For me, the coming of peak season is like when I have already seen a horror movie. I remember the moments when the bad guy starts the chainsaw or when the monster pounces out of the darkness. It is exhilarating, but I’m ready for what is coming. But my friend hasn’t seen it before, and he is about to be frightened and isn’t prepared for the oncoming jump-scare scene. The same may be said for your new hires as they enter the busiest season if they haven’t had the experience of a quality onboarding program.
Proper onboarding prepares your new employee for the upcoming seasonal surprises and the potential challenges of peak-season expectations.
“Organizations with standard onboarding processes experience a 50-percent increase in productivity,” said Grace Lau Dialpad Director of Content. She also noted that employees who go through an “effective onboarding program feel 18 times more committed to their organization.”
You can ease the fright and tension of peak season while building commitment and increasing your new hire’s productivity by instituting your onboarding program.
The new MRAA Guide to Onboarding helps you understand the term “onboarding with purpose.” As an MRAA Member, you’ll understand why there is a need for onboarding, why process matters and have access to checklists to create and institute your own onboarding program.
In fact, the MRAA provides three options to assist you in advancing your onboarding development.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 15, 2024 — In a landmark bipartisan achievement, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. This critical step demonstrates the powerful momentum Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) members and industry partners have helped generate in promoting policies that expand access and transform outdoor recreation opportunities. The outdoor recreation economy, recently valued at over $1.1 trillion, continues to build upon the success of the Great American Outdoors Act of 2022 — one of the most significant public lands and waters legislations enacted in our nation’s history.
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The EXPLORE Act’s passage through the House represents a historic moment as it is the first-ever outdoor recreation-specific bill package, and it achieves this without cost to taxpayers. The bipartisan legislation is poised to stimulate local and national economies, enhance access for Americans — particularly those in underserved communities — to green spaces, and modernize policies to bolster the recreation businesses that bridge people with nature. The bill complements the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA).
“The recreational boating industry thanks Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Grijalva for being champions of this important legislation and all who voted to pass the EXPLORE Act out of the House. This critical bipartisan legislation will ultimately improve outdoor recreation opportunities on our federal lands while simultaneously supporting the outfitters and federal employees that make these opportunities possible,” said Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “Passing during a time of legislative gridlock highlights the continued commitment of the House of Representatives to supporting our nation’s diverse outdoor recreation economy and ensure opportunities to enjoy the outdoors exist for all Americans. From mental health benefits to providing much needed economic stimulus for rural communities, the power of outdoor recreation in America is no secret, and the MRAA lauds the House’s commitment to improving and growing outdoor recreation experiences on our nation’s public lands and waters.”
For a more detailed overview of the EXPLORE Act, click hereto view the section by section breakdown of the legislation. In summary, the EXPLORE Act will:
Facilitate permit streamlining, alleviating challenges for outfitters and guides and enhancing access to outdoor adventures;
Expand recreation on public lands and waters;
Guarantee green space access in underserved communities;
Develop, improve and complete long-range trails; and
Boost rural economic development.
The MRAA and the rest of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable community applaud this significant progress in the House and call for the expedient passage of the outdoor recreation package through the Senate. This action is vital for the protection and enjoyment of our public lands, waters and the communities prospering from them.
Jessica Wahl Turner, President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, commended the House’s action, stating, “The House’s passage of the EXPLORE Act is a pivotal advancement for outdoor recreation and the outdoor recreation industry in the United States. Spearheaded by the collaborative efforts of Chairman Bruce Westerman, Ranking Member Raul Grijalva, and a bipartisan group of their colleagues, this legislation shows our collective commitment to ensure outdoor experiences are accessible to every American now and for future generations. As we celebrate this victory, we look forward to the Senate, led by the champions of AORA — Senators Manchin and Barrasso — quickly taking up the mantle and working towards enacting these crucial measures.”
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Member Quotes: “Thank you to Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) for spearheading the EXPLORE Act, which will help safeguard our natural resources and ensure our bodies of water are properly preserved and protected,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, President and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). “This legislation not only increases outdoor recreation access for millions of Americans but also mandates vital enhancements to detect and manage aquatic invasive species. On behalf of the recreational boating industry, NMMA is proud to support this important legislation that helps keep our lakes and inland waterways healthy and strengthens boaters’ access to these natural resources.”
“Congress has a tremendous opportunity to bolster the nation’s $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy through passage of the EXPLORE Act,” said Glenn Hughes, President of the American Sportfishing Association. “Well managed and accessible federal lands are vital to recreational fishing and boating, which is the largest contributor to the outdoor recreation economy. The sportfishing industry thanks Chair Westerman, Ranking Member Grijalva, Chair Tiffany and Ranking Member Neguse for championing this important effort.”
“The EXPLORE Act is bipartisan legislation that will help ensure that Americans continue to enjoy the benefits of recreating outdoors for generations to come,” said National RV Dealers Association President Phil Ingrassia. “The act will improve and modernize recreation infrastructure on public lands to support everyone who enjoys the great outdoors, including the growing number of RV travelers.”
Click here to see what the rest of the ORR Community is saying.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
• MRAA adds a new education course on MRAATraining.com to help its Members improve at gaining customers in a softer market
Chances are you or someone on your sales team has used the term “tire kickers” during your sales meetings conversations.The slang term, which carries with it a negative connotation, stems from the automotive market and refers to someone who seems interested in a vehicle but will not ever make a purchase.
These uncertain shoppers are really only there to mull over their potential options. You can’t call what they are doing purchasing, it’s more like daydreaming in public. For our purposes, we’re going to call these indecisive consumers “barnacle browsers.” (Thanks, Bob McCann!)
We understand it’s frustrating to deal with a barnacle browser that can’t ever fully commit, even if they are profoundly informed and desire to go boating. To help your team find the right customers, manage their expectations, cultivate trust and convert them to loyal buyers, we’ve created an all-new Customer Acquisition Education course package on MRAATraining.com to guide your team to greater success in attracting the types of customers who want to learn from you and, yes, even buy their boat from you.
3 Customer Acquisition Education Courses + 1 MRAA Guide The new education and training package contains three relevant and popular courses, consisting of three digital Dealer Week Online courses with leading industry experts and educators in the field. We’ve also included the MRAA Guide to Navigating 2024. I’ll break down the package below.
Course 1: Selling Value and Experience in the New Economy with Ryan Estis Your customer’s expectations and behaviors have moved to warp speed! Sadly, if they continue this evolution and speed, many sales organizations will get left behind. To help you stay ahead of the curve, educator and Dealer Week 2023 Keynote Ryan Estis shares with you the importance of implementing a new sales experience that includes a value-based and deeply customized approach.
In this highly-rated course, Estis helps you focus on delivering value within the decision cycle, creating urgency and ways to avoid falling back on pricing. You’ll learn advice and insight for including action planning and preparing for customer interactions. By understanding customer psychology and the DNA of a top producer. Not only will he show you how to customize and humanize each experience and individual touchpoint, but he’ll also help you leverage your team’s expertise to build trust, foster relationships and drive decisions that end with a closed deal.
Course 2: Use Facebook & Instagram to Generate Leads that Turn into Buyers with Danny Decker Digital is life. Your customers and prospects are online, shopping for products and experiences to change their lives. That’s why it’s important to create effective ad strategies for your Facebook and Instagram business profiles. Speaker and marketing expert Danny Decker shares with you tips and best practices to generate a successful campaign that boosts ad performance and delivers ROI for today’s challenging and ever-changing market.
This course can put you on a better track to build quality leads that fit your new and pre-owned inventory on your lot today and for what’s coming your way soon. Decker offers you strategies that help you gain the confidence needed to build marketing and advertising efforts that generate leads.
Course 3: Overcome Objections with Next Level Desking and Financing with Dom Zappia Objections usually surface because of doubt and opposition to pricing or market conditions. In this course, financing guru Dom Zappia will help you advance reluctant customers to the next step in sales. He’ll also show you ways to use conversation to build trust and clarity to improve your negotiations. The use of key tools can help you understand customers better, like knowing their pain points and financial motivators, so you can help them feel more in control.
Zappia provides you with finance department strategies to use throughout the buying process to outlast objections and deliver compelling reasons to buy now rather than “wait it out.” Learn how to help your customers understand how affordable a boat can be.
MRAA Guide to Navigating 2024 The Guide to Navigating 2024 will arm you and your team with the guidance, strategies and tactics you need to help make confident business decisions and find more success in 2024 and beyond. It helps you strengthen your dealership’s position in the market with 11 strategies and more than 60 tools and resources to apply for success. The guide helps you create a proactive plan to handle challenges with flexibility and poise.
We have built a dedicated web portal related to each strategy included so you can take action and employ the learnings at your dealership. [Note: Some tools and resources are available to all MRAA Retail Members, while others are only available to MRAA Silver or Gold Members.]
MRAA Silver and Gold Members can access the entire MRAA Customer Acquisition Package here.
• Q&A Interviews with prominent leaders and business partners highlight current boating industry trends, issues and strategies for 2024
MINNEAPOLIS, April 15 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) announces a new video series with prominent marine industry leaders called MRAA Partner Perspectives that shares insights about the business of boating and the recreational boating markets they serve.
The Partner Perspectives videos, hosted by Alan Wendt, a journalist and Soundings Trade Only contributor, feature candid Q&A-style interviews with boat manufacturers, suppliers and service providers that exhibited at MRAA’s most recent Dealer Week Conference and Expo. The videos offer nearly 90 minutes of content and provide an insider’s perspective of boating industry manufacturing, financing, data management, production and distribution.
“This series provides great insights on what to expect during 2024,” said Mike Davin, MRAA Vice President of Industry Relations. “We appreciate the time these industry leaders took to sit down with Alan, as well as their partnership with MRAA throughout the year. I think people are going to enjoy viewing the conversations.”
MRAA Partner Perspectives Video Series Lineup
Barletta Boat Company – Jeff Haradine, President
BoatMart – Nicole Schantz, VP of OEM and Strategic Partnerships
Brunswick Financial Services – Will Lockridge, Director
Centurion and Supreme Boats – Amy Mauzy, VP Marketing & Brand Direction
Elite Recreational Finance – Jared Zimlin, Business Development Director
First Approval Source – Jeff Backus, Founder and COO
Huntington Distribution Finance, Tracy Williams, SVP, Marine Vertical Leader
Lightspeed DMS – Chris Hauck, Director of Product Management
National Marine Distributors Association – Nancy Cueroni, Executive Director
Northpoint Commercial Finance – Russel Baqir, SVP Business Development
700Credit – John Warner, VP National Accounts & Business Development
To learn more about partnering with MRAA at Dealer Week 2024 in Orlando, Fla., contact go to mraa.com/partnerwithmraa.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
• MRAA is your pathway to success and provides the support you need to get there
While writing this blog to help you understand that the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) is passionate about advancing the business of boating, it triggered a mental memory of my cousin and me exploring a small creek. We spent that day walking the creekbank and fording it like scouts on a Lewis-and-Clark expedition, searching for a sea.
My meandering thoughts made me think of all the twists and turns creeks and rivers take on their journey to larger bodies of water. I thought about rivers and watersheds and growing up just 4 miles from where the Boone River feeds into the Des Moines River in Iowa. The Boone River is a tributary to the larger and longer Des Moines River, which flows into the Mississippi River, or the Great River. Ultimately, the Mighty Miss pours out into the Gulf of Mexico, which itself is part of the vast Atlantic Ocean.
Your dealership isn’t unlike these bodies of water. Let’s consider your business the Atlantic Ocean. Your Service Department could very well be the Mississippi. Your other departments, like F&I, Sales and Parts, contribute to your “flow” much like tributaries feed larger rivers. When they are working together and flowing, as they should, you typically get predictable results and know what to expect. However, during storms and times of drought, environmental concerns and other related issues, the entire system can suffer, and the streams and rivers struggle, which in turn hurts your store.
We understand that running a business is hard. There are so many internal (lack of communication, trust and process) and outside factors (lack of quality workforce, delays, soft market, etc.) that it can often feel like you’re swimming upstream instead of flowing freely like a swift current. But don’t worry. We believe you, on the front lines, must first be successful so that marine industry is successful.
Our mission is to fuel your success and to help drive a thriving marine industry. The MRAA is your guide, providing you with a pathway on your recreational boating business journey. By helping your tributaries effectively feed your larger waterways, we keep your business running smoothly to improve your journey to greatness (or the great ocean, to keep our analogy surging).
“Our team believes that for the marine industry to be successful, you, a marine retailer – a boat dealer on the front lines of our great industry – must be successful first,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President, in his recent MRAA membership video. “And as a marine retailer yourself, you should know that the MRAA exists for one reason and one reason only, and that is to support you in finding success for your business.”
This quote from Matt is not fluff but something he has shared numerous times across the country at dealer meetings, on stage at our annual Dealer Week Conference and Expo and in various other presentations and interviews. We exist to serve you with genuine care, respect and integrity. We do that by remembering who we are and what we do. The MRAA is for dealers by dealers and provides you with world-class education and resources. We also re-invest in your success and represent you in Washington.
The MRAA can play the role of tributary in your journey to greatness. Like a tributary, we can flow information into you to help your teams continue to feed your business. A recent advancement for the MRAA is Aimie (or AI for Marine Industry Education). Aimie can help your employees and your business because she has been trained using MRAA education and resources. MRAA Members can ask her to be their virtual guide.
I advise you to watch the following two MRAA videos to help you understand our commitment and desire to serve you. The first video is about MRAA Membership and Aimie. The second is a recent webinar recording that shares Aimie’s benefits and tips for getting the best search and content results.
Finally, for all the natural-born explorers, the 7-week Dealership Certification program and Continuous Certification are for you. These MRAA programs provide you with resources, tools and guides (consultants) to refine your operations, employee engagement and customer experience while also helping you to stay energized and afloat on your long journey to success. Check out the videos below.
We are just weeks away from the 2024 American Boating Congress (ABC) May 8-10, the industry’s annual advocacy event. Ahead of the conference in Washington, D.C., the NMMA team is hosting a webinarat 2 p.m. ET, on Tuesday, April 23. Please join us to learn more about this year’s ABC programming and the industry’s top policy priorities: boating access, infrastructure, tariffs, and sustainability.
The webinar will allow for registered and potential attendees to receive more information about this year’s ABC agenda, and best practices for being the most effective advocate, ensuring that ABC attendees will be ready to hit the ground running upon arriving in the nation’s capital. Webinar participants will have the option to ask questions at the end of the program.
WHAT: NMMA 2024 American Boating Congress Capitol Hill Advocacy Webinar
Regardless of whether someone has attended previous ABCs, is attending for the first time, or is considering registering, NMMA encourages all stakeholders to join the webinar.
For questions on registration or the event, please contact Erica Crocker, NMMA’s Senior Director of Political Advocacy and Engagement, at ecrocker@nmma.org. The ABC agenda can be found here.
Thank you to Yamaha and MarineMax, our Executive Level Sponsors, for their support.
POWAY, Calif. (April 8, 2024) – As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing its Marine remarketing segment, National Powersport Auctions (NPA) is excited to announce the launch of a referral program aimed at expanding its network of marine dealerships and businesses. This strategic initiative comes on the heels of significant growth in NPA’s Marine division over the past year.
Under the NPA Refer a Matereferral program, any current NPA Member can refer a new marine dealer to NPA. Upon registration and membership approval, the referring member will receive a generous $250 buy fee credit towards their account. This incentive is per referral and underscores NPA’s dedication to fostering a strong community of members who benefit from its comprehensive buying and selling services.
In addition to the referral rewards, NPA offers an enticing promotion for new marine members. Those who sign up by July 31, 2024, will receive their first year of NPA membership benefits entirely FREE. These benefits include access to NPA tools and participating in all NPA platforms for buying and selling marine units through NPA live auctions, simulcast auctions, and online auctions 24/7. Every member has a dedicated specialist to assist with values and logistics. NPA provides unparalleled support for marine dealers and traders looking to optimize their operations and maximize their profits.
Matt Amata, NPA’s Vice President of RV and Marine, expressed enthusiasm for the program’s launch, stating, “A customer referral is a great way for a business to learn about our remarketing services. NPA members who refer friends and colleagues trust our company, processes, and buying and selling services. Through this referral program, we look forward to assisting more marine dealers with their inventory needs.”
With this novel referral program and compelling membership offer, NPA reaffirms its commitment to driving success for its members in the marine industry. Dealerships and businesses can seize this opportunity to expand their network, enhance their services, and achieve greater profitability with NPA’s industry-leading solutions.
NPA members can contact their NPA Territory Sales Manager for more information about NPA’s referral program. Dealers or distributors interested in membership can apply online or contact the NPA Dealer Registration team at 888-292-5339 (ext. 923301) and email at dealer-reg@npauctions.com, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday. Any business wanting to know how to get onboard to consign or defleet marine products should contact Matt Amata at mamata@npauctions.com or 858-430-8476.
About National Powersport Auctions Established in 1990, National Powersport Auctions (NPA) is the world’s leading provider of powersport vehicle remarketing services. NPA’s nationwide footprint serves the industry’s largest financial institutions, manufacturers, and dealers through their premier live and online selling platforms. NPA offers comprehensive data services, including the NPA Value Guide™, the industry’s most accurate wholesale valuation tool. NPA has company-owned and staffed facilities in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas. NPA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Copart, Inc (Nasdaq: CPRT). For more information about NPA, visit: www.npauctions.com.
• Exploring the Future of Buying Study in Outdoor Recreation: A strategic roadmap for navigating the evolving landscape of consumer behaviors in the outdoor recreation industries
By Chris Yeloushan, VP of Dealer Development, and Industry Relations
In late summer/early fall of 2023, Rollick, a national leader in marketing, technology, and market research in the outdoor recreation industries, conducted the Future of Buying study (FOB), which examines how recreational consumers engaged with their brand and dealers in their most recent shopping and buying experience and, more importantly, the tools, technologies and resources they relied upon.
A Collaboration of Insights Twenty-seven leading brands across the marine, powersports and RV sectors joined with Rollick in this study, allowing access to their owners and prospects through the Rollick Aimbase database management system. The study, branded by the clients themselves, achieved an impressive response rate, with nearly 18 percent of participants engaging — an achievement notable in electronic surveys.
Understanding the Audience The study’s findings reveal a diverse audience comprising product owners and prospects. While most respondents were proud owners of their recreational products, a significant portion represented a crucial demographic — “new to the market” or first-time owners. Prospects, especially prominent in the marine sector, provided invaluable insights, including those who had opted to rent products before considering ownership — an exciting trend for exploration.
Response Time Marine response time is becoming crucial as consumer expectations evolve. There’s a growing demand for prompt communication, with consumers expecting a phone call within 10 minutes of inquiry. This expectation reflects a broader trend identified in the study, where consumers prioritize immediate responses via email and text, especially from dealers, over traditional methods like phone calls. As the purchase cycle for Marine products typically spans over 4+ months on average, maintaining ongoing communication with consumers for a minimum of 1 year is vital to demonstrate value and sustain interest throughout the process.
This shift in consumer behavior highlights the importance of adapting communication strategies to align with evolving preferences.
Demographic Nuances Diving into responder demographics unearthed interesting differences between industries and brands. Notably, marine and powersports owners skewed younger, with RV owners leaning towards an older demographic. The study highlighted a growing female ownership trend, underscoring the importance of catering to diverse consumer needs and preferences.
Online Engagement In an increasingly digital landscape, online sources emerged as dependable in the consumer’s purchasing journey. Manufacturer websites proved to be the primary touchpoint for consumers across all industries, offering a wealth of information and guidance. While dealer websites played a crucial role, third-party and community-driven platforms garnered significant trust, signaling a shift towards consumer reliance on authentic, peer-driven insights.
Embracing Technology The study showcased consumers’ appeal for innovative technologies, with email and augmented/virtual reality experiences effectively leading the pack. Email is the most effective communication technology according to the consumers. Due to its non-intrusive nature compared to phone calls, it should be timely, personalized, immediate and short-term.
As consumers gravitate towards immersive digital experiences, brands must harness the power of emerging technologies to deliver personalized, engaging interactions.
Navigating Purchase Dynamics Understanding the intricacies of the purchase cycle is paramount, especially in industries like Marine, where buying decisions are often protracted. Consumers crave transparency and fairness in financial transactions, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and flexible financing options. Due to product price, variety and complexity, Marine’s extended cycle emphasizes the importance of a long-term nurturing strategy instead of focusing solely on immediate buyers.
The Rental Phenomenon A fascinating revelation emerged regarding the rental market’s impact on purchasing decisions. While rental experiences often serve as a precursor to ownership, the Marine sector faces a unique challenge. A higher percentage of marine enthusiasts opt for rentals over ownership, raising questions about the industry’s future trajectory and the role of rental services in shaping consumer behavior.
Charting a Course Forward As outdoor recreation continues to evolve alongside shifting consumer preferences and technological advancements, Rollick’s FOB study provides essential insights to shape industry standards. From leveraging digital transformation to fostering trust and transparency, success depends on adapting to consumer behavior. This study offers a new perspective on the outdoor recreation industry and highlights how customers expect to communicate in post-Covid times. With these insights, OEMs and dealers can confidently navigate this landscape to ensure sustained growth and success.
About the Author: Chris Yeloushan is our avid in-house expert in all outdoor recreation products. Chris is focused on building and developing key strategic programs within our OEM, Dealerand Partner networks to help create the most efficient consumer buying and ownership experience. You can catch Chris any given day camping in the RV, on the ATV, or in the boat.
About Rollick: Rollick connects manufacturers, dealers, finance, and insurance providers with in-market consumers in the Powersports, RV, and Marine industries to deliver a seamless customer journey. Rollick’s solutions, utilized by over 130 OEMs and thousands of dealers, include new customer acquisition, enterprise lead management, digital retailing, inventory marketing, customer experience/loyalty, and marketing automation. In addition, the company has rapidly built its GoRollick.com outdoor recreational vehicle buying marketplace to include a nationwide network of dealers and an affinity partner network with access to over 250 million high-quality customers, including policyholders of major insurance providers, employees at more than 2,000 top U.S. companies, members of the military, veterans and first responders. For more information, visit Rollick.io.
MINNEAPOLIS, April 8 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) recently released its Annual Impact Report, which provides an overview of everything the association did in 2023 to support boat dealers and the marine industry.
Along with introducing new education, artificial intelligence and Certification resources, the report shares refocused advocacy initiatives and record-setting membership, partnership and Dealer Week attendance figures as well as company-wide growth that helped the association deliver on its mission to fuel dealer success.
“Our members and our industry partners invest a lot in MRAA, and it’s important to us to be transparent about what the association is doing with those resources to benefit the industry,” said Mike Davin, MRAA’s Vice President of Industry Relations. “Last year was the first year of MRAA’s three-year Strategic Roadmap, and following that plan the association launched a Service Management Certification Program with the American Boat & Yacht Council, hosted the largest Dealer Week on record, and introduced new education and toolkits to help dealers, among a lot of other initiatives.”
The MRAA releases an annual Impact Report to show how its initiatives — events, education, advocacy and additional strategic efforts – benefit its members, partners and the marine industry. The Impact Report also helps the association reach out to new partners and potential industry advocates who are looking to get involved.
The 2023 Impact Report details how the MRAA expanded its team both in the office and within Dealership Certification; launched a Service Management Study as part of its commitment to increase data sharing; invested in advocacy priorities, adding a Diamond Ambassador Program and a new Director of Government Relations; and advanced MRAA’s Dealership Certification program with the continued success of a 7-week format that guides retailers to establish a culture of continuous improvement.
Read the complete report here. For more information, contact Mike Davin at mike@mraa.com.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
• Discover Boating content helps new boat owners navigate the next steps as they prepare for their first boating season
Throughout March, Discover Boating, powered by MRAA and NMMA, shared timely content connecting key holidays with boating. In celebration of Women’s History Month, Discover Boating’s website and social media channels featured “Women Making Waves” in the marine industry, shining a spotlight on their significant contributions. Additionally, in the article “How to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on a Boat” readers gained insights into safe and festive ways to enjoy the holiday on the water.
Now that the winter boat show season is finished, Discover Boating’s content is helping new boat owners navigate the next steps as they prepare for their first boating season by sharing resources and articles like“I Bought a Boat at a Boat Show: Now What?”.
With summer boating season approaching, April’s content calendar is packed with resources and tips to prepare boaters for the upcoming season. We’ll be covering essential topics like boating safety, insurance guides, and boat maintenance to ensure a worry-free and enjoyable season on the water.
New articles published to Discover Boating in March included:
Dealer tip:Discover Boating articles are designed to be shared with customers. Use them as social messages, place them in your e-newsletters and feature them within other communication channels.
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