What is the MRAA? Let Me Show You

People get fed up repeatedly hearing the same common question: “What do you do?” We have all heard it and asked it ourselves as a conversational icebreaker. We ask it because we want to know what people do for a living (i.e.: What’s your day job?). However, after a Google search, I found dozens of articles about why this question is dull.

I bring this up because I’ve had to explain the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, aka the MRAA, to friends, family members and others within the industry. I tell them the MRAA is for dealers by dealers. I tell them our staff size, my role and briefly share our vision and mission. I say our association is the leading training and education organization for the marine dealer body. We help fuel the success of the boating industry by building and delivering dealerships the tools, resources and educational programs they need to strengthen their business.

Let me show you. 2023 MRAA Impact Report

Perhaps a better answer is to give them the 2023 MRAA Impact Report, which tells the story of the MRAA, its mission and who it serves, and showcases the association’s objectives. This report not only shares the accomplishments MRAA made last year in the form of wins, milestones and continuing opportunities, but also helps to answer the mundane question “What do you do?” It answers it with “Let me show you.”  

Download a copy of the 2023 MRAA Impact Report to learn more about who we are, what we do and how we stand in your corner as your No. 1 advocate and guide.

DealersCircle & Lightspeed Announce Integration Partnership

Jacksonville, FL (April 16, 2024) — DealersCircle, Inc. — the innovative, web-based manufacturing industry provider that conveniently links the manufacturer, dealer and customer together with its state-of-the-art software application — and Lightspeed — a leading Dealer Management Solution (DMS) company with uniquely-tailored software solutions for dealers in recreational industries — are integrating their respective platforms to provide a more robust, all-inclusive solution for dealer networks in various industries.

“After working with our now 1,800 strong dealer network over the past two decades, we’ve identified a few of the pain points that the dealers experience with their current DMS systems,” said DealersCircle President Scott Davis. “That drove us to find a reputable, forward-thinking DMS solution that we could effectively integrate with, and we found that partner in Lightspeed.”

“We are excited to bring industry-leading OEM integrations to our dealer partners through this partnership with the DealersCircle,” said Brian Provost, CEO of Lightspeed DMS. “With our continued focus on creating efficient processes for our dealers, this collaboration is yet another way we can help Lightspeed dealers streamline their operations and improve their profitability.”

The DealersCircle and Lightspeed integrations will be rolled out in phases and include high points such as:

Unit Inventory Management – Saving time and preventing manual entry errors.

  • Unit Ordering – Processing unit orders in DealersCircle; automatically update the unit information in Lightspeed.
  • Unit Receiving – Import unit invoice information for new and existing units directly from DealersCircle with a single keystroke; Changes to invoices and the unit will be updated.
  • Unit Configurator – Easily connect to DealersCircle from Lightspeed and build a unit that will update in Lightspeed for quoting; Once the customer agrees to purchase, and the dealer processes the order in DealersCircle, it will update the unit information in Lightspeed.

HIN (Hull ID Number) Decoding – The HIN Decoding integration enables users to import vital unit information by simply entering a HIN. Once the HIN is entered, Lightspeed automatically populates the vehicle details and specifications, which the dealer can access from within the system, eliminating the need for manual entry. This not only saves time but also enhances the overall customer experience.

Warranty Dates – Unit warranty dates will automatically update and be visible on the unit when writing up a service repair order. Helps reduce time lost jumping cross platform to look up or calling the manufacturer to confirm warranty status.

Bulletins – Quickly view technical bulletins and recall information within a Repair Order and be notified of stop sale notices in a sales deal. Users will be notified of new technical and safety bulletins when accessing the Repair Order. Save time by adding jobs from the bulletin right to the repair order.

Part Price Updates – Receive master parts file for easier parts inventory ordering, receiving and price updates directly from the manufacturer.

About DealersCircle
DealersCircle has provided product manufacturers and their dealers a convenient way to simplify custom product ordering, product lifecycle tracking, service communications, warranty claims management, parts ordering, reporting, integration with external systems and much more with its revolutionary web-based application for two decades. For more information on DealersCircle, visit www.dealerscircle.com; or contact Mark Jerkins at Tinsley Creative, email: mark@tinsleycreative.com; phone: 863-583-0081. 

About Lightspeed
Lightspeed is a leading provider of cloud-based software for dealerships and Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”), serving the Marine, Trailer, Powersport, RV, Outdoor Power Equipment and Golf Car industries. Lightspeed’s Dealer Management Solution (DMS) enables dealerships to optimize their end-to-end business operations, including sales, parts, service, rental, accounting, and CRM. When implemented into their daily operations, Lightspeed helps dealers increase their profitability by selling more units, service, and parts, all while creating a more streamlined experience for customers. For nearly 40 years, Lightspeed has been empowering 3,800+ dealers across North America with the tools and technology they need to manage their dealerships. For more information, visit www.lightspeeddms.com; or contact Diana Wilberscheid, email: diana.wilberscheid@lightspeeddms.com; phone: 701-371-7508.

MRAA Sponsors, Attends 2024 International Boating and Water Safety Summit

By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager

The MRAA recently sponsored the 2024 International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS), where the association’s government relations team presented insights from both the motorcycle and recreational boating industries. The event took place April 8-11 in Albuquerque, N.M.

Hosted by the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, IBWSS is focused on bringing stakeholders in the recreational boating safety space together to network, learn and share, all with the focus of keeping recreational boaters safe on the water.

Founded in 1958, the NSBC serves as a national catalyst for developing a safe boating culture by providing education, programming and training for industry partners and the boating community to influence safe, secure and responsible boating. As MRAA Government Relations Manager, I serve as an at-large board member to provide a retail perspective and ensure that boating safety tenets permeate the recreational boating industry.

MRAA Sponsors, Attends 2024 International Boating and Water Safety Summit; Mike Sayre, MRAA Director of Government Relations presented
Mike Sayre

This year, the MRAA supported the event as a break sponsor to highlight our commitment to recreational boating safety while simultaneously educating attendees about our mission and opportunities for further collaboration. Additionally, Mike Sayre, MRAA Director of Government Relations, and I were selected to present as keynote and breakout speakers respectively. We leveraged our respective expertise in motorcycle and recreational boating safety to share important lessons with the audience while highlighting further collaboration opportunities with the MRAA.

In Sayre’s keynote, titled “The Safe Systems Approach: Lessons from the Motorcycle Industry,” he shared his experience with different approaches to roadway safety and the challenges of applying them to a user group like motorcyclists. He presented on the principles and components of the Safe System Approach adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation to address the pandemic era surge in roadway fatalities, how motorcyclist safety does and does not fit in that approach and how recreational boating safety faces similar challenges. Sayre challenged the audience to consider how different roadway safety strategies and countermeasures could be adapted to address recreational boating safety.

MRAA Sponsors, Attends 2024 International Boating and Water Safety Summit; Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager, presented
Chad Tokowicz

As a breakout speaker, I focused on educating the crowd about how the MRAA and other partners in the recreational marine industry work to support mandatory boater education legislation and efforts throughout the country. In my presentation, “Cycle of Safety Legislation,” I gave an overview of recent efforts to expand mandatory boater education legislation and the successes and failures of those efforts. Throughout the presentation, I updated attendees on what the MRAA and industry partners are currently tracking and supporting in various states during our 2024 legislative sessions.

The presentation also highlighted opportunities to leverage marine retailers to ultimately share recreational boating safety messages with their customers and help create a safer community on the water overall. In my closing, I noted that solutions to recreational boating safety will not be solved with a silver bullet, and that instead a “silver buckshot” approach is necessary. I challenged the audience to think about how they can share boating safety messages and be part of the solution.

The MRAA will continue to support the NSBC and attend IBWSS as we believe that recreational boating safety is imperative to the ultimate success of marine retailers. We need boaters to have the best experiences on the water, ensuring they become lifelong participants.

If you have any questions about the topics covered by MRAA staff, want to learn more about IBWSS, or have general advocacy related questions, please do not hesitate to email me at Chad@mraa.com.

Photos courtesy of NSBC

Soundings Trade Only and Industry Leaders Collaborate on Groundbreaking Marine Workplace Research Study

Centerbrook, CT, March 25, 2024 – The Soundings Trade Only Group in collaboration with sponsors MarineMax, Volvo Penta, Yamaha, NMMA, MRAA and international industry partners ICOMIA and Marine Industry News, is proud to announce the launch of a groundbreaking research initiative aimed at understanding the needs and desires of today’s marine industry employees and fostering a stronger, more diverse, expansive, and multi-faceted marine workforce.

Take Workforce Survey

The 2024 global research study marks a significant milestone in the marine industry’s commitment to workforce development as a catalyst for progress and competitiveness. With a focus on attracting, retaining, and developing top talent within the sector, this pioneering endeavor seeks to provide invaluable insights for business leaders and owners.

“For years now we have recognized the pressing need for a more expansive and diverse talent pool within the marine industry. I am frequently approached by organizations seeking female candidates. If we want to attract women to a variety of positions and retain them, it is paramount that we understand their preferences, factors that impact job retention, and their career ambitions and goals,” said Michele Goldsmith, vice president and general manager of the Soundings Trade Only Group. “This study represents a crucial step toward understanding the aspirations, challenges, and opportunities for women and men in our industry. By gaining this knowledge, industry stakeholders can develop data-driven strategies to fulfill their personnel needs, foster a more diverse, inclusive environment and unlock the full potential of this talent pool.”

The research study, set to launch in early April, will encompass qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including a survey and interviews with professionals from diverse backgrounds across different segments of the marine industry.

“We encourage the global marine community to make their voices heard, take the survey and share it with marine industry colleagues,” added Goldsmith.

The findings of the research study are expected to provide valuable insights and actionable recommendations for marine industry stakeholders. By leveraging the findings of this study, organizations can implement targeted strategies to attract, retain and develop top talent, driving innovation and competitiveness in the global maritime community. The Soundings Trade Only Group with its industry partners will share the results of the survey in September of 2024.

For more information about the 2024 Marine Workplace Research Study or to receive the survey, please contact Michele Goldsmith at mgoldsmith@aimmedia.com or (+1) 847-373-0385.

Soundings Trade Only

Soundings Trade Only is a marine business-to-business information multi-media brand. It includes a monthly print publication, and digital entities including an e-newsletter, website, and social media sites. Soundings Trade Only offers the latest business news, and information about products, trends, statistics, management, marketing insights, and more to the marine industry. Each issue of Soundings Trade Only is designed to inform, reflect, and inspire. It is part of the AIM Marine Group, which includes the following publications: Yachts International, Power & Motoryacht, SAIL, Anglers Journal, Soundings, PassageMaker and Woodshop News. The AIM Marine Group is a division of Active Interest Media.

Active Interest Media, Inc.

One of the world’s leading enthusiast media companies, Active Interest Media (aimmedia.com) produces consumer and trade events, websites, magazines, podcasts, and TV shows that reach millions of readers, fans, and attendees across the globe. Our brands include Yachts International, Power & Motoryacht, Soundings, Passagemaker, Woodshop News, Log and Timber Home Living, Fine Homebuilding, Woodsmith, Garden Gate, Cuisine at Home, Writer’s Digest, Horticulture, Fine Woodworking, Numismatic News, Kovels Antique Trader, and more. The company’s two groups, Marine and Home, are divided into five divisions — Collectibles, Home Arts, Home Building, Marine, and Writer’s Digest —also operate thriving B2B platforms, online universities, events and offer marketing services. Active Interest Media’s customers are smart, engaged, and loyal, and they look to our brands for trustworthy information and services that will inspire and enable them to enjoy their passions.

For more information, please contact Michele Goldsmith at mgoldsmith@aimmedia.com or +1-847-373-0385.

Onboarding With Purpose

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.

Onboarding with purpose: New MRAA Guide to Onboarding

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.

  1. Consider the 7 steps to get started with your plan.
  2. Review the onboarding checklists to further develop and refine an onboarding process.
  3. Review the entire guide to fully understand onboarding and to establish and institute a full onboarding program.

Access more MRAA workforce resources here.

House Passes Historic Bipartisan Outdoor Recreation Package, Eyes on Senate for Swift Action

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. 

House Passes Historic Bipartisan Outdoor Recreation Package, eyes on Senate
Discover Boating image

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 here to 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.” 

For more information on the bill and its progress, visit https://recreationroundtable.org/priorities/recreation-package/. To see a list of quotes from supporting organizations, visit https://recreationroundtable.org/explore-act-supporters-and-quotes/.

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.

Learn more about MRAA Advocacy, here.

New Customer Acquisition Package

• 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.

New Customer Acquisition Package - MRAATraining

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.

New Customer Acquisition Package - Ryan Estis

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.

New Customer Acquisition Package - Danny Decker

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.

New Customer Acquisition Package - Dom Zappia

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.

New Customer Acquisition Package on MRAATraining.com includes MRAA Guide to Navigating 2024

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.

MRAA Partner Perspectives Video Series Offers Marine Industry Insights

• 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.  

MRAA Partner Perspectives Video Series

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 - Amy Mauzy
MRAA Partner Perspectives Video Series - Jeff Haradine
MRAA Partner Perspectives Video Series - Tracy Williams

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
  • Volvo Penta – Jens Bering, VP of Marine Sales

Watch the entire Partner Perspectives interviews series.

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.

Your Dealership and MRAA: We’re on This Journey Together!

• 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.

we're on this journey together

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.

  1. MRAA Membership Video
  2. MRAA Aimie Webinar

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.

Need more information about MRAA Membership? Learn more.

NMMA Webinar: What to Expect at ABC

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 webinar at 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

WHEN: 2 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 23

Register for Webinar Here

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.

If you have not registered, please note that April 15 is the last day to register to be guaranteed meetings on Capitol Hill. Click here to register for the  2024 American Boating Congress.

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.