The following is a link to a brief Federal Register article that was just published. It provides an accounting overview of how the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Recreational Boating Safety spent $5.5 million in 2011 that was provided by the Sport Fish and Boating Safety Trust Fund. The Coast Guard reports this to comply with a requirement in the law when it was last passed by Congress. Click on the link below to see the report.
Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 16
Larry Innis
MRAA Legislative Affairs
New Study Finds Take Me Fishing™ Campaign Motivates Decision to Boat & Fish
Campaign continues to achieve high levels of brand awareness and advertising effectiveness
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A new study released by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) reveals that RBFF’s Take Me Fishing™ brand and Take Me Fishing advertising continues to achieve high levels of awareness, and that the campaign is positively affecting decisions to participate in boating and fishing. The study, based on an online survey, found that consumers who recall a Take Me Fishing print ad are more than three times more likely to intend to go fishing, take someone fishing, or go boating for the purpose of fishing as consumers who do not recall the ad. In another analysis, the study scored Take Me Fishing print advertising 74.4 out of 100 on its ability to influence readers’ decisions to go fishing in response to the ad’s call to action.
“These are exciting results for RBFF and our stakeholders,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “They prove the Take Me Fishing campaign is positively affecting behavior and boosting participation. This coming year, we’re expanding the campaign. And we’re working right now on future ads to keep the campaign fresh, effective and motivating.”
The survey reached 2,000 people among three target groups: those interested in the outdoors, those interested in both fishing and boating and those known to have been exposed to the Take Me Fishing advertising campaign.
KEY FINDINGS:
- Awareness of the Take Me Fishing logo increased in 2011 across all audiences, and is up to 61 percent among those interested in fishing or boating, an increase of 16 percent over 2010.
- Brand awareness (measured by recall of the phrase “Take Me Fishing”) increased from 30 percent in 2010 to 48 percent in 2011, a more than 50 percent jump over 2010.
- Take Me Fishing ads have a powerful effect on intentions to participate:
- Those who recall a Take Me Fishing ad, compared with those who do not recall the ad, are 3.6 times more likely to go fishing, 3.6 times more likely to take someone else fishing and 3.5 times more likely to go boating for the purpose of fishing.
- Consumers who recall a Take Me Fishing ad are 3.6 times more likely to go to the TakeMeFishing.org website than those who do not.
- Awareness of direct mail advertising (via RBFF’s Fishing License Marketing Program) is up six percent in 2011 (15 percent) compared to 2010 (9 percent).
The study was based on a survey conducted by EurekaFacts in September 2011. An executive summary of the report is available online at www.rbff.org/research. To request a copy of the full report, please e-mail rbff@rbff.org.
About RBFF
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers’ Legacy.
Tax extenders letter signed by MRAA
The following is a letter that the MRAA signed on to and was recently delivered to every member of Congress. The letter urges extension of the tax provisions that expired at the end of 2011. The letter is signed by more than 1,500 businesses, associations, community development organizations, and non-profit organizations. This letter was nearly identical to the November 9 letter the MRAA also authorized signing. The few changes to the letter reflected the tax extenders had expired and urged quick congressional action in 2012 of a seamless (retroactive) extension.
Larry Innis
MRAA Legislative Affairs
TEXT OF LETTER SENT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS on January 24, 2012:
Dear Member of Congress:
The undersigned organizations urge Congress to extend as soon as possible in 2012 the tax provisions that expired at the end of 2011. These tax provisions, which benefit a wide range of taxpayers, including associations, businesses, individuals, community development organizations and non-profit organizations, are important to U.S. jobs and the broader economy. The lack of timely congressional action to extend these provisions would inject more instability and uncertainty into the economy and further weaken confidence in the employment marketplace.
Moreover, the seamless extension of these expired provisions should not be delayed until policymakers complete work on comprehensive tax reform. Even though Congress began last year to consider tax reform proposals, a wide-ranging group of taxpayers is making decisions right now related to current law which will have an immediate impact on the economy. While we are hopeful that the tax reform debate results in policy that is fair, efficient, and encourages economic growth, it is critical that the current tax system provide certainty in the interim. Additional uncertainty is not a recipe for improving confidence in this economy.
We urge you to pass these important tax provisions early in 2012.
Sincerely,
———————————-
Dealer Action Request:
We urge you to share this important letter with your members of Congress and other contacts on Capitol Hill. It is crucial that Congress act on the extenders package early in 2012.
Thank you for your participation in this critical effort.
Larry
STO: MRAA seeks reinvention on 40th anniversary
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012.
“The foundation of the MRAA has always been to represent a united voice of the industry’s retailers, as well as to make their roles as retailers as efficient and cost-effective as possible,” MRAA president Matt Gruhn said in a statement. “Together with our board we are seeking to … Read more.
MRAA celebrates 40th Anniversary in 2012
BOCA GRANDE, Fla. – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012.
Launched by a small group of just 12 dealers in 1972, the MRAA has long stood as the voice of marine retailers throughout North America. The association has been headed up by just four executive directors/presidents over the years, and it has grown to encompass a number of benefits for its members, a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and an annual convention — the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo.
“The foundation of the MRAA has always been to represent a united voice of the industry’s retailers as well as to make their roles as retailers as efficient and cost-effective as possible,” says Matt Gruhn, who is just the fourth paid executive to head the MRAA. “Together with our board, we are seeking to strengthen that 40-year foundation through the implementation of a new strategic plan, a new membership structure and benefits program, and the creation of several new and valuable member benefits.”
In preparation for its 40th anniversary, the MRAA rolled out a series of new benefits in late 2011 — a new credit card processing partner, a new marketing solutions provider, two new financial planning programs and a market analysis tool — that doubled the number of benefits the association provides its members. Housed under the MRAA Rewards Program, this list of benefits is already being upgraded in 2012, as well. The MRAA announced a revamped partnership with CSI, Inc., just last week, and in the coming weeks will announce two more premium benefits in addition to a brand-new, all-encompassing website that will reinvent the way the MRAA does business.
The MRAA also announced in late 2011 a partnership with Dominion Marine Media, through which the two companies will produce a series of dealer educational events around the country. The Norman-Spencer Marine Retail University events will feature a full day or more of educational opportunities customized to the needs of local and state marine trades associations and their members.
“Rather than focusing on the hoopla that often surrounds such a milestone anniversary,” Gruhn explains, “we’re focused on reinventing who we are and what we deliver our members. The more opportunities like these benefits and the MRU events that we can offer, the more value our members will receive from their membership. We believe that it’s critical that we continue to focus our efforts in that direction, and we’re thrilled that our 40th anniversary year is shaping up to be one of our best years yet.”
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. For more information, visit www.MRAA.com.
RBC Capital Markets releases earnings preview
RBC Capital Markets, an equity research firm, released an earnings preview this morning, with information on recreational industries public companies Brunswick Corp., Harley-Davidson and Polaris Industries. Download the report here.
Bellwether report shows 5-percent growth
Info-Link has released its monthly bellwether report for December, and it shows until sales held steady at about 5-percent growth on a rolling 12-month average. Take a look at the graph.
Marine Bankers report lending up 3 quarters in 2011
Most lenders expect 1Q2012 to be same or better than same period last year
The National Marine Bankers Association introduced a brief quarterly members’ survey in 2011 to gauge changes in the lending environment and identify trends that could be used for business planning. Forty-two percent of the NMBA lender members (loan originators/brokers/ financial service firms, banks, credit unions, and finance companies) responded to the 4th quarter survey, with the majority having a national presence.
Respondents largely reported business up in 2011, except in the 3rd quarter, and 76% reported increased bookings in the final quarter over the same period in 2010. Pre-owned boat sales make up the majority of new loans for NMBA members, as a 4-quarter average shows 57% of the lenders indicated loans on new boats accounted for 25% or less of their bookings in 2011. Similarly, a 4-quarter average shows 80% of the lenders surveyed indicated refinance business represented less than 26% of their loan bookings.
The 4th quarter survey shows concerns over credit stringency have waned since 3rd quarter, with 89% of respondents citing lending criteria (credit history, asset/net worth, debt ratio, income, collateral, and other lender requirements) is the same or less stringent than the prior quarter. All responding lenders indicate credit quality of borrowers was the same or better in the 4th quarter compared to the 3rd quarter of 2011.
A final high note: 50% of respondents expect the 1st quarter of 2012 to be up over the same period last year, and 39% predict it to be the same. The list of survey questions follows.
How does dollar volume of loans booked 4Q2011 compare to 4Q2010?
- 76% responded: volume was up
- 12% responded: volume was down
- 12% responded: volume was the same
What percentage of dollar volume of loans booked 4Q2011 is on new boats?
- 61% responded: <26%
- 11% responded: 26-50%
- 17% responded: 51-75%
- 11% responded: >75%
What percentage of dollar volume of loans booked 4Q2011 is refinance business?
- 67% responded: <26%
- 17% responded: 26-50%
- 16% responded: 51%-75%
What is your outlook for 1Q2012 compared to 1Q2011?
- 50% expect loan business to be up
- 11% expect loan business to be down
- 39% expect loan business to be about the same
How does lending criteria 4Q2011 compare to 3Q2011?
- 11% more stringent
- 17% less stringent
- 72% feel criteria is about the same
How does credit quality 4Q2011 compare to 3Q2011?
- 33% responded they believe credit quality is better
- 67% responded credit quality is about the same
How has your average boat loan amount changed in 2011 from 2010?
- 44% responded: increased
- 22% responded: decreased
- 34% responded: same
How has your average margin on boat loans changed in 2011 from 2010?
- 22% responded: increased
- 17% responded: decreased
- 61% responded: same
Membership in the NMBA includes financial institutions such as commercial banks, private financing firms, savings and loan companies, and credit unions. Firms extend or originate credit to consumers, retailers/dealers and manufacturers of recreational boats and equipment. Associate members are those which provide services to the marine lending community. Visit www.marinebankers.org for more information
MDCE announces 2012 dates, location
ORLANDO – Following on the heels of four-consecutive years of growth in dealer attendance, the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo is preparing to break new records in 2012.
The event, which will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 11-14, will take its educational line-up to the next level, offering dealers a bevy of fresh topics and more expert presenters than ever before.
“The MDCE’s success is based largely on its ability to deliver educational content that attendees can use to advance their business and increase their bottom line,” explained Liz Walz, editor-in-chief of Boating Industry, which co-produces the MDCE with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “We are committed to offering a can’t miss agenda that will provide new strategies dealers can use to produce real results in today’s market.”
The process of building that agenda will begin on Feb. 1, when organizers will issue their annual Request for Presentations. It will continue later in the month with the kick-off of the annual MDCE dealer survey regarding prospective attendees’ educational goals for the event.
“Every year we have found ways to improve upon the opportunity that the MDCE offers dealers from across North America,” said Rob Soucy, president of Port Harbor Marine and chairman of the MRAA’s Convention Committee. “This year, we expect to take the educational agenda to a new level and provide more best practices and greater expert advice than ever before.”
In 2012, the MDCE expo hall will be the largest in the event’s history at more than 150,000 square feet. As part of this new, larger floor plan, organizers will improve upon one of the most popular features of last year’s event, the modular classrooms that created better traffic flow throughout the expo hall and brought dealers and suppliers together for unprecedented networking opportunities.
In 2011, MDCE was held at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando and attracted 471 dealer attendees, an increase of 1 percent, which contributed to a total of 947 attendees.
This year’s host hotels will be the newly renovated Rosen Plaza Hotel and the Rosen Centre Hotel. Both hotels are conveniently located adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center, at the center of Orlando’s theme parks, 15 minutes from downtown Orlando, a short distance from the Pointe Orlando shopping, dining and entertainment complex, and within 15 minutes of Orlando International Airport.
“We’re looking forward to another outstanding MDCE,” said Matt Gruhn, MRAA president. “Couple these content-improvement plans with the fabulous feedback we had from exhibitors from the 2011 event, and there’s no doubt in my mind that this year’s MDCE will be the best yet.”
To learn more about the benefits MDCE can offer your business, please click HERE to view a video overview of MDCE 2011.
For more information about MDCE 2012, please visit www.boatingindustry.com/MDCE or contact Liz Walz at lwalz@boatingindustry.com or 315-692-4533. To inquire about exhibit opportunities, please contact Kathy Johnson at kathyjohnson@boatingindustry.com or 480-988-3658
