WASHINGTON, D.C., October 27, 2021 — Chad Tokowicz, Government Relations Manager for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, participated in a panel discussion during the Outdoor Writers Association of America Annual Conference.
The panel, which provided a status updates on the current state of the outdoor industry, was hosted by Lindsay Davis, Vice President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and featured Cassie Gasaway, Communications Manager for the Archery Trade Association, and Andria Yu, Director of Media Relations for the Motorcycle Industry Council, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America.During the panel, speakers highlighted the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the outdoor recreation industry and the challenges and opportunities this presented. According to a survey conducted by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable during the pandemic, 89 percent of the businesses surveyed had trouble with production and distribution.
Furthermore, 79 percent of these businesses have laid off or furloughed a portion of their workforce. Although the pandemic did stifle trade shows and create challenges for production distribution, more Americans recreated outdoors during the pandemic.
Fishing, hunting, and recreational boating all experienced massive increases in participation throughout the pandemic, with boating in particular soaring to all-time highs. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association new boat sales, which reached a 13-year high in 2020, remained at elevated levels with sales through March of 2021, up 30 percent compared to 2020. Additionally, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation Special Report on Fishing found that from 2019 to 2020, there was a net increase of 4.6 million fishing participants, and that the fishing participation rate rose to 18 percent of the U.S. population.
Panel attendees primarily featured writers in the outdoor space but also consisted of representatives from State Tourism Departments like New York and Vermont. During the panels question-and-answer session, the panelists discussed a variety of topics, ranging from inquiries about the diversity and equity initiatives in the outdoor space to current priorities of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.
“It was so wonderful to meet writers, photographers, and other media experts in the outdoor space and share with them an update on the outdoor recreation economy,” noted Tokowicz. “It is my hope that we can work closer with OWAA members in the future and provide them additional resources and information to take their understanding of boating, fishing and all outdoor recreational pursuits to the next level.”
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.
MINNEAPOLIS — October 26— The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces Boats For Sale is a new Platinum Partner Member.
Boats For Sale is on a mission to make boat sales better. Its digital listing site, BoatsForSale.com, simplifies the process for dealers and private sellers alike with clean listings, personalized search tools and instant cash offers. Designed to be user-friendly and dealer-friendlier, the online marketplace showcases new and pre-owned boats, as well as financing and insurance. The site also aids consumers with educational articles about boat ownership, including specific tips for buying and selling.
BoatsForSale.com, created by marine experts with decades of retail experience, gives its customers attractive listings that make their boats the star. Custom and personalized search tools smartly share the client’s listings with the appropriate buyers. BoatsForSale.com helps boat lovers spend less time at the search bar and more time at the sandbar.
Marine manufacturers, suppliers and service providers, through Partner Membership, commit to aligning their brands with the programs and opportunities that MRAA works to provide the dealer body in order to help fuel the success of the industry. Support from Partners allows the Association to expand its offerings and create a positive, long-term impact in the business of MRAA members.
“We welcome Boats For Sale to MRAA Platinum Partnership. They are an organization with a vast array of online resources, who understands the retail experience and works hard to deliver value to each customer,” said Allison Gruhn, Director of Business Development. “We look forward to a solid partnership that provides support to the marine retail community.”
About Boats For Sale Designed by boaters for boaters, Boats For Sale provides an easy-to-navigate sales listing and proprietary tool that helps potential boat buyers to identify the right type of boat for their lifestyle. Then narrow down the selection to the best matches with sophisticated filters and listings full of the details a boat buyer wants to see. We work closely with both our buyers and sellers to ensure we have you out in the sun, wind and waves — and off our website — as soon as possible. Instant Boatification™ Awaits. For more information: boatsforsale.com/contact
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.
The Get on Board campaign, the first-of-its-kind industry-wide collaboration between RBFF’s Take Me Fishing and NMMA and MRAA’s Discover Boating continued to make waves this summer. Supported by an integrated marketing mix featuring public service announcements, digital advertising, social media and public relations, the 2021 campaign made an impact in reaching new boaters and anglers by generating 3.4 billion media impressions – a 42% year-over-year (YOY) increase – and 20 million YouTube views – double the amount of views since last year’s campaign.
“Over the last few years, RBFF, NMMA and MRAA have been priming the pump, reaching out to diverse new audiences to increase awareness of fishing and boating and inspire participation,” said Stephanie Vatalaro, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for RBFF. “This year’s Get On Board campaign featured some of our most successful multicultural outreach to-date.”
Americans from all walks of life gained a better appreciation of spending time outdoors as a result of pandemic-related social distancing, and many chose fishing and boating as their lifeline to wellness. The Get On Board campaign tapped into this lifestyle trend and continued building momentum from 2020, which deeply resonated with a broader, more engaged consumer audience.
“With record sales and participation in boating and fishing, we’re seeing younger, more diverse audiences enter the market, which has given us the unique opportunity to engage the next generation of boaters and anglers to continue increasing participation for the long-term,” said Ellen Bradley, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for NMMA. “In collaboration with RBFF and MRAA, we not only focused on recruiting future participants but also retaining the recent surge of newcomers.”
Highlights of the campaign’s success include: •Earned Media: 2.6 billion impressions (121% YOY increase) oFrom CNN, USA Today and CNBC to Camping World magazine, Adweek and Yahoo! News, hundreds of consumer and trade outlets featured elements of the Get On Board campaign and key messages spreading awareness of the benefits and popularity of boating and fishing.
• Paid Media: 36 million impressions o Through a partnership with Complex and actor/influencer King Keraun, promotions on Buzzfeed, and a “Stories of Anglers” series in collaboration with Hearst, unexpected stories were showcased about people from all walks of life enjoying the benefits of fishing and boating, setting the tone of the campaign.
• Influencer Program: 13 million impressions and nearly 5 million interactions o Partnered with a fleet of more than 55 social media influencers to reach new, younger and more diverse audiences with the message that #TheWaterIsOpen to everyone and showcasing the fun and wellness aspects of boating and fishing. Influencer partners included: The Mom Trotter, Jason Tartick, Us The Duo, She Explores, Girl of 10,000 Lakes, She Colors Nature and more.
•Social Media: 22 million impressions oGenerated 22 million organic post impressions across Take Me Fishing, Discover Boating, RBFF and NMMA’s social media channels, with calls to action to get a fishing license, register a boat, find ways and places to fish and go boating and learn to fish and boat.
•Digital Properties: 48 million sessions oCompared to the previous year, visits to Take Me Fishing’s and Discover Boating’s digital assets increased by 47%.
•Get On Board Toolkit: 11,000 page views oOffered free, customizable fishing and boating marketing materials through its online toolkit to support the industry in reaching out to a younger, multicultural audience, to help grow fishing and boating.
“We are proud of how the industry acted together in a united effort once again this summer with the purpose of growing boating and fishing participation,” said Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “We’re thrilled about how well the dealer community engaged with the marketing tools and resources made available by the Get On Board toolkit, which helped us connect even more new boaters and anglers with the rewards of being on the water.”
Questions on the Get On Board campaign may be directed to Bruna Carincotte, RBFF’s Director of Public Relations and Communications, at bcarincotte@rbff.org and Maggie Maskery, NMMA’s Director of Consumer Public Relations, at mmaskery@nmma.org.
(Coeur d’Alene, ID) – Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises and The Coeur d’Alene Resort are excited to announce the annual Journey to the North PoleCruises are back for their 35th year in a row. Tickets are now on sale for this exciting tradition that has been named one of America’s top holiday attractions: cdacruises.com.
The 2021 Journey to the North Pole Program, a magical facet of The Coeur d’Alene Resort’s Annual Holiday Light Show, is as follows:
Santa’s Sneak Peek Week Cruises | November 13th – 24th, 2021 ● Event Description: Experience the wonder before the crowds. It’s the same Journey to the North Pole – same lights, same Santa, same MAGIC – just a sneak peek before others see it! Enjoy 25% off ticket prices during Santa’s Sneak Peek Week Cruises ● Cruise Time(s): 5:30PM, 6:30PM & 7:30PM
● Ticket Prices (includes taxes & fees):
Adults: $19.88 (reg price $26.50)
Senior (ages 55+): $19.13 (reg price $25.50)
Kiddos (ages 6-12): $8.63 (reg price $11.50)
Ages 5 & under: FREE!
● Boarding: Boarding takes place at The Resort Plaza Shops (115 S 2nd Street) 30 minutes prior to departure.
Journey to the North Pole Cruises | November 25, 2021 – January 2, 2022 ● Event Description: Take an unforgettable holiday lake cruise across the sparkling waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene to view more than 1.5 million twinkling holiday lights and visit Santa Claus and his elves at his waterfront toy workshop, where he magically speaks to each child by name! ● Cruise Time(s): 5:30PM, 6:30PM & 7:30PM ● Ticket Prices (includes taxes & fees):
Adults: $26.50
Senior (ages 55+): $25.50
Kiddos (ages 6-12): $11.50
Ages 5 & under: FREE!
*NOTE: Ticket prices on Monday-Thursday decrease by $1.
● Boarding: Boarding takes place at The Resort Plaza Shops (115 S 2nd Street) 30 minutes prior to departure. ● Overnight Package: ‘Santa’s Family Getaway Package’ at The Coeur d’Alene Resort includes overnight accommodations, two adult Journey to the North Pole cruise tickets, $30 breakfast credit (redeemable at Dockside or Room Service), cookies delivered to your room by Santa’s Elves & evening children’s fireside story time.
NEW! Deluxe Private North Pole Cruises | November 13, 2021 – January 2, 2022 ● Event Description: Experience the magic of the North Pole onboard your own privately-rented cruise boat! This NEW offering is available for up to 25 guests for a 1-hour Cruise to the North Pole. ● Cruise Time(s): 4:30PM, 6PM & 7:30PM ● Prices (includes taxes & fees):
○ Platinum Package ($500): Includes Bottomless Hot Cocoa Bar & Cookies (no-host bar with bartender on-board) ○ Platinum Package ($1000): Includes Bottomless Hot Cocoa Bar, Cookies AND Full-Hosted Bar
● How to Book: To book this magical experience, please contact Kelly VanDewerker, Cruises Sales Director, at (208) 415-5623. Reservation required. If you would like to book the boat for more than 1 hour, or for more than 25 people, please inquire with Kelly.
Annual Lighting Ceremony | Friday, November 26th, 2021 ● Event Description: Join us for a Coeur d’Alene tradition that gets bigger and better every year: our Annual Lighting Ceremony on Lake Coeur d’Alene! Experience the magic as we flip the switch and light up the lake with over 1.5 million Christmas lights and the most magnificent holiday fireworks display in the Pacific Northwest. ● Location: The Coeur d’Alene Resort (front lawn) ● Price: FREE! All ages welcome. ● Lighting Ceremony Cruises: SOLD OUT! All of our 2021 Lighting Ceremony Cruises are sold out for the season.
Tickets for all cruises can be booked online at cdacruises.com or by phone at (208) 292-5670. Overnight Packages at The Coeur d’Alene Resort can be booked online at cdaresort.com or by phone at (855) 923-8217.
With the health and safety of our Guests and Team Members in mind, we have implemented the following safety precautions for our cruises: ● Reduced Capacities Onboard Boat ● Optional Masks will be provided for guests and cruise team members (masks are not required) ● Temperature Checks Upon Boarding (Journey to the North Pole Cruises only) ● Hand Sanitizer available throughout boat ● All equipment and tables are thoroughly sanitized between cruises ● Plexiglass Dividers at the Bar ● Social Distancing (encouraged via signage)
The Sea Tow Foundation – a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the education and awareness of safe boating practices – was awarded a grant from the USCG Office of Boating Safety to conduct a nationwide survey to learn more about disposal of expired and unwanted marine flares.
A flare is a pyrotechnic type of Visual Distress Signal (VDS), and all boaters are required by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry both day and night VDS any time they are operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, or on the waters connecting to these areas.
The goal of the research is to develop a collaborative, nationwide flare disposal program for boaters and also encourage the use of electronic VDS (e-VDS) which are also known as e-flares. Survey data will be shared at public recreational boating meetings and conferences such as NBSAC, NASBLA, and IBWSS as well as on a website that will be populated with updates as they become available.
The survey asks for contact information solely so that if we have any follow-up questions for your location, we can more easily reach out. We will not sell your contact information or include your names in any of the data that is published or presented as a result of this survey. As an added incentive, ACR Electronics has generously donated 4 PLBs that will be randomly awarded to four of the people completing the survey and a $10 coupon code is provided at the end of the survey for all who complete the survey to shop their entire product listings with free shipping.
There are no right or wrong answers, so we only ask that you answer these questions to the best of your ability. You are welcome to forward the survey to someone else at your location if you are not best suited to complete it. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete.
Please note that the Sea Tow Foundation is a 501c3 organization and the grant funding referenced above is from the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund, administered by the Coast Guard. For questions or concerns about this survey, please feel free to email info@boatingsafety.com.
Organization Offers Expertise, Support to Assist Water Sports Enthusiasts Facing Regulatory Restrictions
Families for Boating, a non-profit organization of community groups around the U.S dedicated to preserving access to waterways for boaters and water sports enthusiasts, is actively providing opportunities to assist boaters facing regulatory threats or concerns. Recreational boating and water sports have grown significantly in popularity across the nation, particularly over the Pandemic, with more families than ever enjoying the benefits of fun, on-water activities. With this growth in activity on lakes, rivers and waterways has come heightened concerns among waterfront residential homeowners in impacted areas. In many locales, these concerns have catapulted into the creation of overly broad restrictions, coupled with attempts to ban ballasted boats outright. Families for Boating provides support for residents who are water activity enthusiasts as they become the best advocates for preventing arbitrary and harmful regulations that may limit boating activity.
“The organization aims to resolve these concerns by encouraging a climate of mutual respect and providing education to communities. Creating ‘Families for Boating’ in Oregon has helped unite our local boating community and increase boater education,” said Matt Radich, president of Active Water Sports who helped champion the cause in his market area.
Engaging communities in conversations is a key goal of Families for Boating.
Jeff Husby, president and CEO of Watersports Central, recently hosted a meeting of Lake Rabun, Georgia homeowners and boaters. “There is a deep family heritage associated with the lake that we felt the need to preserve by educating and promoting safe boating practices,” Husby said.
Conversations initiated by Families for Boating seek to “foster an enjoyable experience for those partaking on the water” while ensuring “the relaxing atmosphere that communities near the water relish,” said Chris Mitton, Manager, West Policy and Engagement, National Marine Manufacturers Association. Conversations also focus on factual data, scientific research, jurisdictional regulations, environmental preservation and economic concerns.
“Problems can be resolved when there is an understanding that the waterways can be shared and protected by all concerned,” said Radich. “It’s important “to encourage the boating community to keep our waterways safe and healthy.”
To date, the organization has provided support for residents and boaters in Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
Communities, boaters and water sports enthusiasts facing issues concerning waterway access are encouraged to contact Families for Boating at info@familiesforboating.com.
MINNEAPOLIS — Oct. 12 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces AppOne has upped its commitment to a Platinum Partner Membership.
AppOne, Inc. delivers unique, cost-saving value for member businesses. It achieves that by automating marine dealers’ traditional lending workflows and processes, helping to get deals funded faster and reduce contracts in transit time. The AppOne dealer portal provides the workflow and technology to connect dealers and lenders, ensuring accurate credit applications and deal structures and fast credit approvals.
The solution’s unique model and web-based format helps deliver forms that are regularly reviewed by lenders against federal and state regulations affecting the finance industry. AppOne lets customers efficiently access these lender- and state-specific documents, successfully eliminating the need to purchase contracts or program them into a dealership management system. Thousands of dealerships rely on the AppOne platform to manage their financing operations because it helps make their lending process more seamless and efficient.
“We’re thrilled to have AppOne amplify its commitment to a Platinum Partner Membership,” said Allison Gruhn, Director of Business Development. “We welcome their support and expertise within the F&I segment of the marine industry, which supplies marine retailers with valuable tools and resources to be more successful and efficient.”
About AppOne, Inc. AppOne is a leading provider of workflow and productivity solutions, services, and specialized software to streamline the indirect lending process for lenders, service companies, manufacturers, and dealers (e.g., recreational vehicle [“RV”], marine and power sports). The company is headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota. To learn more, call 877-277-6631 or visit www.appone.net.
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.
It’s important to monitor website performance – and tools like Google Analytics make it easy to access the data. In fact, it’s almost too easy. Many business owners get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available.
Today, I’m highlighting five of the most important metrics. If all you do each month is review these five items, you’re off to a good start.
1) Unique Visitors. How many visits are you getting to your site each month? If you’re investing in digital marketing, you should expect to see this number trend upward.
2) Average Visit Duration. On average, how much time are visitors spending on your site? This is critical because it’s a measure of whether or not your site is engaging your visitors. The specifics can vary depending on many factors, but if your average visit time isn’t at least 45 seconds, there’s likely a problem: either your site isn’t engaging enough, or you’re driving the wrong traffic to the site.
3) Traffic by Source. How are people finding your site? Through Google searches? Through social media platforms? Through paid ad campaigns? This is an important metric for measuring the success of your various digital campaigns.
4) Traffic by Page. Which pages on your website are the most popular? Your Home page will almost always be #1, unless you’re running ad campaigns to a different landing page. Understanding which pages are the most popular will give you insight into the decision-making process your customers go through. And it may uncover opportunities to further leverage popular pages on your site.
5) Conversion. Traffic is great – but conversion is what matters most. Are prospective clients calling your business, filling out your contact form, and signing-up for your mailing list? If you’re spending money on digital campaigns, dividing your spend by your total number of leads will give you your cost-per-lead – a critical number to monitor.
How is your website performing?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danny Decker is an author, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and marketing consultant who often serves the marine dealer community as an education provider at Dealer Week, MRAA’s annual conference & expo. Danny is a frequent speaker, a contributor to Forbes.com, and hosts the Marketing Simplified Podcast. His book, Marketing Simplified, is currently available on Amazon.com and other retailers. Learn more and connect with Danny at www.DannyDeckerMarketing.com.
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is among the many leading recreation-focused businesses who have come together as inaugural members of the Together Outdoors Coalition. The Together Outdoors Coalition, administered through the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), unites organizations from across industry sectors around a shared goal of making the outdoors more welcoming to people of all backgrounds, and it is currently developing tools and resources to help all interested organizations take action.
Among the resources being developed by Together Outdoors is a Zoom-based educational series focused on creating a more inclusive and welcoming user experience, as well as an informed and educated business interface with the consumer. Scheduled topics are:
• October: How We Got Here – Barriers to entry + history of access to outdoor recreation spaces. • November: Building a Better Team – Recruitment of diverse employees and nurturing/retention of talent. • December: Alignment and Implementation – Translating internal culture to field locations. • January: Supporting the Work – Corporate giving + partnerships. • February: Building a Collective Brand – Enabling outdoor organizations to showcase their commitment to the work. • March: Marketing that Includes Everyone – Reimagine how your brand tells stories and who you highlight. • April: Accountability – How to evaluate your progress on DEI measures.
Manufacturers, retailers, service providers, stakeholders and individuals in the outdoor industry are invited to participate by joining the coalition. You can learn more about Together Outdoors and how to become a member here.
Best Safety Campaigns Among For-Profit Sector of Recreational Marine Industry Sought
SOUTHOLD, N.Y. – September 27, 2021 – The Sea Tow Foundation and its Boating Safety Advisory Council reminds for-profit companies within the recreational boating industry of its forthcoming deadline October 8, 2021 for the 2021 National Boating Industry Safety Awards, sponsored by KICKER Marine Audio.
“We appreciate all the tremendous work being done to promote boating safety throughout the marine industry and look forward to shining the national spotlight on outstanding boating safety campaigns and initiatives,” said Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director Gail R. Kulp. “We hope to field a record number of entries this year and encourage all organizations who have promoted boating safety within the for-profit segment to apply.”
Now in its third year, the awards recognize the best boating safety work in 10 separate categories of entry including: Powerboat Manufacturer; Sailboat Manufacturer; Engine Manufacturer; Gear/Equipment Manufacturer; Human Powered (Canoe, Kayak, SUP) Manufacturer; Marine Retailer with up to 3 Locations; Marine Retailer with more than 3 Locations; Marine Media Outlets; Marine Marketing and Outreach; and Marine Distributors.
Nominations are currently being accepted for boating safety campaigns completed from August 1, 2020 through August 1, 2021. Contest information and applications are available for download at www.boatingsafety.com/awards along with a list of 2020 winners, including samples of their winning entries. Winners will be announced during the MRAA’s Dealer Week in December.
Sea Tow Foundation With a focus on safe boating practices that result in fun on the water, the Sea Tow Foundation – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – was established in 2007 by Sea Tow Founder Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer. After his passing in 2015, Captain Joe’s legacy continues as the Foundation brings attention to the number of preventable boating-related accidents, injuries, and deaths, and directly addresses prevention methods through education and awareness. More than 575 life jacket loaner stands are now available across the United States and the Foundation’s Sober Skipper program continues to grow. For more information on the Sea Tow Foundation, contact Gail R. Kulp at 631-876-5077; Mailto:gail@boatingsafety.com
Hi, I'm Aimie!
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!
