Yamaha Marine Group named MDCE Service Plus Track Sponsor

MINNEAPOLIS – Yamaha Marine Group has been named the exclusive sponsor of the “Service Plus” Track at the upcoming 2013 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo.

The Service Plus Track is one of three educational tracks to be offered at the MDCE, which will be held Nov. 17-20 in Orlando, Fla. This track offers six in-depth educational tracks, with a heavy emphasis on helping dealers strengthen their service department.

“Service work is a cornerstone of any profitable dealership and therefore has been a cornerstone of our educational sessions every year at the MDCE,” explains Liz Walz, Director of Membership & Education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, who co-produces the MDCE with Boating Industry. “We’re honored to partner with Yamaha to bring such an outstanding educational line-up to this year’s Service Plus Track.”

Yamaha Marine Group, based in Kennesaw, Ga., is not only sponsoring this track, but is also providing the knowledge and expertise of Valerie Ziebron, one of the most highly acclaimed presenters in the history of the MDCE. Ziebron, a Yamaha University instructor, will present twice at this year’s event. Her first session, which will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 10:15 a.m., is titled “Culture: The Secret Path To Higher Service Profits”; and her second session (4:15 p.m., Nov. 19) is titled “The Profitable, Proactive Parts Department.”

“The MDCE is one of the best venues that dealers can access to find quality educational opportunities,” explains Martin Peters, Communications and Dealer Education Manager for Yamaha Marine Group, “and we’re happy to not only be able to help bring this education to life but also to offer Valerie into the mix. She has successfully educated thousands of dealers on how to strengthen the back-end of their operations and continues to earn rave reviews at the annual MDCE.”

In addition to Ziebron’s two sessions, the Service Plus Track will feature four other sessions:

  • 8 a.m. Tuesday: Best Ideas Panel, featuring dealer best practices in service and other areas of the business.
  • 2 p.m. Tuesday: Mastering Yacht Brokerage
  • 8 a.m. Wednesday: The New Finance Landscape
  • 10:15 a.m. Wednesday: Put Your Service Department to the Test

In all, the MDCE offers nearly 30 educational sessions, broken out into three tracks, workshops and special presentations, to help dealers gather ideas and best practices for improving their businesses. For those dealers that want to dig even deeper into the factors that will most impact their businesses in the year ahead, the newly added MDCE Pre-Conference Workshops to be held Monday, Nov. 18th, will enable them to construct a plan in areas like dealership management, boat show sales, service menus, search engine marketing, and the customer experience. Over the following days, individual sessions in the MDCE’s three educational tracks will help attendees enhance their plans for 2014.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 17-20, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007, and this year, the event attracted more than 250 registrants prior to May 1, a record for the event. The most registrants MDCE had ever accumulated prior to May 1 was 92 in 2012.

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 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, a keynote presentation, three tracks of educational content, and more than 20 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 17-20 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Learn more at www.mraa.com/event/MDCE.

Sail & Ski Center Renews as Retail Premium Member

MINNEAPOLIS — Sail & Ski, a full-service boating lifestyle store operating out of Austin, San Antonio and Lakeway, Texas, has renewed as a Retail Premium Member with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, the highest level of support a retailer can show.

“We are pleased to have Sail & Ski renew their membership at the Retail Premium Member level,” says Matt Gruhn, President of the MRAA. “As one of the top dealers in the country, Sail & Ski has a long history of high performance, and has always strived to achieve industry-leading customer service.”

Since its inception in 1969, Sail & Ski has grown its product line and industry wide recognition. An authorized dealer for Sea Ray boats, Nautique by Correct Craft, Boston Whaler, Harris Flotebote, Meridian Yachts, Bayliner Boats, Dargel Boats and Kawasaki Jet Skis, Sail & Ski offers a wide selection of boating lifestyles. Its wide range of products does not hinder its ability to perform in the customer service sector, either and the company has consistently been Certified by the Marine Five Star Dealer Certification, as well as recognized as one of Boating Industry’s Top 100 Dealers.

“Sail & Ski is dedicated to delivering the absolute best boat ownership experience for all our customers,” Rod Malone, President of Sail & Ski. “The emphasis we put on customer service is one of the reasons why we continue to support the MRAA at the highest level. MRAA’s work to strengthen and offer opportunities to the companies that take care the boater is an effort we support.”

About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, 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. The 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

MDCE Launches VIP Event Planning Kit promo

MINNEAPOLIS – Organizers of the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo announced today that they have launched a VIP Event Planning Kit promotional opportunity designed to help attendees plan for and get the most out of their attendance at the 2013 MDCE.

This means that in addition to the early-bird discount of $50 and an MRAA Member discount of an additional $75, those who register on or before August 15th will receive an exclusive VIP Event Planning Kit that will feature numerous opportunities for attendees to maximize their return on investment from MDCE. The MDCE is being held Nov. 17-20 in Orlando, Fla.

View details of the VIP Event Planning Kit

“We not only want to be able to provide MDCE registrants an incredible value, with up to $125 in discounts, but we also want to help them fully prepare for the incredible opportunity that the MDCE presents them,” explains Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, a co-producer of the MDCE. “So this year, in addition to those financial savings, we’ve created a number of tools and resources that will serve to provide attendees with an insider’s guide to making the most of the MDCE — a planning tool of sorts that they will receive in advance of the show.”

Available to anyone who registers for the MDCE prior to August 15th, the MDCE VIP Event Planning Kit will include a host of tips, ideas and opportunities for maximizing their return on investment at the MDCE. The kit will include:

  • Custom letter with advice on how to get the most out of the MDCE;
  • An advance copy of the MDCE Guide Book, featuring the most comprehensive MDCE details available;
  • A detailed overview of the educational schedule, content and speakers to assist in planning an agenda in advance;
  • Exclusive discounts on books and other resources made available by MDCE presenters;
  • An advance copy of the MDCE Floor Plan & Exhibit Guide to help strategize how to navigate the expansive MDCE Expo Hall;
  • An “Experience Orlando” package with more than 30 coupons to use in the surrounding area, including some that can be used right across the street from the MDCE at Pointe Orlando;
  • Insider Tips from the show staff, showcasing little-known, behind-the-scenes tips and ideas that will help you maximize your time at the show;
  • An event preview opportunity that will connect you with the most up-to-date video previews of the MDCE;
  • And all registrants who are signed up by August 15th will be entered into a drawing where they could win one of five MDCE Resource Packages — a sampling of all resources from the MDCE Speakers — including Jeffrey Gitomer’s soon-to-be-released new book. Valued at more than $2,000, this comprehensive package promises to provide you with multiple opportunities for growth.

“We’ve made a number of exciting announcements about the enhancements we’ve made to this year’s MDCE,” explains Jonathan Sweet, Editor-in-Chief of Boating Industry, co-producer of the event. “From the enormous investment in the educational agenda that allowed us to bring in presenters like Jeffrey Gitomer and John Spence, to new programs like the Pre-Conference Workshops and the numerous outstanding networking events, this will be the best MDCE we’ve ever produced, and this VIP Event Planning Kit will help attendees make the most of it.”

This comprehensive promotional package is available beginning today and lasting through August 15th. The VIP Event Planning Kit will be delivered to attendees electronically the week prior to the MDCE.

Register for MDCE by clicking here.

 

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 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, a keynote presentation, three tracks of educational content, and nearly 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 17-20 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Learn more at www.mraa.com/event/MDCE.

Reasons To Do Business With a MRAA Dealer

 Why You Should
Do Business with a Member
of the MRAA

1.) Financial strength

MRAA members gain financial strength using exclusive benefits and resources.

2.) Education

MRAA members receive discounts to attend educational events, keeping them up to speed with economic trends and changes.

3.) Professionalism

The MRAA’s mission is to provide opportunities for growth and improvement. Members have access to these efforts on an ongoing basis.

4.) Benefits

Special sales, marketing, financial, operations, and F&I offered only to MRAA members gives them a leg up on the competition.

5.) Grow Boating

MRAA dealers are actively involved with industry wide efforts that promote the boating lifestyle and improve the boating experience for customers.

6.) Lobbying

MRAA members contribute to MRAA’s efforts in Washington, efforts that fight to make boating more enjoyable.

7.) Certification

Certification provides certified dealers with an official seal that speaks to their level of professionalism and desire for continuous improvement, ask your dealership if they are certified today!

Bill Status of Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013

Congress is discussing the possibility of increasing the federal minimum wage. The passage of this could affect your business. as S. 460 would increase the wage to over $10.00 per hour from the current $7.25. The Obama Budget includes a new wage of $9.00.

Also, a companion bill in the House (H.R. 1010) has been introduced with 140 co-sponsors by Rep. George Miller (D-California). The Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) Bill, S. 460, has 30 co-sponsors in the Senate. Find more here.

 – Larry Innis

Is the blendwall upon us?

The Renewable Identification Numbers rose to record highs yesterday, indicating that the blendwall is upon us. This article speaks to how ethanol blends would clearly spike gas prices—something that is obviously not good for recreational boating and fishing. Read the full article here.

In addition to the likely increase in gas prices, an increase in ethanol blend level may lead to a reduction in gasoline available for sale. The MRAA continues to work with the federal government to oppose this increase in ethanol blend.

Remember, ninety-five percent of all recreational boats are fueled at traditional gas stations, and if E15 becomes the commonly-available blend at these stations, misfueling will occur, and marine engines will be damaged.

 – Larry Innis

Ohio Govenor signs bill on watercraft safety

The Governor of Ohio signed a bill into law on July 11 that becomes effective with the signing that establishes clear criteria for watercraft safety instructions before a recreational boat can be stopped and boarded on Lake Erie and other Ohio waters. In the past, water safety officers could stop a boat at any time for safety inspections.

This bill, sponsored by Rep. Rex Damschroder, which went into effect with the Governor’s signature, establishes that a state or local law enforcement officer will no longer have the authority to stop or board a vessel to conduct a safety inspection. This bill should enhance the boating experience in Ohio.

Please go to this link to see more info.

Ohio Governor Signs Boater Freedom Act : The Fishing Wire

– Larry Innis

GOP Presses President for Answers on Obamacare Delay

As was published in the national media recently, the White House announced a one-year delay in implementation of the employer mandate that requires employers with greater than 50 employees to pay for health insurance or face a penalty. MRAA worked during the drafting of the Affordable Care Act to exempt employers with fewer than 50 employees from the mandate, which MRAA thought would exempt most marine retailers.

In a letter to the White House, Republicans demanded answers why businesses are off the hook but the rest of America is not. House leadership on July 9 seized on the Administration’s one-year delay of the requirement that employers offer health insurance or face penalties by demanding the same postponement for the mandate on individual insurance purchases and promised a series of showdowns.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) clearly took aim at the individual mandate by saying, “each provision you delay continues to demonstrate that the entire law is unworkable.” Rumors in DC indicate troubles in the Department of Health and Human Services in writing the rules and regulations needed to implement Obamacare.

– Larry Innis, Legislative Affairs

MRAA Endorses Collins Tax Bill Written to Help Small Business

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) recently introduced s.1085, the Small Business Tax Certainty and Growth Act. The bill would allow small businesses to plan for capital investments that are vital to business expansion and job creation by easing complex accounting rules for the smallest businesses and reduces the tax burden on new ventures.

The bill would provide small businesses with the ability to make long-range plans by making permanent the maximum allowable deduction under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code. This section allows a more rapid deduction of the cost of acquired assets. The amount of the maximum deduction has changed three times in the past six years and has been addresses by Congress as a “year-end” extended bill making it unpredictable from year to year. The amount of $250,000 would be permanent and would be indexed for inflation. It also extends a15-year depreciation for improvements with respect to restaurants, retail facilities, and leaseholds.

S. 1085 would also allow more companies to use the simpler cash method of accounting by doubling the threshold at which the accrual method is required from $5 million in gross receipts to $10 million.

Finally, the bill would permanently double the deduction for business start-up expenses from $5,000 to $10,000.

“MRAA supports this bill because marine retailers are among the small businesses that create jobs,” said Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “Taxes and tax reform are the most important concerns of our members. We believe this bill is a good step that will make a difference to allow marine retailers to thrive and create jobs.”

– Larry Innis, Legislative Affairs