Sea Ray of Cincinnati was recently recognized (again) as one of Boating Industry Magazine’s “Top 100 Dealers.” Talk a bit about the secret sauce over there and what it means to the team to be included amongst the industry’s heavyweights.
Our team is extremely proud to be a Top 100 Dealer again for the 10th consecutive year. We believe that our ‘secret sauce’ is our great group of employees. Many of us have been here 10, 15, even 20+ years. We’ve seen a lot of dealerships come and go so we’re always proud of our longevity. We have a lot of expertise in our departments yet we’re always willing to learn more. Our goal, regardless of which department we’re in, is always to make certain that our customers have incredible experiences on the water.
How has being an MRAA member helped Sea Ray of Cincinnati both streamline day-to-day operations and craft long-term strategy?
Recently, we attended the MRAA Annual Conference in Orlando, sitting in on various dealership related seminars and discussions. From marketing to service to sales, the takeaway was a lot of great ideas currently being implemented by other dealers across the country. We are also in the process of our MRAA Recertification, which requires us to review and fine tune our day-to-day processes and operations. The MRAA has been very helpful in this process.
What do you see as the No. 1 challenge facing the boating industry? How are your dealership(s) countering?
We see the No 1 challenge facing the industry today is exposing new people to the sport as well as getting existing boaters to spend more time on their boats. We counter this by continuing to promote the boating lifestyle and reminding people that great memories are made on a boat. We not only reach out to existing boaters but potential future boaters via digital marketing channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Offer some advice to small (or large) dealerships as they battle the lull of winter.
Battling the lull of wintertime can actually be super productive. Not only do we suggest taking time to do those projects that are difficult to achieve in the busy boating season such as Recertification, product training, mechanic certifications, management training and employee reviews. But, we also suggest taking the time to walk around the dealership and do some facility reviews. What can be cleaned up, thrown away, painted etc.? You might even find excess parts, tools or furniture that can be listed on Craigslist or eBay. Really take the time to get some much-needed projects completed. When you finish with that, look at your used and brokerage inventory and identify what can be reconditioned and tuned up before spring. Before you know it, the boating season will be here!
Please share some exciting news with our members: employee highlights, community involvement, new inventory, etc.
Our recent end-of-year team bonding included an evening of laser tag. We divided into two groups, mixing up departments, and had a lot of fun and laughs strategizing to be the best laser tag team. We followed up with dinner and drinks (and a lot of smack talk discussion) on who the best team really was. Fun was had by all!
KPA Client Alert – OSHA Fines Are Set to Increase 75-80%
Unlike the EPA, whose fines are regularly increased due to inflation, OSHA was never included within the same structure and was required to obtain Congressional approval in order to increase penalties. The result – OSHA maximum penalties have virtually remained the same for decades and disproportionate to the severity of penalties enforced by other agencies such as the EPA and DOT.
In a deal to avoid a default on the nation’s debt, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 was signed into law on November 2nd. The law included a provision that will bring OSHA fines in line with inflation over the past 25 years.
The Budget Act includes a provision, entitled the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which will allow OSHA to a “catch-up adjustment” dating back to the year 1990. From 1990 through the end of 2015, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rise is expected to be north of 78%. Applying this logic, the resulting increase in OSHA penalties are estimated as follows:
VIOLATION:
Serious Violation:
Repeat or Willful Violation:
MAXIMUM PENALTY:
From $7,000 currently to approx. $12,500 per incident
From $70,000 currently to approx. $125,000 per incident
The initial penalty increases must become effective by August 1, 2016. After the initial catch up adjustment is made, OSHA will be permitted to increase penalties annually each year based on CPI.
Dr. David Michaels is the longest servicing Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA and has consistently worked to strengthen OSHA’s enforcement strength and effectiveness. During Michael’s administration, OSHA expanded the concept of multiple workplace violations, expanded repeat violations across multiple rooftops, increased focus on high risk industries, implemented the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, and has increased focus on OSHA’s data analysis including changes to the OSHA 300 log exemptions. Amongst these changes, the 2016 increase in OSHA penalties will likely be the most significant.
As a call to action, now is a good time to re-evaluate your safety program – ensure your inspection frequency is adequate, ensure training is up to date, and confirm your paperwork and documentation is in order including 300 logs, written programs, medical evaluations, and fit-testing if applicable. As always, we are here to assist and please contact your KPA consultant with any questions.
Attendance Growth, Sold Out Expo Hall Mark 2015 MDCE
Boating industry’s premier educational conference featured three days of professional development
Orlando, FL — Final tabulations have been completed, and it’s official: the 2015 Marine Dealer Conference and Expo (MDCE) featured more than 4-percent growth in retail attendance, a 21-percent jump in Pre-Conference Workshop registrations, and a sold-out Expo Hall with more than 100 exhibitors.
A total of 1,147 marine industry professionals from throughout North America and as far away as Australia traveled to Orlando this November for MDCE 2015, which is co-produced by Boating Industry magazine and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA). That compares to the 1,130 industry professionals who attended in 2014.
“We introduced several new offerings for 2015 to increase the value of the event for all who participated,” said Liz Walz, vice president of MRAA. “The numbers and the feedback we received during the show suggest that both dealers and exhibitors felt the positive impact of those changes.”
Represented at this year’s MDCE were 238 total dealerships, accounting for 875 separate locations and cummulatively employing more than 30,000 people. More than 40 percent of 2015 retail attendees were attending their first MDCE, and nearly 95 percent were current MRAA members. Further, more than 100 organizations representing almost every sector of the pleasure boating industry set up shop for the week at the Orange County Convention Center — filling in excess of 40,000 square-feet of exhibit space.
“The enhanced level of engagement of our attendees with each other, our experts and our exhibitors was particularly noteworthy,” said Jonathan Sweet, editor-in-chief of Boating Industry. “I was also pleased to see the MDCE app had more than 950 downloads and north of 13,000 sessions. It’s just one more way dealers are taking full advantage of the MDCE experience.”
As a result of their expansion in 2015, the MDCE Pre-Conference Workshops generated 266 registrations, up more than 21 percent year-over-year. During the 12 hands-on seminars, which were offered prior to the MDCE Opening Keynote, marine retailers worked alongside industry experts on areas of their business ranging from sales training to leadership, and from service department scheduling to social media strategy.
About the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo The Marine Dealer Conference & Expo is the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas’ annual conference and member meeting. As the marine industry’s only dealer-specific educational conference, MDCE offers an in-depth lineup of educational topics, a full-featured expo hall and a series of fixed networking opportunities, all of which are designed to help marine dealers connect with and learn from others who can foster their success. MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features Educational Tracks, Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing Keynote presentations, and the all-new Learning Labs. The 2015 was held Nov. 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center, Rosen Plaza Hotel and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. The 2016 event will also be held in Orlando and is scheduled for Dec. 5-8. For more information, visit marinedealerconference.com.
About Boating Industry Boating Industry is the leading trade magazine serving the marine industry. For more than 85 years, boating professionals have turned to Boating Industry for market intelligence, product updates, best practices and industry news. For more information, visit BoatingIndustry.com.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting marine retail businesses, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com.
ARI Schedules Next Edition of HelpForce Live! Webinar Series for Marine Dealers, January 12, 2016
Charting Your 2016 Digital Marketing Game Plan
Dealers can join ARI’s Director of Digital Marketing, Bill Wagner, and ARI’s Content Marketing Producer, Jessica Lee, for this information-packed session to learn how to build a digital strategy that works. Following the webinar, attendees will be sent a digital planning calendar template.
ARIS) offers an award-winning suite of data-driven software tools and marketing services to help dealers, equipment manufacturers and distributors in selected vertical markets Sell More Stuff!™ – online and in-store. Our innovative products are powered by a proprietary data repository of enriched original equipment and aftermarket electronic content spanning more than 17 million active part and accessory SKUs and 750,000 equipment models. Business is complicated, but we believe our customers’ technology tools don’t have to be. We remove the complexity of selling and servicing new and used vehicle inventory, parts, garments and accessories (PG&A) for customers in the automotive tire and wheel aftermarket, powersports, outdoor power equipment, marine, home medical equipment, recreational vehicles and appliance industries. More than 23,500 equipment dealers, 195 distributors and 3,360 brands worldwide leverage our web and eCatalog platforms to Sell More Stuff!™ For more information on ARI, visit investor.arinet.com.
The recreational boating industry in New Jersey was given a big boost this month when Governor Christie signed a new sales tax bill into law. The bill provides a partial exemption and maximum sales and use tax imposition amount for boats and vessels, as well as establishes a grace period for use tax imposition on certain boats and vessels used by resident purchasers.
“This is a tremendous victory for the industry and boating in New Jersey,” stated MTA/NJ Executive Director, Melissa Danko. “We are very thankful to everyone that helped make this happen, including our legislative sponsors Senator Van Drew and Assemblyman Andrzejczak and especially Governor Christie for expanding the tax savings on all boats, signing this important legislation into law and supporting the boating industry in New Jersey. This new law will not will not only get more people out on the water enjoying our waterways but will ensure the future health and growth of the New Jersey recreational boating industry by increasing revenues and creating jobs.”
This new law reduces the tax rate to 3.5 percent across the board for boats, regardless of the price of the boat — with a cap of $20,000. The bill also includes a 30-day grace period for use tax imposition. The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 35-1 and the Assembly approved it 64-0.
“Our industry has been struggling for many years following the economic downturn, the devastation of Hurricane Sandy and competition from other states with many lost sales,” Melissa said. “This new law will not only get more people out on the water enjoying our waterways but will ensure the future health and growth of the New Jersey recreational boating industry by increasing revenues and creating jobs.”
Senator Van Drew stated in a release, “The production of boats and other vessels has declined in recent years due to a range of factors, including the economic recession and the impact of Superstorm Sandy. This new law will help to revive the industry through changes to our tax structure. It will allow us to compete with states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Florida. Ultimately, it will help to bring back consumers to our state for these purchases, supporting our shore-area businesses and growing local jobs.”
In summary, these new changes expand the tax savings to a larger segment of boat sales in the state. The sales tax will be reduced to 50 percent of the tax for every boat sold in New Jersey.
“I want to thank the governor for working with us and for signing this legislation, which is so important to New Jersey. Reducing the sales tax amount on non-commercial boats will provide a much-needed boost to the industry that we expect will have a real, lasting impact for years to come,” Senator Van Drew stated.
MRAA) has been selected from a distinguished field of nominees and recently named the “2015 Association of the Year” by the Midwest Society of Association Executives (MSAE). The award was presented during MSAE’s annual leadership conference in St. Cloud.
Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Minneapolis, the MRAA renders educational, developmental, legislative, regulatory and promotional services to boat retailers located in all 50 states and throughout Canada. Membership uncorks a dynamic benefit bundle that includes the industry’s only dealer certification program, customized marketing solutions, discounted insurance rates, warranty processing and access to a vast archive of interactive training material.
The leading edge of MRAA’s member benefit package centers around the popular Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program, which offers a roadmap to developing and maintaining a successful dealership. Retooled and modernized under the direction of Sonja Moseley, participation in the certification program has grown by more than 50 percent over the last two years and now includes online portals covering areas ranging from techniques to maximize sales and enhancing customer satisfaction to search engine optimization and digitizing inventory.
Additionally, more than 1,100 retailers, marina owners and boat builders recently attended the annual Marine Dealers Conference and Expo in Orlando—hosted jointly by MRAA and Boating Industry Magazine. The gathering is the largest educational event of its kind in North America and features an itinerary stacked with marquee speakers, laser-focused seminars covering a dynamic array of subject matter and events designed specifically for young professionals.
AsbothmembersoftheMarineRetailersAssociationoftheAmericasand dealersrepresentinghundredsofboatlinesacrossNorthAmerica,you know and understand the important role boat shows play in introducing new andcurrentboaterstotheboatinglifestyle’slatestandgreatestofferings— nottomentionkickingoffthesellingseason.
S. 1611, sponsored by Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, has been placed on the Senate calendar for an upcoming vote. The measure authorizes U.S. Coast Guard funding through 2017.
Are YOU interested in having your voice heard when it comes to how the U.S. government classifies and tracks various occupations at your dealership?
If so, please accept this invitation to join a special teleconference call this Wednesday, Dec. 9, to discuss updates to the “Standards of Occupational Classification,” a document currently being drafted and intended to accurately reflect the recreational marine industry’s impact on the nation’s economy.
At issue: the marine industry’s data — often under represented, reported and/or hidden in larger categories of workers — used to compile the federal government’s labor statistics. This results in the economic significance of jobs not being properly calculated.
Hosted by Mike Lewan of the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Duncan Smith, a consultant working with south Florida’s MTA, this week’s call will explain strategy behind “crowd sourcing” industry job titles. Among the agenda items will be a discussion on how the descriptions of any occupational activities or jobs in the marine industry are needed, including those in manufacturing, repair, retail and training.
All data compiled through the first part of 2016 will be used to draft the final “Direct Match Title,” which will be filed with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. All trade associations, dealerships and other organizations with information on job titles and work performed in the marine industry are asked to submit their data for inclusion on the report — helping to ensure more specificity is included in the government’s Standard Occupational Codes and ensuring a more accurate reflection of the marine industry’s economic impact. T
hose interested in participating in both this week’s conference call and the ongoing report creation are asked to contact Michael Lewan at mlewan@nmma.org by Dec. 9.
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