The MICD Program offers customized marketing materials to help you promote your Certified status. Access to these materials, which include a brand-new, 6-foot-tall stand-up banner, is an exclusive MICD benefit.
Certified Dealers receive stand-up banners and other customized marketing materials for use in their dealerships at a significantly discounted rate. Items are available for purchase in the MICD Portal.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
If you missed the all-industry webinar April 22 unveiling plans for the 2014 Discover Boating marketing campaign, CLICK HERE to download the full recording today. Learn more about the integrated marketing mix on tap for the national campaign this spring/summer.
Discover Boating launched its documentary-style series “Stories of Discovery” May 1 on DiscoverBoating.com. Further campaign elements include enhancements to the Discover Boating website; social media outreach on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Pintrest; and an exciting new partnership with country music star Jake Owen that includes Discover Boating as the presenting tour sponsor.
To learn more about how Discover Boating benefits your business and how to get involved, CLICK HERE.
The “King of Sales” Jeffrey Gitomer has transformed his popular “Little Book of Leadership” into an online course.
The course, which is available in the Personal Development section of the MRAA Interactive Virtual Training Center, is described as “real-world leadership training that transcends theory and philosophy and gets right down to the brass tacks and brass tactics — and adds a few brass balls.”
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Major Florida Brokerage and Service Company Joins Regional Group to Promote Online Service Coordination and Boat Management.
Hobe Sound, Fla. – May 7, 2014 – Galati Yacht Sales, a major yacht brokerage, dealership and marine services organization operating in nine locations worldwide, has joined The Boat Village’s regional collaborative in southeast Florida, uniting with other top marine businesses in the region to promote online service coordination and boat management.
Galati Yacht Sales, which has more than 450 boats in brokerage and specializes in Viking, Princess, Tiara, Cruisers, Grand Banks, Maritimo, Rampage and Prestige brands, will use The Boat Village Premium Service, a consumer platform that simplifies communication and collaboration, to make it easier for owners to coordinate service and maintain their vessels. Galati Yacht Sales will provide their customers with a digital profile of their vessel and all of its relevant information, including digitized operating manuals and a custom maintenance plan based on manufacturer recommendations for the equipment onboard.
Galati Yacht Sales, a member of the Boating Industry Top 100 Dealer Hall of Fame, is already using the My-Villages DockMaster suite of marine software, and will install The Boat Village on a new Tiara 5800 Sovran, Team Galati Viking 82 Convertible and a pre-owned Viking 66 Convertible. Galati Yacht Sales is also working with My-Villages to designate a boat, loaded with The Boat Village, to participate in the Gulf Coast regional fishing tournament circuit this summer.
“Galati Yacht Sales is one of the great names in boating and we are thrilled to have them onboard,” said Kevin Hutchinson, founder and CEO of My-Villages, which created The Boat Village. “Having Galati Yacht Sales join the other great names in the marine industry who are already part of The Boat Village is further validation of the need for better boat management tools and online service coordination.”
“Putting the customer first goes beyond just sales—it has to extend to service,” said Darren Plymale, vice president of Galati Yacht Sales. “The Boat Village allows us to use technology to make that process easier for owners, and that’s always our goal.”
The Boat Village Premium Service, an application that works on any smartphone, tablet or computer, keeps an inventory of all onboard equipment, which is personalized with digital manuals and automated maintenance reminders. Owners can send electronic service requests, communicate with service professionals (including the use of photos and videos), get updates on work in process, access service records, follow their favorite experts and even chat with other boaters—all within the application. The result is instant access to information and stronger two-way communication between owners and the village people who help them operate and maintain their vessels. Records are preserved electronically and the boat’s service history, usage trends, trip logs and other useful information are readily available 24/7 using cloud technology.
Galati Yacht Sales joins a growing list of major marine firms who have signed on as part of the My-Villages southeast Florida regional collaborative to promote online service coordination and boat management. They include boat builders like The Hinckley Company and Regal, as well as dealers like FastBoats, marinas like Aqua Marine Partners and Old Port Cove, and service yards like Whiticar Boat Works and Marine Professionals Incorporated (MPI).
“Coordinating business online is an everyday occurrence in the world of retail, banking, healthcare and other industries, and we are working collaboratively to bring that to the marine industry,” Hutchinson said. “Our job is to build and support the technology and companies like Galati Yacht Sales are making it a reality in the industry.”
Seattle Boat Company, with locations in Seattle and Bellevue, Wash., was recently recognized as a 2014 Supporter of the Year by AtWork!, an organization whose mission it is to help people with disabilities be more productive, integrated and contributing members of their community.
CLICK HERE to watch an inspiring video featuring Jon Vossler and Michael Schrempf, AtWork! employees at Seattle Boat Company who are thriving in their respective positions.
Jeff Parker, the founder of Austin Boats and Motors in Austin, Texas, recently passed away unexpectedly. Moving forward, the business will be run by Parker’s son, Martin Boyer, and other family members.
Parker was a strong dealer advocate, valued MRAA board member and friend to the industry. In lieu of flowers, the Parker family requests that donations be sent to Side by Side Kids, a local charity administered by the Parker’s church. The organization’s focus is to support underprivileged families through giving and education initiatives.
CLICK HERE to make a donation today.
Rupert L. “Ren” Nichols Jr., president of Allen Harbor Marine Service in Harwich Port, Mass., died March 28 after battling a long illness. He was 66.
An active and engaged member of the Cape Cod boating and marine community, Nichols was a 48-year “lifetime member” of the U.S. Power Squadrons, where he rose to the rank of Rear Commander. He was likewise a longtime member of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association and Cape Cod Marine Trades Association, continuously serving on the MMTA’s and CCMTA’s Board of Directors for several decades and as MMTA president from 2000-2002.
After Nichols’ father, Rupert Sr., retired from Allen Harbor Marine Service, Nichols assumed ownership and direction of the expanding boatyard in 1990 and ran the business until his passing in late March of this year.
Nichols is survived by a brother, Donald S. Nichols; a sister, Jane Cartmill; and several cousins. He leaves behind his close friend and caretaker of many years, Ralph Cordeiro, and his canine companion, A.J.
During this year’s 2014 American Boating Congress, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas was honored with the first-ever ABC Ambassador Award.
A new honor given out by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and announced in an NMMA press release today, the Ambassador award was developed this year to thank the ABC co-host organization that promoted the event through the most marketing activity. A record 38 organizations from across the entire boating industry came together in 2014 as co-hosts in support of ABC.
These co-hosts have spent months planning and promoting ABC. And for the first time, a full-scale joint marketing plan was put into place by the co-hosts to make sure that more people than ever before knew about ABC and why it is so important. Co-hosts sent emails to their network of contacts, included articles in their newsletters, used ads on their websites and included content on their Twitter feeds. And as a direct result of the hard work put in by our co-hosts, this year’s event has seen exponential growth.
However, out of all 38 co-host organizations, MRAA stood out as a leader, according to the release. The release noted that MRAA staff made multiple personal phone calls to industry contacts, talking with key decision makers about the importance of attending ABC and the importance of their dealers attending the event. MRAA reached hundreds of people with this same message daily, and thousands of people weekly through their newsletters and emails.
MRAA’s digital marketing strategy for ABC included regular postings on social media about the event, frequent bulk email campaigns and countless press releases posted to their website and sent to trade media. MRAA promoted ABC at the annual Marine Dealer Conference & Expo with an insert in the registration bags and presented on the importance of ABC at a number of its Marine Retail University events. MRAA President, Matt Gruhn, even filmed a personal video message, inviting others to attend ABC and explaining why the event is so important to him.
“We believe in the power of the American Boating Congress and all that it can do for our industry,” says Gruhn. “The 2014 event once again yielded great results with more than 250 Hill visits and some outstanding meetings with legislators from across the country. We’ve seen great progress in the number of attendees at this event, but we also believe we have a lot of room for growth, and we look forward to contributing to that again next year.”
The American Boating Congress would like to wholeheartedly thank all 38 co-host organizations for their own outstanding achievements in making this year’s event such a success.
The 2014 dealer event will feature four educational tracks, two keynote addresses, and more dedicated expo hall time then ever before.
ORLANDO – Today, organizers kick off the grand opening of registration for a Marine Dealer Conference & Expo that features more educational offerings and more expo hall time than ever before. MDCE 2014 is scheduled to take place Nov. 16-19, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
For the first time in the event’s history, attendees can select from four educational tracks – Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus – designed specifically to address the most critical aspects of marine dealer operations. In addition, following the successful launch of the MDCE Pre-Conference Workshops in 2013, this feature will return with an even more impactful line-up of hands-on sessions attendees won’t find anywhere else. Finally, attendees will now benefit from both an Opening and Closing Keynote Address.
“Every aspect of this event is designed to make a real difference in the working lives of our attendees,” says Liz Walz, Director of Education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “That’s why we have increased our investment in the MDCE educational line-up for the second year in a row. This year’s expanded agenda offers more real-life solutions to dealers’ toughest problems and more proven paths to new opportunities than any MDCE yet.”
Dealers who register now will receive a $25 early bird discount off of the full registration rate of $499. Members of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas receive an additional $75 off of their registration, for a total discount of $100.
“While education is a top priority for MDCE attendees, dealers have also asked us for more networking time on the expo floor,” commented Boating Industry Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Sweet. “In response, we took a fresh approach to the schedule that will allow both attendees and exhibitors to make the most of their time at MDCE.”
To receive the $25 early bird discount, registrants need only visit www.mraa.com/MDCE and register before September 19th. MRAA members should log into the website with their username and password before registering to receive their $75 member discount on top of the early bird discount.
“Without the phenomenal support we’ve received from the industry, we wouldn’t be able to increase our service to the marine dealer community at MDCE again this year,” explained Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to expand this event, as it is one of the most powerful ways we can contribute to the growth and improvement of marine retailers and the industry at large.”
This year’s host hotel will be the Rosen Centre, located adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center. As a bonus for 2014, the MDCE expo floor is located directly across the walkway from the Rosen Centre.
For more information about MDCE 2014, please visit www.mraa.com/MDCE or contact Liz Walz at liz@mraa.com or 315-692-4533. To inquire about exhibit opportunities, please contact Kathy Johnson at kathy.johnson@boatingindustry.com or 480-988-3658.
About MDCE
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 features an in-depth line-up 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 the MRAA and Boating Industry, and it offers pre-conference workshops, two keynote presentations, three tracks of educational content, and more than 20 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Visit www.mraa.com/MDCE to learn more.
Members of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas participating in the AquaPac Boat & Yacht Insurance Program earned more than $215,000 in combined revenue in 2013 — with the average dealership bringing in more than $3,700 — demonstrating that the program is a bonafide revenue generator for marine dealers. Program participation also rose significantly in 2013, up a whopping 146 percent from 2012 totals, as did growth in revenue earned, which jumped 145 percent over the previous year.
Participation in AquaPac is an exclusive MRAA members-only benefit offered through Norman-Spencer Marine Insurance, MRAA’s preferred marine insurance provider and partner for more than 25 years.
There are two different AquaPac programs available to MRAA members: One for Referral Dealers and one for Commissioned Dealers (for those members with an insurance license). In 2013, AquaPac Referral Dealers averaged more than $1,000 in revenue, while the most effective took in more than $3,200 in revenue for their program participation. AquaPac Commissioned Dealers saw renevue jump last year to more than $9,600 on average.
“This program is easy money for dealers, while at the same time it provides a quality insurance product for boat buyers and boosts a dealership’s customer satisfaction,” says MRAA president Matt Gruhn. “It’s a win-win-win proposition. It takes two or three minutes for dealers to endorse the AquaPac insurance program for their customers’ benefit; dealers simply refer customers to Norman-Spencer, and Norman-Spencer takes the reigns from there. We hope more dealers see the value in AquaPac and become MRAA members in order to take advantage of this profitable program. Just 10 AquaPac referrals cover the cost of an MRAA membership.”
AquaPac offers consumers broad, affordable insurance coverage that accommodates the the full spectrum of boats, from personal watercraft to large yachts and everything in between. Each AquaPac policy is custom-tailored to meet individual boaters’ needs and includes standard coverages that are traditionally only available with higher-end yacht policies. Coverage through the program is among the best and most comprehensive in the industry.
AquaPac is the flagship benefit in the MRAA Rewards program, a collection of more than 30 tangible benefits and incentives dealers are eligible to receive upon signing up to become MRAA members.
“When I first pitched the idea of including AquaPac as part of MRAA Rewards to the association, I never realized that just a few seasons later we would have so many participating dealers,” says Paul Sexton, vice president of Marine Insurance Services for Norman-Spencer. “In fact, the majority of our new dealer referrals are now coming in from MRAA member partners. Some are longtime partners of ours that joined MRAA for the sole purpose of reaping the benefits of our AquaPac program.”
AquaPac is unique in that it is specifically designed to drive business back to the dealership, even after the sale. Noteworthy features include preferred repair deductibles, where a customer can take his or her boat back to any MRAA dealer with a claim and have deductibles cut in half; total loss replacement, where the original sale dealer has the first opportunity to provide a replacement boat to a customer in the case of a claim; and guaranteed repair work through an MRAA dealer for the life of the boat/policy.
“Most referral programs are a dime a dozen; however, our vision is to make the boat buyer feel that AquaPac is a ‘no-brainer’ through knowledgeable service and an affordable coverage package available nowhere else in the industry,” Sexton explains. “And with an attractive referral fee package, 24/7 referral service, and a program that drives revenue back to the dealer, we hope the decision is an easy one.”
To learn more about the AquaPac program, MRAA Rewards and other valuable MRAA member benefits, contact MRAA membership coordinator Hannah Muerhoff at 763-333-2420 or hannah@mraa.com.
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 About Norman-Spencer Agency Inc.
Norman-Spencer Agency Inc. is a nationally recognized provider of high quality insurance products for all boats and yachts, serving hundreds of dealer and marina partners nationwide. Along with boat owner programs, the agency also provides market-leading business insurance solutions for all facets of the recreational marine industry, including dealers, marinas, manufacturers and marine artisans. Norman-Spencer has been the only MRAA-endorsed marine insurance provider for more than 25 years. For more information, visit norman-spencer.com.
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