Grady-White Boats Finalizes Partnership with MRAA

 

 

Iconic manufacturer supports MRAA mission of ongoing development of boat dealers

“Here at Grady-White, we have always believed in the importance of having the very best dealership network possible to support our customers and products,” Joey Weller, vice president of sales at Grady-White, said. “The dealers are the first people our customers come in contact with, who they talk to about their boating dreams and who help those dreams of the GradyLife come true.  We are pleased to support MRAA and their efforts to help in the ongoing development of dealers providing them additional resources and training, resulting in an exceptional boating experience for all of our customers.”

“Grady-White Boats has led by example for more than 50 years, and joining MRAA as a Partner Member illustrates their commitment to supporting North American marine retailers,” MRAA President Matt Gruhn said. “Helping dealers grow and find greater success represents a key pillar of MRAA’s mission, and we’re proud to call Grady-White Boats an ally in that endeavor.”

MRAA Joins Coalition Supporting the Sportfishing Act of 2016

A controversial proposal to implement a 10,500-acre marine reserve in Biscayne National Park was finalized in 2015, despite strong opposition from the fishing and boating community and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  S. 3099 would put in place several requirements the National Park Service would need to meet before implementing any fishing restrictions in Biscayne National Park, including basing the decision on sound fisheries management; prioritizing the state’s science, and ensuring it is the least restrictive measure necessary.

The Biscayne National Park marine reserve has been an issue of concern for numerous Members of Congress. The House of Representatives passed a bill, led by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), and 36 other sponsors, to require the National Park Service and Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to have approval from state fish and wildlife agencies before closing state waters to recreational or commercial fishing. Similar legislation, co-sponsored by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Rubio, was recently included in a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, which Cassidy chairs.

“The Billfish Conservation Act is one of the most significant legislative achievements for marine fisheries conservation in recent years, and we are thankful for the continued diligence of Senators Nelson and Rubio on this important issue,” said Rob Kramer, president of the International Game Fish Association. “We are proud to support S. 3099 as a very positive bill for fisheries conservation and angler access.”

 

Regulator Marine, MRAA Partner on Dealer Success

 src=

Regulator Marine, builders of the Finest Offshore Sportfishing Boats and home of The Legendary Ride, and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas have formed a multi-faceted partnership to help Regulator Marine dealers find even greater success in the year ahead.

As part of this partnership, Regulator Marine has joined MRAA as a Platinum Partner Member, the highest level of membership available. In addition, the boat builder has sponsored its dealers in joining the MRAA by paying for a one-year Retail Membership for each of its dealerships.

Finally, Regulator Marine is sponsoring its dealers’ registration for the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, to be held Nov. 15-18 in Orlando. The company will pay for two people from each dealership location to attend the four-day event. MDCE features more than 30 educational sessions geared toward helping dealers improve personally and professionally in areas like leadership, management, sales, marketing and service.

“We believe that membership in the MRAA will afford our Regulator dealers with an opportunity to learn more,” says Joan Maxwell, President of Regulator Marine, “to use those takeaways to manage their businesses better, and ultimately have a positive impact on Regulator’s business.”

The MRAA Retail Membership gives all Regulator Marine dealers and their employees direct access to the MRAA Rewards Program, which features more than 30 cost-savings, revenue-generating, and education-focused benefits. The average MRAA member that used the MRAA benefits in 2014 saved $685.55, earned $997.91 in additional revenues and had free access to educational resources that are valued at more than $9,500 in total.

The MDCE, which has been voted by MRAA Members as the No. 1 benefit that the association offers, features world-class training and educational opportunities that are specific to boat and engine dealers. Through a pair of keynotes, 12 in-depth pre-conference workshops, and 20 general sessions, the event shares ideas, strategies, best practices and expert advice that dealers can implement immediately upon returning to their businesses.

“The MRAA and its benefits, along with the MDCE, have been designed to deliver results for today’s dealers,” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “We are very honored that Regulator Marine would not only recognize the tools and resources we offer, but also endorse us in such a significant way. We look forward to welcoming those Regulator Marine dealers that were not already a part of the MRAA family and helping them utilize the resources we have available.”

About Regulator Marine

Since 1988, Regulator Marine has raised the bar time and again in pursuit of the legendary ride.We don’t cut corners. We don’t compromise. We check, test, and recheck every square inch of each and every boat, ensuring that you are getting nothing short of marine engineering perfection.

Built in North Carolina and tested against the challenging conditions of the Outer Banks, Regulator boats are seriously tough sportfishers known for a dry, soft, and comfortable ride.

With a full line of the finest in offshore sportfishing boats, Regulator delivers legendary fit, finish & ride in every model. The first-ever 41 and 34SS lead the fleet with every imaginable feature to entertain with ease and pursue the offshore catch; the newly redesigned 34 and best-selling 28 deliver the rugged center console heritage Regulator is know for; and the 25 and 23 offer every amenity for serious fishermen and those who relish family time on the water.

Developed in the challenging conditions of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Regulators are built one hull at a time, for a select few. These are seriously tough sportfishers engineered to withstand and perform – matched by an extraordinary smooth, dry, and comfortable ride.

The experts at Regulator consider every detail and plan each model with the customer in mind. Tackle centers designed by fishermen for fishermen, oversized livewells and storage compartments to keep your equipment accessible and dry, and a convenient layout that allows you to make the most of your time on the water. Clean lines, thoughtful design and a dedication to outstanding fit and finish make your experience more rewarding with every ride.

Every Regulator on the water today shares the same proven hull design – a deep-vee with 24 degrees of deadrise at the transom, designed by renowned Naval Architect Lou Codega. Regulator’s boats reflect his extensive knowledge and passion for offshore fishing and prepare you for the unpredictable nature of the marine environment. It’s the Codega hull design that delivers the soft ride Regulator is known for, and it’s the company’s dedication to quality, testing and evaluation that realize that promise.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the companies that interact with the boater in their community must thrive. Those businesses determine the boater’s experience and are the leading factor in the industry’s success. MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those businesses, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com.

Prioritizing Tasks to Streamline Dealership Communication

To dos, appointments, deadlines and customer demands.

 

It seems with the passing of each day the list of things we need to do, need to tell someone else to do and the things people ask us to do continually increases. Since the recession of 2008-09, the recreational marine industry has seen single-digit percentage growth year over year growth. However, like the broad U.S. economy, hiring has not increased to match this growth.

 

Dealers and boatyards are doing more with less to ensure that they are prepared for the next cyclical downturn. The best strategy to ensure that your team is maximizing their potential is to continually optimize and refine the “3 Ps” (having the right people, processes and products in place for growth).

 

In my previous post, I outlined how the free mobile apps from Google can help dealers and boatyards improve both communications and collaboration within their business. The great news about these apps is they are free and mobile.

 

But, as I outlined, there are some definite pitfalls that should be considered: 1) they lack an effective way to dispatch and quickly re-prioritize tasks and 2) they are disconnected from the commonly used dealer management and back-office accounting systems. Both of these items can be overcome by using a purpose-built solution designed to solve these problems.

 

Technician Coordination

 

In an ideal world it would be great if service managers could create a schedule for the week, allocating each time slot on the calendar that a specific task (job) is going to take place. But as I outlined in my previous post, there are a number of things that can wreck a well-designed schedule before lunch. Service managers and foreman need a way to quickly prioritize and dispatch tasks while ensuring that their technicians are alerted whenever a scheduling change takes place.

 

Service managers need the ability to see a list of all the “open” tasks assigned to them and quickly assign technicians to those jobs. Furthermore, when events change at the dealership or boatyard (which is a guarantee), the service manager needs a quick and easy way to reprioritize those tasks.

 

Using an app customized for service management can enable a technician to view all of the open tasks that are assigned to him or her on any computer or mobile device with a web browser.

 

MyTaskit is one such service management software app, and below is a screen shot of the MyTaskit Pro task grid, where service managers can organize their work. A service manager can view tasks assigned to him, to another service manager or all of the tasks for the whole yard. Columns on the grid can be removed, added or moved from left to right depending on the service manager’s preference. The grid below shows the number of tasks per work order, the description of the work order, boat name, tech(s) assigned, subcontractor(s) assigned and the customer promise date.


 

 

At this point the service manager can click on the Work Description of the task, and this will navigate him to the task manager.

 

If the task grid is where work is organized, the task manager is where work is actually done. Here the service manager can assign the task to a technician, add photos, videos or documents as necessary that he wants the tech to have access to, and include any technician notes on things he feels the tech should pay special attention too.


 

 

Once the technician has been assigned the task, the service manager can then use the task grid to prioritize the technician’s tasks. The screen shot below shows the task priorities for a technician named “Bobby Bottom.”


 


In this example, the technicians are using smartphones to track their tasks, log hours, add notes and add photos/videos as necessary. When the tasks are prioritized (or re-prioritized), the technician will receive an email like the one below on their smartphone.


 


All the tech has to do is tap on the word “here” in their email and they will be taken directly to their prioritized tasks. The screen shot below shows the tasks that the tech has been assigned, with the highest priority on top.


 


Say Goodbye to Double Entry

 

In most of the dealerships and boatyards I visit, there is a process I see repeated over and over again — the manual entry of time cards.

 

Most technicians track the time they work on a specific job using some form of a time sheet. The form is created using Word or Excel and provides the technician with a place to write down the name of the job, the hours worked and a description of what was done.

 


These time sheets are then entered into a dealer management or back-office accounting system for billing purposes. It typically takes an admin anywhere from 1-4 hours per day to enter in the employees’ time sheets. Not only is this process inefficient, the chance for data entry errors increases as well.

 

A good service management software can solve this problem by allowing technicians to enter labor hours and comments on the tasks assigned to them by their service manager. Furthermore, the labor hours and comments can be synced with a company’s operations software so the time goes right on the work order. 

 

We will use our example from above to show how labor and comments, as well as any photos, videos or documents, can be added to a task synced with a work order. The screen shot below shows the expanded view of the prioritized task from the tech’s smartphone. The task is now green since the technician tapped the “start” button to effectively start the job.


 


From here the tech can review any photos, videos or documents that the service manager (or customer) has uploaded to this task. The tech can also add more photos, videos or documents to further illustrate the nature of the issue being worked on. A picture is worth a 1,000 words and often times a photo can remove any ambiguity as it relates to the detailed nature of some repair jobs.

 

Once the task is started, the technician can tap the “Log Hours & Expenses” button to enter their time. The app allows technicians to do this manually through a start-and-stop timer, or if this workflow isn’t efficient for the technician, they can simply enter start time and stop time, or their total hours.


 


Technicians can also enter “Tech Comments” by typing them on their smartphone or using the built-in speech to text recognition available on all Apple, Android and Microsoft devices today. The screen shot below shows a tech comment spoken into an iPhone.


 


Once saved, both the time and comments are synced with the work order. The technician could also add any expenses and even upload receipts for purchases they made while on the job. The technician can edit the time at a later date as well. 

 

Service managers can then review all their technicians’ submitted time entries and make adjustments as necessary before they are transferred to the actual work order. The screen shot below shows the time entry and comment that was entered by the technician in the actual work order.


While there are a number of free tools like the wide-array of Google apps, sometimes an integrated system is what a dealership or boatyard truly needs to maximize efficiency and drive additional profits to the bottom line.

Seth Mattison Keynote Added to MDCE Awards Breakfast

This all-new offering, which will kick off the 2016 MDCE Awards Breakfast on Thursday, Dec. 8, is designed to provide marine retailers with key strategies to adapt to today’s fast-changing workplace.

“Not only is the boating industry’s workforce moving toward greater diversity with four generations in the business, but the rigid leadership models we’ve come to count on for centuries are no longer reliable and, in many instances, even considered relevant,” Mattison said. “I’ll show attendees how to recognize, understand, value, and ultimately tap into the power of these changes in order to gain a game-changing advantage.”

The Awards Breakfast, sponsored by Regal Marine, begins at 7:30 a.m. on the final day of the event and includes the announcement of more than a dozen marine industry scholarships and awards.

“The MDCE Awards Breakfast is where we recognize marine industry excellence and promote continuous growth and improvement through training and education,” said Liz Walz, Vice President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which co-produces MDCE alongside Boating Industry magazine. “None of that is possible without a strong workforce and adaptable leaders, which is why we chose this topic for the breakfast.”

Seth Mattison’s MDCE keynote presentation is the third to be announced so far this year. Other keynote speakers include Josh Linkner, who was selected to deliver the 2016 MDCE Opening Keynote Presentation on retail innovation, and Sam Dantzler, who will end the conference with a powerful Closing Keynote address on change.

“Each year, we work hard to add fresh value to MDCE, and incorporating a third keynote in this year’s conference will give the number of takeaways marine retailers can bring back to their dealership a big boost,” Jonathan Sweet, editor-in-chief of Boating Industry magazine, said.  

MDCE attracted a total of 1,147 marine industry professionals in 2015, one of its largest audiences to date. Building on that momentum, early retail registrations for the 2016 conference – which will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando – have already set a new record. This, coupled with its December 5-8 date range – three weeks later than the event’s traditional time frame – has put MDCE 2016 on track to see its highest attendance to date.

MarineDealerConference.com.

BoatingIndustry.com.

 

MRAA.com.

 

###

Member Spotlight: Reed’s Marine

 

Nearly 50 years later, business at Reed’s Marine on the shores of Delavan Lake, as well as their growing service center a few miles away, is booming. Call it high tide — the best time for a captain to make an exit. 

“I’m fortunate to have a partner whose family has grown up around the business and continues to want to be in it,” Tom said as his successor, Jason Shallcross, sat nearby smiling. “My kids did not.” 

“I feel having a background in service gives me insight into how everything on that side of the business works,” Jason said. “There won’t be many times where I don’t know how everything is working out there.” 

“Rarely does a dealership get big enough that everyone is doing a specialized job all the time — the owner is called upon to do many different jobs in so many different areas,” Tom said. “We’ve learned to take the time to look at your dealership overall rather than just taking care of the fires of today. I think Jason understands that, and I’m completely comfortable leaving the dealership in his hands.” 

“I think this season will be very strong, and I’m optimistic about the summer,” Jason said. “I’m excited. There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.” 

“We are big supporters of MDCE, and every year we learn new and relevant ideas to bring home,” Jason said. “For us, it’s a ‘can’t miss’ event.” 

“I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years and a lot of changes in the boating business,” Tom said. “We’ve certainly made a very good living, and I feel very lucky. It’s extremely difficult to get out of the boat business, and it’s rare to be able to leave when you want — and in the way you want. I feel very fortunate.” 

 

Sam Dantzler Selected to Deliver MDCE Closing Keynote

Marine retailers need to adapt to the radical transformation taking place in their employees, customers and retailing itself. That’s according to Sam Dantzler of Sam’s Watersports Dock and Garage Composites, who will share exactly how dealers can make those changes during his Closing Keynote Presentation at the 2016 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, Dec. 5-8 in Orlando.

 

“When you look at the recent sales growth, it’s easy to be fooled into thinking you can keep doing things the same way,” said Dantzler, whose clients have included some of North America’s premier marine and powersports companies. “But it’s simply not true. I’m honored to be able to issue a call for change and share strategies for grabbing more than their fair share of today’s rebounding boat market with attendees as this year’s Closing Keynote Speaker.”

Dantzler is a dealership consultant who moderates several 20 Groups and is the founder of Sam’s Watersports Dock a virtual training portal for marine retailers. His keynote address, titled “Change: It’s the Only Option” and scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, will end MDCE 2016 on a high note, offering concrete takeaways dealers can use to outperform the industry.

“One of the dangers of growth is a tendency for leaders to work more in the business and less on the business,” explained Liz Walz, vice president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “That makes it harder to stay on top of and adapt to changes in our market, which is critical to long-term success. MDCE will provide the strategies retailers need to get back on track, and Sam’s Closing Keynote Presentation will be the perfect way to tie it all together, providing a final set of tools attendees can use to lead their teams and dealerships to outstanding results.”  

MDCE, hosted jointly by Boating Industry magazine and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, attracted a total of 1,147 marine industry professionals in 2015 — one of its largest audiences to date. Building on that momentum, early retail registrations for the 2016 conference have already set a new record. This, coupled with its December 5-8 date range, which is three weeks later than the event’s traditional time frame, puts MDCE 2016 on track to see the highest attendance to date.

“Decisions like this one are a direct result of listening to our audience,” Jonathan Sweet, editor-in-chief of Boating Industry magazine, said. “Dealers have told us time and time again that Sam’s presentations are the highlight of their MDCE education, so we’re thrilled to be able to share his insight with our entire audience during this Closing Keynote Presentation.”

 

Retailers who register for MDCE 2016 before the September 23 Early Bird Deadline save $25 off standard rates; MRAA members save an additional $75. Learn more and register at MarineDealerConference.com.

Moose Landing Marina Selected as Ranger Tugs Dealer

Moose Landing Marina, the largest on-water facility in the Lakes Region area, has been appointed as the dealer for Ranger Tugs in Maine. Built for strength and durability, Ranger Tugs offer maneuverability and seaworthiness in a well-equipped design.

Built in the U.S. at the company’s factories in Kent and Monroe, Washington, Ranger Tugs offer eight models, ranging in length from 21 to 31 feet. The solid construction of these pocket trawlers is optimized to provide fuel efficiency at an affordable price. They come standard with a full suite of Garmin electronic controls and are equipped with a Volvo diesel engine, hydraulic steering, and bow and stern thrusters for ease of operation. All models are trailerable, making them ideal for exploring the many lakes and coastal regions of Maine.

“We are excited to be able to offer these truly unique boats to our customers,” said Steve Arnold, owner of Moose Landing Marina. “Ranger Tugs are a great vessel to explore Maine waterways. In fact, Will Monson, our General Sales Manager at Moose Landing Marina is so passionate about Ranger Tugs that he owns one himself,” noted Arnold. “As the state’s only dealer of Ranger Tugs, we look forward to increasing awareness of these versatile boats and growing their presence in Maine.”

All Ranger Tugs come turnkey with standard features and equipment intended to make the boat easy to handle and the owner’s experience comfortable and hassle-free when underway. Moose Landing Marina will work with buyers on additional equipment options so their Ranger Tug is built to fit their specific cruising needs and styles.

Ranger Tugs will be available to view and board by mid-June. Stop in and see why Ranger Tugs makes a difference in the industry and makes a perfect fit with Moose Landing Marina. 

SkipperBud’s Expands Service Center in Lake Country

SkipperBud’s has responded to the growing needs of the boaters in Lake Country! SkipperBud’s is excited to announce the purchase an addi onal 10,000 sq. . service center located at 851 Silvernail Road, just a block south of the Pewaukee dealership. The new service center features six service bays, parts department, customer wai ng lounge and ample parking for customer walkins or boat dropoffs.

The new service center will allow SkipperBud’s to meet the growing demand from Lake Country boaters. SkipperBud’s con nues to play a major role in the Midwest boa ng community because of the dynamic array of products offered. The move to add addi onal space and staff allows boaters more flexibility and faster turnaround with upgrades, maintenance and repair.

Boaters can feel confident with SkipperBud’s cer fied service technicians. Specialists for all product segments are engaged for each specific boat type including runabouts, tow boats, jet boats and pontoon boats. Customers are welcome to bring all boat brands and all engine types in for repair.

Due to dealership turn over in the Lake Country area over the past several years, many boaters are looking for stability with their sales or service providers. Our proven record of award winning customer service, has driven many new customers through our doors. We simply out grew our service facility because of the increased the number of boats we are servicing and storing. With a shorter season in the Midwest, boaters don’t want to lose a weekend due to a repair, it just made sense to expand our footprint and technician base significantly, explains Mike Pretasky, Jr., President.

SkipperBud’s is a family owned marine company, specializing in boat sales, brokerage, service, storage, and marinas opera on since 1959. With loca ons in seven states, Arizona, California, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Washington and Wisconsin, SkipperBud’s mission is to Deliver the Boa ng Dream. SkipperBud’s – Experience is the Difference. www.skipperbuds.com 

Captain Jack Stewart Earns Certified Yacht Broker Credential

Captain Jack Stewart, sales manager for Yarmouth Boat Yard, recently earned the esteemed status of Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB). The CPYB Certification is the mark of excellence for yacht sales professionals throughout North America.

To earn this designation, CPYB brokers must meet professional qualifications and successfully pass a stringent three-hour examination, testing their skills and knowledge as yacht sales professionals. Brokers must be well informed of current market conditions, ascertain all pertinent facts concerning listed vessels, and protect against fraud, misrepresentation, and unethical practices.

To date, only 10 individuals have earned this prestigious distinction in Maine and approximately 600 in the United States.

“At Yarmouth Boat Yard, we are committed to excellence and professionalism,” stated Steve Arnold, owner of Yarmouth Boat Yard. “The CPYB standards and code of ethics parallels our beliefs of focusing on the customer,” Arnold explained. “Having Captain Jack CPYB certified backs up this dedication, as it sets standards for training and performance, and promotes impeccable customer service.”