scholarships, worth a total of more than $30,000, including Technical Scholarships, the Marine Industry College Scholarship, the Kevin Lodder Scholarship, and the Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship. Additionally, the Foundation will recognize the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year. The MRAA itself will recognize Marine Industry Certified Dealerships, in addition to honoring a MRAA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
In addition to the recognition of these outstanding individuals, the event will feature a Marine Industry Talent Show. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite acts through their donations, which will benefit the MRAA Educational Foundation.
“Last year’s event not only celebrated the incredible passion and hard work that fuels our industry,” says Liz Walz, Vice President & Director of Education at the MRAA and Executive Director of the MRAA Educational Foundation, “but it also was a ton of fun. We can’t wait to learn more about the hidden talents within the marine industry community as part of this year’s event.”
The MRAA Opening Night Awards Celebration has already generated the sponsorship support of Barletta Boats, Correct Craft, Priority One Financial Services, Protective Asset Protection, Boating Industry and Soundings Trade Only. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Allison Gruhn.
To be held Sunday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, the MRAA Awards Celebration will immediately follow the MDCE’s regular opening night poolside reception. That reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., after which the doors to the Awards Celebration will open to all MDCE attendees for entertainment, awards and scholarships presentations.
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.
MRAA History: Panel Dicussions
Panel discussion have been a hallmark of MRAA’s Annual Conference throughout the years. This two-tiered panel tackled the problems of the day through these dealer experts.
Track customer experiences at your dealership
It’s been 19 years since Joseph Pine and James Gilmore authored their groundbreaking book, “The Experience Economy,” which boldly predicted that “future economic growth lies in the value of experiences and transformations — goods and services are no longer enough.”
Whether Pine and Gilmore were premature in their prediction or it’s simply that their insight has multiplied over the last two decades, it’s become extraordinarily clear that their speculation has never been more accurate than it is today.
Experiences matter more now than ever before, and everywhere we turn, experts and businesses alike are preaching on the power of experiences. And please note: Customer experience-focused approaches for businesses are far different than the rather bland thinking that surrounds customer service and customer satisfaction.
As author, consultant and speaker Theresa Syer noted in her Dealership Certification Course, “Improve Loyalty With A Customer Experience Mindset,” customer service is defined as the most basic of interactions between a customer and a company. Its core focus is a single transaction that takes place at a specific time. “The customer asks for something. The employee provides it. Transaction complete,” Syer notes.
The customer experience, on the other hand, is the sum total of every interaction a customer has with your business. It includes the customer’s overall perception after every moment of contact throughout their relationship with your business. It’s the net result of your website, your phone greeting, your in-person meet and greet, your sales process, all the way through to interactions with the delivery person, service team and the yard staff. Customer service is a part of the experience, but it doesn’t define it, Syer explains.
In this scenario, you might provide outstanding customer service, but one other touchpoint — as small as it may be — could destroy the customer experience. Do you know for sure, how well your employees are focused on providing an outstanding customer experience?
Here’s a tool for you, courtesy of the Continuous Certification Course Theresa created for MRAA and its Certified Dealers. It’s just an introductory experience log that introduces participants to this course, which is rich with many other tools and resources to help you provide your customers with a much more rewarding experience. Print this form and use it to log the experiences you’re having every day when interacting with other businesses. And then use again to think through how your customers are interacting with your business. I recommend you have some of your customers log their experience with you so you can learn from it.
As Pine and Gilmore predicted back in the late 90s, customer experiences are the currency we deal with today. They matter more than we ever could have expected. Over the next few weeks, you’ll hear stories in this blog about some incredible experiences our staff members have had, and you’ll hear stories about some horrible experiences we have had.
Let’s start working today to ensure your customers are having only incredible experiences.
Outdoor Recreation Reps Discuss Growth and Enhancement with U.S. Agriculture Dept Leaders
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) leaders met with U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Steven Censky to discuss the essential role played by the Department – notably the USDA Forest Service – in providing diverse and high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities and growing the outdoor recreation economy, especially in rural communities. The Forest Service provides a wide range of developed-site and dispersed recreation on 193 million acres of forests and grasslands and was described as vital to the health of the outdoor recreation industry by ORR Chairman Thom Dammrich, the President of the National Marine Industry Association. ORR Vice Chairman Frank Hugelmeyer, President of the RV Industry Association, reminded the Deputy Secretary that outdoor recreation comprised 2% of the nation’s GDP and was the nation’s 15th largest industry. The recreation industry representatives discussed increasing the use of public-private partnerships to support outdoor recreation, including the modernizing and expanding of recreation facilities, improving trails and expanding connectivity. The leaders noted these efforts would help advance Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s pursuit of rural prosperity. The Deputy Secretary noted the Department’s role as “lucky trustees of some of the most special places in the country.” He and other senior USDA officials including Acting Deputy Under Secretary Daniel J. Jiron cheered the role of partnerships including with recreation businesses and clubs and called for the modernization of national forest campgrounds. “You are important partners,” the Deputy Secretary said, “and we want you to be even more important partners.”
The group encouraged the Department to showcase and expand its key recreation-related successes like the revamped www.recreation.gov, facilitation of year-round recreation at ski resorts operating on national forests, use of innovative financial strategies, and more. The Deputy Secretary urged the recreation industry to help his department “better understand today’s and tomorrow’s recreation visitors to the national forests.” ORR and USDA agreed to regularly discuss opportunities for collaborative efforts.
Other key topics covered during the discussion included: controlling wildfire costs to protect the Forest Service’s broad stewardship mission; utilizing pilot projects to cut through red tape and promote innovation; and developing a new recreation strategy for the agency.
- Ed Klim of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association told USDA that national forests hosted 100,000 miles of public snowmobile trails – out of a national total of 200,000 – virtually all maintained by volunteers and state programs.
- Glenn Hughes of the American Sportfishing Association labeled fishing in national forests world-class and praised Forest Service efforts to increase participation in the sport.
- Phil Ingrassia of the RV Dealers Association noted the department’s receptivity to new recreation opportunities including ebikes and applauded actions in the Mendocino National Forest to avoid recreation closures due to budget problems by inviting an innovative partnership with the private sector.
- Margaret Bailey of CHM Government Services described opportunities to overcome limits on private investments which could convert dated Forest Service campgrounds into national forest gateways attracting more urban Americans.
- Tim Buche of the Motorcycle Industry Council lauded USDA leadership on recreation, cited the planned mountain biking trail system in the Wayne National Forest and urged the department to communicate more widely its initiatives.
- Mary Ellen Sprenkel of The Corps Network called the Forest Service the leader in aiding young veterans to transition into natural resource jobs and invited the Deputy Secretary and the Secretary to visit the many sites where 25,000 youth and young adults are working on public lands.
- Dan Forster of the Archery Trade Association invited the Secretary to be interviewed by key recreation publications and called for the department to work with the recreation industry to expand opportunities for youth to connect school-based learning to national forest fun.
- ORR President Derrick Crandall noted the slogan used by national forests as the “nation’s playgrounds” and that outdoor recreation was the top contributor by the agency to national GDP.
The USDA meeting was to include USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, former Governor of Georgia and personally active in achieving a “wildfire fix” this spring which should allow the Forest Service to curtail its borrowing of recreation funds to fight fires and return to a more robust recreation mission. The Secretary’s participation was precluded by his participation in a White House event announcing tariff-related assistance to the nation’s farmers. Secretary Perdue did join the recreation leaders briefly at the end of the meeting.
The USDA/ORR meeting followed the summer meeting of the ORR Board of Directors. For more information on ORR, visit www.recreationroundtable.org.
If you have any questions about legislative issues, or something happening in your state, please contact Will Higgins.
Barletta Pontoon Boats to Host Open House/Dealer Meeting
Bristol, IN — Barletta Pontoon Boats, located in Bristol, IN, is pleased to announce the dates for its inaugural Open House/Dealer Meeting. The Open House will take place the week of August 6-10, 2018. The official dealer meeting will take place August 14-16th.
The Open House will be hosted at the Barletta Pontoon Boat manufacturing facility in Bristol, IN. In a more informal setting, Barletta will be hosting dealers and prospects who may not be able to attend the official dealer meeting due to other engagements. Several boats will be on display at the manufacturing facility, and boats will also be available for on-water demonstrations at a local lake. The Barletta Pontoon Boat team will be available to answer questions, give product walk-throughs, lead plant tours and provide as much information as needed to help dealers and prospects make informed decisions. The sales team will be available for dealer signings and order writing.
On August 14th, the Barletta team will transition the Open House to the Dealer Meeting location at Center Six-One-Five in Elkhart, IN. While still maintaining an informal “feel”, the official dealer meeting will offer some structure including product training, pricing and promotions discussions, opportunities to network with other Barletta Pontoon Boat dealers and share best practices, and opportunities to network with Barletta’s vendor partners. Just as the Open House, the sales team will be available for dealer signings and order writing.
“I don’t know if you would call this our “official” launch party, but it kind of has that feel,” stated Bill Fenech, President and Co-Owner of Barletta Boat Company. “Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and spend time with many of our dealers and their teams. And the energy that I’ve felt in these brief encounters has been incredible. I can only imagine what it will feel like getting these high-caliber, high-quality dealer partners all in one spot, at one time. The energy will be off the charts. I can’t wait…this is the stuff I love.”
And Barletta plans on the energy carrying through into MY2019 with the eagerly anticipated release of its next series, the Barletta E-Class (Elite) pontoon boat lineup. Affectionately called the “little brother” of the L-Class (Luxury), the E-Class will have an MSRP one price-point below the L-Class, yet maintain a lot of the DNA of its successful “big brother.”
“From the dealer and retail response, we feel we knocked the L-Class out of the park,” stated Jeff Haradine, VP of Sales. “We were very careful to not lose the “mojo” we created with the L-Class, and still build a pontoon boat that will very easily stand on its own merits. With the price-point, we have the opportunity to reach a whole new group of potential pontoon boat buyers who are clamoring for our products.”
About Barletta Pontoon Boats
Offering a customer-focused/dealer-centric approach, Barletta Pontoon Boats brings a unique approach to the marine industry. Barletta is partnered with Mercury Outboards and Yamaha Outboards. To learn more about Barletta Pontoon Boats, visit www.BarlettaPontoonBoats.com or get engaged with us on social media.
Dealer to Dealer: July
In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge leaders are facing today?
There are “co-biggest” problems. 1) PreK-12 education – current model is not developing an employable product. There is excessive remedial work required whether by the post-secondary degree programs or employers. 2) Workers Comp /Health insurance – the cost continues to rise at an unsustainable rate. The delivery models do not seem to be user friendly or efficient. – Jim Dragseth, Whiticar Boat Works
Finding qualified mechanics. – Dennis Benish, Winona Marina
Finding and keeping good service personal. – Robert Paton, Patona Bay Boat Service
The biggest challenge we have in this industry in my opinion is attracting motivated staff members. I don’t want to get all political or anything although I think we need to put more effort into vetting people migrating to this country who want to work. As much as I hate to admit it I believe our growth in numbers are going to come from people who are more motivated then the average young American citizen. We need to focus on investing in people who look at being a mechanic or tradesman as an opportunity and not an entry level or stepping stone job. – Rob Brown, Clark Marine
Buyouts and staffing of employees are some of the biggest challenges for leaders today. – Ken Sorley. Marineland Boating Center
Each month, MRAA connects with dealership management on a timely and relevant topic and publishing their insights at MRAA.com. Tell us what you have to say about this month’s question by commenting below and participating in the conversation. Also, watch for next month’s question.
Congressional Boating Caucus Hosts Capitol Hill Briefing on Ethanol Labeling
On Thursday, the Congressional Boating Caucus and the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus hosted a panel discussion on why Congress needs to pass the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2018 – bipartisan legislation that would more clearly label harmful and corrosive E15 ethanol blended gasoline at pumps across the country and better protect engines in boats, motorcycles, pre-2001 model year vehicles, and outdoor power equipment.
Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA-08) – a member of the Congressional Boating Caucus and a lead sponsor of the legislation – delivered opening remarks highlighting the bill and encouraging all stakeholders to keep working for its passage. NMMA’s Nicole Vasilaros moderated the panel, which featured representatives from a broad group of industries impacted by E15, including John Booher, Briggs and Stratton; Martin Peters, Yamaha; Mike Sponseller, Dunn Lewis Motorcycles (on behalf of the American Motorcyclist Association and Motorcycle Riders Foundation); and Chris Edmonston, Boat U.S.
According to Ms. Vasilaros, the “Look Before You Pump” campaign has helped with educating consumers on fuel choice and type, but more safeguards are needed to protect consumers from misfuelling. Vasilaros added that marine engines are federally prohibited from using E15 and Congress must ensure all boaters are aware of this.
Yamaha’s representative estimated that there are more than 10 million marine engines in use today. Mr. Peters made it clear that retrofitting all legacy products to run on E15 is simply not realistic.
The vast majority of boats are towable, meaning boaters typically fill up at their local gas station, said Mr. Edmonston. This is just one of the many reasons why Edmonston believes a more comprehensive education and labeling effort, extending past marinas, is required.
Mr. Booher called the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act a great opportunity to inform consumers of what type of fuel they are receiving and what it can be used for. Similarly, Mr. Sponseller praised the bill for simplifying the education process and breaking down language barriers by deploying instructive images.
If you have any questions about legislative issues, or something happening in your state, please contact Will Higgins.
Recreational Boating Industry Welcomes President Trump’s Executive Order on Workforce Development
Last Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to prioritize and expand workforce development, which seeks to create and fill American jobs with American workers. The boating industry stands ready to hire a new generation of workers into stable, well-paying careers, and the recreation has worked closely with the administration and lawmakers to provide full funding for workforce and technical education programs.
President Trump’s order establishes the National Council for the American Worker with the goal of developing a national strategy for training and retraining workers and utilize data to connect American businesses, workers, and educational institutions. The council will be comprised of top administration officials focused on equipping Americans with skills necessary to move from an entry-level job into a lifelong career. An outside advisory board of leaders from the business and education communities will work with the administration to implement job training and workforce development programs across the country.
Prioritizing technical, vocational, and apprenticeship programs is a top priority of the recreational marine industry. The industry is facing a shortfall of qualified workers for manufacturing, technicians, and service repairs. According to a study by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, by 2019 there will be a 31,000 job shortage in the U.S. marine industry. In May of this year, the marine industry unveiled the “10+1 Strategy: A Marine Industry Guide to Growing the Workforce” designed to help address the workforce challenges facing the industry.
To view President Trump’s executive order fact sheet, click here.
To view the Council of Economic Advisers report on Addressing America’s Reskilling Challenge, click here.
If you have any questions about legislative issues, or something happening in your state, please contact Will Higgins.
ORR Welcomes Outcomes from the Interior Department’s Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting
Committee Agenda Will Help Achieve Expanded Recreation Access and Improved Infrastructure
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, of which MRAA is a founding member, welcomed key outcomes from the inaugural meeting of the Interior Department’s “Made in America” Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. The committee discussed approaches that would allow more Americans to enjoy the nation’s great outdoors, and committee leaders were elected.
Among solutions addressed were the need for strategic public-private partnerships – a top ORR priority that will expand outdoor recreation access by improving everything from transportation to Wi-Fi access, campgrounds, lodging, boat ramps and restrooms, and better use of technology. These upgrades will significantly improve experiences for millions of visitors to America’s public lands and waterways in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
“Yesterday’s first meeting of the ‘Made in America’ Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee marks a key moment for outdoor recreation in the United States,” said Derrick Crandall, president of ORR and a member of the advisory committee. “With the diversity and experience of the committee’s members, the Department of the Interior will gain important new insights on ways to enhance access to America’s great outdoors and attract the investments needed to modernize infrastructure and overcome the maintenance backlog of our public lands and waterways.”
The committee, formally established by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in March 2018, was tasked to provide the Interior with solutions that will give Americans more access to public lands and waters and improve visitor experience. The first meeting of the advisory committee comes just months after the federal government formally recognized the economic impact of the outdoor recreation industry. In early 2018, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis included the outdoor recreation industry in its U.S. GDP calculations for the first time. The findings showed the outdoor recreation industry makes up 2 percent of U.S. GDP, surpassing other sectors such as agriculture; petroleum and coal; and computer and electronic products.
“The Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee will play a significant role in helping drive commonsense solutions that grow the outdoor recreation economy by expanding access to more Americans,” said Thom Dammrich, chairman of ORR and president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “We appreciate Secretary Zinke and leaders at the Interior Department for bringing more voices to the table and seeking direct input from our community on steps that will improve recreation in the United States. ORR and its members look forward to sharing our ideas and experience as the committee advises the Department going forward.”
In addition to discussions on specific solutions for expanding outdoor recreation access, yesterday’s meeting of the Advisory Committee included sessions led by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Senior National Advisor to the Secretary Rick May, National Park Service Deputy directors Dan Smith and Lena McDowall and other departmental leaders. The secretary reported to the group on efforts to eliminate the department’s multi-billion dollar backlog in deferred maintenance and on plans to reorganize the department. The committee as a whole established four subcommittees, with a focus on technology; partnerships; public access and infrastructure; and departmental reorganization.
The committee elected Amanda Covington, senior vice president of Vista Outdoor, Inc., as its chair and Bill Yeargin, CEO of Correct Craft, Inc., as its vice chair. The committee plans to hold its next meeting in November 2018. The committee also received public comments identifying additional organizations interested in supporting its efforts. Further information is available through its website.
If you have any questions about legislative issues, or something happening in your state, please contact Will Higgins.
