MINNEAPOLIS — Marine Products Corp., a leading U.S. boat manufacturer and the parent company of Chaparral and Robalo, has been named a Partner Member of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas.
“We are honored to have earned Chapparal and Robalo’s partnership, ” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “During the recession, their company demonstrated its commitment to their dealer networks, providing dealers with outstanding support during the most challenging of times. We are thrilled that they also have chosen to promote marine retail success through support of the MRAA.”
Through its largest subsidiary, Chaparral Boats, Marine Products is one of the leading manufacturers of sterndrive powerboats in the United States. Marine Products also competes in the sport fishing boat marketplace with Robalo offshore sport fishing boats.
“We invest in supporting our dealers because we understand how important a strong and balanced dealer-manufacturer relationship is to both parties’ success,” says Jim Lane, President of Chaparral Boats, Inc. and Robalo Boats, LLC. “Our partnership with the MRAA is another way we can encourage the success of the marine dealer body and ultimately, the entire boating business.”
About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit
MINNEAPOLIS — Crownline Boats, a leading U.S. manufacturer of sports boats, has been named a Partner Member of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “We are thrilled to have gained Crownline’s partnership, ” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “Through the support of such well-known boat brands, we can make a real difference for marine retailers, offering them resources, tools and benefits to drive their success.” Crownline Boats, founded in 1991, manufactures bowriders, cuddies and cruisers. From its corporate headquarters in West Frankfort, Ill., the company produces innovative, high quality craft that feature best-in-class warranty coverage. “At Crownline Boats, we believe the path to success is best traveled through partnership with the dealers that represent our brand in the field,” says Nathan Heisner, Director of Sales for Crownline Boats. “By supporting the MRAA, we can give back to the dealer community, helping them meet and exceed their business goals. ” About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit
MINNEAPOLIS – For the first time in 2012, attendees of the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo will have access to the MRAA Rewards Pavilion, a special area of the exhibit hall devoted to the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and its benefit providers. “During the past year, MRAA has tripled the number of benefits we offer our members,” says Liz Walz, MRAA Director of Membership. “Surveys suggest our members are not as aware of our benefits and what they offer as they should be. By bringing our benefit providers together in one area of the expo floor, we’re making it easy for MDCE attendees to explore the incredible value offered by MRAA membership.” The 2012 MDCE, produced in partnership between MRAA and Boating Industry, will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 11-14. The companies participating in the MRAA Rewards Pavilion include: ADP Lightspeed; Customer Service Intelligence, Inc.; Lighthouse Media Solutions; MarineLab Warranty Processing; Norman-Spencer Marine Insurance Services; Priority One Financial Services; Spader Business Management; Statistical Surveys, Inc.; TSYS Merchant Solutions; Discover Boating; and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. Together, the savings, revenue and performance-enhancement to be gained through MRAA membership are guaranteed to deliver a return on investment. “With the average annual savings of members who participate in the MRAA Shipping & Freight Program totaling $304, we have every confidence that those who take advantage of all that MRAA membership has to offer will find it delivers an impressive ROI,” Walz concluded.
About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit
MINNEAPOLIS — Cobalt Boats, one of the premier family-owned boat builders in North America, has been named a Partner Member of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “Cobalt Boats is a well known leader in the area of dealer relations,” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “They have set a standard for the rest of the industry when it comes to dealer-manufacturer partnership, the effects of which are clearly evident to their customers. As such, we are honored that they have chosen to support our efforts at MRAA.” Headquartered in Neodesha, Kan., Cobalt Boats is a privately owned manufacturer of luxury boats from 20 to 32 feet in length. A leader in customer satisfaction, Cobalt has received the JD Power Award for Large Runabout CSI every year since 2001. “Part of the Cobalt family tradition is that we challenge ourselves to deliver the highest levels of value and customer service,” says Paxson St. Clair, CEO of Cobalt Boats. “But we realize that in order to meet those goals, we must have a strong and trusting partnership with our dealers that allows for and encourages success for all of us. We support the MRAA because we believe they share our vision of partnership and are working toward a better future for the entire industry and its customers.” About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit
MINNEAPOLIS — Merrick Bank, a leading provider of nonprime finance options to marine dealers and their customers, has signed on as a Partner Member of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “As dealers have struggled to get their customers financed in a tight credit market, Merrick Bank has been a great resource for them, ” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “We are delighted that they have chosen to further their support of marine retailers through a partnership with MRAA.” Merrick Bank, founded in 1997, provides nonprime finance options to marine and RV dealers throughout the country, helping to facilitate boat and RV purchases for consumers who have experienced some past credit problems. With more than $1 billion in total assets, Merrick Bank specializes in credit programs that assist consumers looking to rebuild their credit rating. “Part of our mission at Merrick Bank is to make a positive difference in the lives of our customers,” says Scott Anderson, Vice President of Merrick Bank. “Our partnership with the MRAA helps us work toward a stronger boating business by encouraging marine dealer growth and improvement. Ultimately, we believe that leads to a better boat ownership experience. ” About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit
NORFOLK, Va. – Boat Trader, a Dominion Marine Media business, announced today the release of its Dealer Market Index, the first in a series. The Dealer Market Index, drawn from Boat Trader data, provides deeper insight into what prospects are doing on the site from the top of the purchase funnel to the conversion point. The data provides national and regional market information for boat dealers. It includes detailed information on: consumer searches by boat length, Top 25 searches by manufacturer, sales from leads generated by boat lengthRegional inventory by length and regional inventory by price. “We have mined a wealth of data about consumer visits to Boat Trader,” said John Burnham, editorial director, Dominion Marine Media. “Now we’ve compiled that data into an index that gives dealers deeper access to that information and the chance to see how it’s changing over time. Our hope is that it provides them with the data they need to make tough business decisions.” The first copies of the Boat Trader 2012 Dealer Market Index will be made available to boat dealers attending the Boating Trades Association of Texas Marine Retail University on October 21-22 at the Omni La Mansion Del Rio in San Antonio, TX. About Boat Trader About Dominion Marine Media MINNEAPOLIS — Starcraft Marine and the Smoker Craft Family of Products, one of the leading family-owned boat builders in North America, has been named a Partner Member of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “We’re proud to have the support of a company with such a long tradition of partnership with its dealers,” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “After many years as a key sponsor of the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, Starcraft Marine and the Smoker Craft Family of Products are once again demonstrating their commitment to the dealer community through membership in the MRAA.” Starcraft Marine and the Smoker Craft Family of Products include fishing boats, utility boats, jon boats, runabouts and pontoons designed to offer solid construction, quality craftsmanship and a generous line-up of standard features. From its corporate headquarters in New Paris, Ind.., and through its loyal dealer partners, the company demonstrates a passion for providing outstanding customer service. “One of the best customer service strategies we’ve developed is to support our dealer network ,” says Phil Smoker, Vice President of Sales. “When we invest in our dealers’ success, we’re also investing in our future at Starcraft Marine and Smoker Craft. That’s why sponsoring MDCE and partnering with MRAA is so important to our company.” About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit
MINNEAPOLIS — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that it has launched a brand new Young Professionals Community to foster growth and networking opportunities among emerging leaders in the marine industry. The brainchild of the MRAA’s Young Leaders Advisory Council, this Young Professionals Community will offer any interested industry participants new and exciting ways to interact with one another and grow in their careers. The MRAA will offer the community participants a variety of educational programs, in addition to facilitating networking opportunities both in-person and online. And there are no restrictions to who can join this group. “There are those in the marine industry who suggest that the dealer body has been a ‘good old boys’ network, unable or unwilling to welcome different perspectives on how today’s dealerships and/or the marine industry at large operates,’” says Matt Gruhn, President of the MRAA. “We believe differently. We believe that the marine industry has plenty of youth, plenty of new ideas, and plenty of opportunity for growth when powered by a combination of proven processes and practices, new ideas and next-generation thinking. “The MRAA wants to foster that growth by connecting the future leaders of this industry, and by giving them the tools and the platform for finding that growth together.” The first gathering of the Young Professionals Community will take place at the upcoming Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, which is being held Nov. 11-14, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. The MRAA is hosting a Young Professionals Leadership Development Event on Tuesday night of the MDCE (that’s the 13th), which will feature a session on “The 3 Motivators Every Leader Needs to Understand.” This session will be taught by Spader Business Management’s David Spader, who also will be speaking as part of the Powering Profits track at this year’s MDCE. Following the session, the group will have the opportunity to attend an informal late-night networking session at Pointe Orlando, across the street from the MDCE headquarters. Learn more and register for the Young Professionals event here. To attend, you simply must be registered for MDCE. “By helping connect and educate this industry’s next generation of leadership,” Gruhn explains, “the MRAA can contribute to the long-term health and success of the boating industry. This Young Professionals Community is just the beginning of that effort.” The Young Professionals Community is already live at MRAA.com. Members of the MRAA can access the community by logging in, joining the Young Leaders Group page (follow the Groups and Networking tabs over on the left side of MRAA.com), registering for the Young Professionals Leadership Development and interacting with fellow Young Professionals there. Participate in forums, connect with peers and take advantage of all the community has to offer. About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit
MRAA President Matt Gruhn was recently featured in an article by Boating Industry magazine, recognizing the progress that MRAA has made in 2012. The “Bold Moves” that MRAA has made have resulted in huge increases in membership. Read the article here. If you want to drive more sales in your business in 2013, you won’t want to miss the keynote presentation at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo: “How the Best Get Better” from world-renowned speaker and author Robert Stevenson. Stevenson will give you actionable tips you can use in your business right away to improve customer satisfaction, increase referrals and grow sales. These include: Stevenson closes out the first full day of the MDCE at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12, with his powerful message. Make sure YOU prepare for 2013 by attending this must-see event! For more information about sessions and speakers, click here. 2012 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo I can help you navigate the site, find resources, and answer dealership questions. Feel free to type your question below or select one of the options to get started!Crownline signs on as MRAA Partner Member
MRAA Rewards Pavilion to launch at MDCE
Cobalt signs on as MRAA Partner Member
Merrick Bank named MRAA Partner Member
Boat Trader releases 2012 Dealer Market Index
BoatTrader.com is the preeminent U.S. site for buyers to connect with sellers. Averaging 1.7 million visitors and more than 30 million page views each month, Boat Trader offers companies unique display advertising options on boat detail pages, blogs and e-newsletters to build brand awareness and product knowledge. With an average of 8 million views each month, Boat Trader’s listing pages alone are a highly targeted landscape to reach the most active prospects as they move through the sales process. Strategically placed text links on the listing pages generate a high volume of click-throughs and, coupled with prominent display advertising, create an effective way for marine businesses to dominate this space.
Dominion Marine Media (DMM) is the Internet partner of choice for the recreational marine industry and operates the three market leading web portals – www.boats.com, www.yachtworld.com and www.boattrader.com. DMM is a division of Dominion Enterprises, a leading marketing services and publishing company, that provides businesses with a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, website design and hosting and data management services. DMM has offices in North America (Norfolk, Virginia; Seattle, Washington; and Vancouver, British Columbia) as well as in Europe (United Kingdom and Italy). The company employs 150 people, has customers in 106 countries and advertises boats for sale in 193 countries. In 2011, over 59 million unique visitors spent time researching products on DMM web and mobile sites, apps and social media outlets. DMM’s global reach includes 23 localized web portals which are translated into 13 languages.Starcraft and Smoker Craft named MRAA Partner Member
MRAA launches Young Professionals Community
MRAA’s Gruhn recognized for “Bold Moves
MDCE Keynote Speaker: A Must-See Event!
November 11 – 14, 2012
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL
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