Registrations for the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo are at a record high of 683 following the close of the event’s Early Bird registration period, which ended at midnight Central Time on Friday, Sept. 19.

This number represents a 14.4-percent increase over registration figures at the same time last year. Last year’s Early Bird total of 597 registrations represented a new record for the event, as does this year’s even higher total.

With the Early Bird deadline expired, there are now less than two months until the event kicks off Nov. 16 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.

“We’re thrilled by the response to this year’s event,” explains Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “With more educational sessions than ever before, MDCE promises a huge return on investment for those who attend, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see so many dealers — and the companies that serve them — are planning to join us.”

With more than 1,100 total registered attendees recorded in 2013 (615 of which were dealers), Early Bird registrations in 2014 have already exceeded projected forecasts.

Dealer attendance at MDCE has grown every year since 2007, and 2014 is on tap to exceed all previous attendance records. Of the 439 dealers currently registered for MDCE, a total of 120, or 27.3 percent, are attending for the first time ever.

“This MDCE is shaping up to be the biggest and best in the event’s history,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “We know that once dealers attend the event, they come back year after year, so the large number of first-time attendees is especially exciting.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. Each of the tracks has a total of five sessions. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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, the 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. The MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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In today’s rapidly changing digital marketing environment, it can be a challenge for even the savviest of marine dealerships to stay atop the latest Internet trends. Dealers may question whether their efforts are paying off, if they’re using the available tools to their maximum capacity, or if there’s a better way entirely to market their business through social media, e-mail, etc.

At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., marketing communications and public relations expert and first-time MDCE presenter Samantha Scott, APR will help attendees unpack today’s best and most effective digital marketing strategies and give dealers a glimpse of the future of social media and e-mail/internet marketing, including trends, lead generation opportunities, and much more.

In her MDCE session, “Digital Marketing: What’s Now, What’s Next?,” Scott will provide dealers with the tools and latest trends for communicating with customers and prospects, enhancing lead generation online and off.

Attendees will walk away from Scott’s session with insight to connect their social media and online marketing efforts with the revenue they generate, as well as helpful templates for social media management. The session takes place Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. ET as part of MDCE’s Marketing Track.

“For dealers, who are typically busy balancing all aspects of running a successful dealership, it can be tough to find the time to step back and evaluate all of their business’ digital marketing efforts,” says Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “Samantha’s session will help dealers explore what options are out there and let dealers cross-check their strategies against what’s working for others in the current digital landscape.”

Each of the 2014 MDCE educational tracks — Sales, Marketing, Leadership and Service Plus — features five sessions. In addition to Scott’s advice on exploring the next wave of digital marketing tools, the Marketing Track includes insight into increasing SEO through social media, filling your online marketing holes, rethinking your target customer, and developing an unbeatable marketing plan, among other topics.

“Samantha has spent the last decade building an impressive client roster that includes marine retailers like West Marine,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “Her knowledge of all things digital is of major benefit to MDCE attendees as they seek to maximize their digital marketing return on investment.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance, for a total of 615 marine retail professionals. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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, the 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. The MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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Everyone seeks to improve and grow their business, whether the focus is revenue, profits, customer loyalty, employee satisfaction, or all of the above. But without smart goals and a step-by-step plan to reach them, it’s unlikely you’ll move the needle.

At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., leadership guru John Spence will help attendees learn to set realistic goals and think more strategically so they can better achieve the success they desire.

In his MDCE session, “Planning for Peak Performance,” Spence will guide dealers through the critical aspects of effective strategic thinking, providing them with numerous ideas and skills to apply when creating a detailed, realistic and customized business plan that will drive their dealership to record results.

Attendees will walk away from Spence’s session with tools to create a custom performance strategy for their business that’s destined to boost the top and bottom lines. The session takes place Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 8 to 9:15 a.m. ET as part of MDCE’s Leadership Track.

“A strategic plan is a roadmap dealers can use to take their business from where it is today to its full potential,” explains Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “John will help each dealer determine how to raise the bar on their business performance and set realistic goals that ultimately lead to increased profits and customer loyalty.”

Each of the 2014 MDCE educational tracks — Sales, Marketing, Leadership and Service Plus — has a total of five sessions. The Leadership Track includes sessions covering everything from Spence’s advice on creating a strategic plan to improving dealership decision-making; protecting your business, your family and your wealth; and understanding employee motivation and engagement, among other topics.

“Since bringing John to MDCE for the first time last year, we’ve received a lot of demand to bring him back,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “His best practices are being used by Fortune 500 companies all over the world, and we’re excited to have him bring these same winning strategies to marine dealers at this year’s conference.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance, for a total of 615 marine retail professionals. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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, the 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. The MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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Without being aware of it, many dealerships discourage their best prospects from buying. To stem the tide of runaway sales, businesses need to know what they’re inadvertently doing to turn prospects away and counteract these measures with positive momentum designed to win sales and create customer loyalty.

At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., sales and marketing guru Don Cooper will expose the main reasons why sales prospects decide not to buy and provide effective measures to obliterate these excuses, transforming “fails” into sales.

In his MDCE session, “Opportunity Walks: Why Most Prospects Don’t Buy,” Cooper will help dealers learn how to generate more sales, discover 10 reasons why prospects don’t buy what you’re selling (and it’s not what you think!), explore strategies for building confidence in buyers, and discuss how to significantly impact and improve customer loyalty.

Attendees will walk away from Cooper’s session with briefs on the “Top Ten Mistakes Salespeople Make,” “Six Assumptions That are Killing Your Sales,” “Nine Words You Should Never Use With Boat Customers,” and much more. The session takes place Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 8 to 9:15 a.m. ET as part of MDCE’s Sales Track.

“You need to understand why a prospect decided not to buy from you in order to prevent it from happening again,” explains Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “Don will provide dealers with the tools to keep a prospect engaged and boost their chances of making the sale.”

Each of the 2014 MDCE educational tracks — Sales, Marketing, Leadership and Service Plus — features five sessions. The Sales Track includes sessions covering everything from Cooper’s insight into customers’ buying decisions to strategies for reaching women in the boat-buying process, maximizing profitability on trade-ins, turning F&I objections into opportunities, and appealing to Millennial and Gen X buyers, among others.

“Don remains one of the most highly rated and engaging speakers in MDCE’s Sales & Marketing track for the last several years,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “He brings an unrivaled level of enthusiasm to his presentations, making him one of the event’s most popular and impactful speakers. This is a can’t-miss session for anyone interested in selling more and building customer loyalty.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance, for a total of 615 marine retail professionals. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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, the 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. The MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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MINNEAPOLIS, September 12, 2014 — The manufacturer rep/dealer relationship can be a delicate one. But when a true partnership is built, it can prove equally rewarding to both parties. Reps can help dealers select the right products and services for the local market, and the two parties can work together to provide excellent goods and customer service to the boater.

At the upcoming Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., sales relationship and training expert Glenn Roller will host a special Manufacturer Rep Training session designed to help attendees build a solid foundation for strong rep/dealer relationships.

The session, sponsored by GE Capital Commercial Distribution Finance, is open to all MDCE exhibitors and manufacturer reps that register to attend this year’s conference, including those that represent boat lines and other marine products and services. It is scheduled to take place Monday, Nov. 17 from 8 to 11 a.m. ET at the Rosen Centre Hotel.

In his three-hour course, “Mastering the Dealer Relationship,” Roller will help reps examine the breakdowns in rep/dealer communications; explore why some dealer relationships work well and others are unnecessarily difficult; discuss the roots of relationship resistance; discover how to remove the secret saboteur from relationships; pick up strategies to grow any relationship, increase income and make more personal connections; uncover strategies to reduce dealers’ need for price incentives; and much more.

Attendees will walk away from Roller’s presentation with the full complement of tools needed to help them understand and interpret relationship dynamics between themselves and dealers, as well as learn easy-to-implement strategies for reducing relationship friction. Click here to learn more.

“Glenn brings a wealth of knowledge to MDCE from his years of experience studying the sales process, learning what makes people tick, and mastering the art of negotiation,” explains Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “This session is a can’t-miss event for reps looking to boost their sales results.”

Roller’s presentation kicks off the conference Monday morning, Nov. 17. While reps attend his session, dealers will be participating in the Pre-Conference Workshops. The expo hall opens immediately following the Manufacturer Rep Training.

“MDCE brings the dealer community together with leading manufacturers and suppliers,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “The Manufacturer Rep Training is one way we can help strengthen the relationships between these two key groups and ultimately improve and grow the marine business.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance, for a total of 615 marine retail professionals. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more and to register, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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, the 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. The MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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With day-to-day dealership operations requiring so much attention to detail and focus on the minutia of each individual sale, it’s easy to overlook a key factor to overall dealership success: The investment, engagement and satisfaction of your employees.

At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., MDCE favorite Sam Dantzler returns to the conference for the third year running to help dealership principals understand the building blocks for creating a strong, committed and invested team of dealership employees that are fired up about making your dealership the best and most profitable in the business.

In his MDCE session, “ESI Fuels CSI,” Dantzler explores the behavioral science behind employee motivation and engagement, discusses the link between Employee Satisfaction Index and the Customer Satisfaction Index, and explains how to strengthen the bond with your current dealership team, picking up strategies for helping employees see your business through “owner’s eyes.”

Attendees will walk away from Dantzler’s session with an understanding of what drives team cohesiveness and a template for reproducing it in the dealership. The session takes place Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. ET as part of MDCE’s Leadership Track.

“The most important investment a dealership can make is in its people,” explains Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “Having happy, loyal and engaged employees means they are more likely to bring that energy and enthusiasm to their interactions with customers, which ultimately leads to increased customer satisfaction and more sales. Sam is an authority on employee engagement and brings this expertise to MDCE, sharing with attendees his strategies for communicating with employees, making them feel like contributing members of the business, and helping them appreciate the challenges of running a marine retail operation.”

Dantzler, a noted speaker and sales expert who works with companies like Harley-Davidson and Triumph Motorcycles, has been a retail sales trainer since 2000 and offers dealers in the marine and powersports industries valuable tips and advice through his popular training website, Sam’s Powersports Garage.

Each of the 2014 MDCE educational tracks — Sales, Marketing, Leadership and Service Plus — has a total of five sessions. The Leadership Track includes sessions covering everything from Dantzler’s advice about understanding employee engagement and motivation, to improving dealership decision-making, creating a strategic plan, and protecting your business, your family and your wealth, among other topics.

“Sam is one of MDCE’s most highly rated speakers,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “He knows how to command an audience, and his expertise on building a strong dealership team is something no dealership principal can afford to miss.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance, for a total of 615 marine retail professionals. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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, the 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. The MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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In order for a dealership to achieve industry-leading customer loyalty and profitability, it must employ a highly effective service team. Many dealers are finding that to be a challenge today. Not only are they struggling to find qualified technicians to fill open positions, but increased competition also makes it more difficult to retain employees.

At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., dealership trainer and consultant Valerie Ziebron will review the key human resource elements needed to create an outstanding service department, touching on topics such as recruiting, interviewing, hiring, reviewing and terminating employees; management’s role in creating, communicating and driving goals; and what employees need from managers to be successful.

Attendees will walk away from her MDCE workshop, titled “Build a Service Dream Team,” with job descriptions for service and parts employees, sample interview questions, tips for internet recruiting, employee rewards and recognition best practices, and much more. The workshop takes place Monday, Nov. 17 from 8 to 11:15 a.m. ET as part of MDCE’s Pre-Conference Workshops.

“Many dealerships are unable to take advantage of an increase in demand due to a lack of qualified candidates for service department openings,” explains Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “This workshop will give dealers the tools and insight they need to make the best of today’s job market.”

Other workshop topics include leadership, sales, digital marketing, succession planning, and video production and editing. Each workshop will feature takeaways (job descriptions, workbooks/guidebooks, report cards, tip sheets, etc.) to help attendees implement what they learned in the pre-conference sessions without delay upon returning to their respective dealerships.

“The service department expertise Valerie has to share makes her one of MDCE’s most popular speakers,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “We are fortunate to have her tackling such a critical topic at the upcoming conference.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

Pre-Conference Workshop seating is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis. Attendees must select the workshop(s) they wish to attend during the MDCE registration process and pay an additional fee. Discounts are available for MRAA retail members.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance, for a total of 615 marine retail professionals. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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, the 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. The MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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