Barletta President Bill Fenech Issues MRAA Support Challenge

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Barletta Boats President Bill Fenech has issued a challenge to marine industry businesses to “step up” and support the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas financially.

Watch the video challenge here.

In what has otherwise been a record-setting year for the boat business, the MRAA’s annual revenue has taken a major hit on the heels of announcing that its Dealer Week annual conference would move to a virtual environment. The conference, which accounts for 70 percent of the MRAA’s annual revenue, does not provide for the same level of revenue potential that an in-person event offers.

To make matters worse, MRAA has not been eligible, due to its status as a 501-c-6 organization, for the stimulus loans that the federal government made available to most every other small business and non-profit.

“That’s scary for our industry,” Fenech noted in his challenge video. “We’re having very strong years in our industry, yet MRAA isn’t able to participate in that growth and success. So, it dawned on me that we just can’t let this slip. MRAA’s doing such a great job … and so I called Matt (Gruhn) and talked to my team and said, ‘can we do a challenge or how can I help?’”

Fenech, whose Barletta Boat Co. is already a Platinum Partner member of the MRAA and continues to support Dealer Week, has made a $25,000 donation to MRAA as a challenge to others. “I hope you’ll find it in your hearts and in your pocket books to take some action and send some money to MRAA,” stated Fenech.

Support MRAA here.

The MRAA is a non-profit trade association created and operated entirely to support boat and engine dealers across North America. The organization advocates for dealerships and other industry business, protecting them from unwarranted regulation and legislation, and provides them with educational programming that sets dealerships up for success. All funding that the organization receives through membership, Dealer Week, Certification or donations, is reinvested back into the industry. With the current revenue shortfall, the organization has been forced to dip into its reserves.

“Our team’s entire focus here at the MRAA is to give back to our industry, and each member of this team delivers on that mission with incredible passion,” explained MRAA President Matt Gruhn. “When Bill first entered the industry, he committed to me and the organization that he would always be dealer-first in his approach to the business, and he’s lived up to that at every turn. To quote him from that first conversation when he called to offer his support and this challenge, ‘this fundraiser is not about Bill or Barletta. It’s not about Matt. It’s about our dealers and the organization that does so much to help them.’”

If you’d like to contribute to this effort to prop up the MRAA and the work it does on behalf of our dealers and our industry, you can visit MRAA.com/support. There, you can join MRAA as a member or renew your dues; you can register for Dealer Week, which is now online and easier for you to participate in than ever before; and you can offer support in the form of a monetary donation.

“On behalf of my team and the tireless work they put into serving our dealers through the crisis months of March and April 2020 and through the craziness of this past summer, we thank you for any way you can support our mission,” Gruhn says. “And our mission is literally your success, so I think we can all agree that that’s a mission worth supporting.”

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, contact us at 763-315-8043.

About Barletta Boats
Barletta Pontoon Boats burst onto the scene in January of 2018 when they were awarded the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Innovation Award for Pontoon Boats with their first-ever pontoon boat, the L-Class L25UC. Barletta has also been awarded the NMMA Customer Satisfaction Award in its first two years of production. Supported by a dealer network that is arguably the envy of the industry, Barletta has created a pontoon boat and customer experience second to none. For more information about Barletta Pontoon Boats, visit BarlettaPontoonBoats.com.

Dealership Advantage, Derema Group Join MRAA as Partner Members

MINNEAPOLIS — October 12 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces the Dealership Advantage and Derema Group have committed to Partner Memberships.

 

“We are excited to have Dealership Advantage and Derema Group join the MRAA as our newest Partner Members,” says Allison Gruhn, MRAA Director of Business Development. “Both of these companies have expansive knowledge within the marine industry that will benefit marine dealers nationwide.”    

 

Dealership Advantage, a rapidly growing 16-member team of software and consulting experts, specializes in Dealer Management Software (DMS) to aid marine and water sports dealers in implementing and perfecting their parts, sales, service, finance, rentals and other business practices. Dealership Advantage has expanded from a boat dealership into a nurturing resource for dealers, by offering them flexible and uncomplicated solutions to build higher margins and improved workflows. By supplying dealers with efficiencies for internal improvement, Dealership Advantage helps dealers streamline their operations and enhance employee satisfaction while also creating repeat customers.   

 

Derema Group has more than six decades of national sales and marketing solutions experience. Derema Group, a multi-faceted customer support resource for marine and RV dealers, services all marine and RV accessory customer channels including retail chains, OEM, distribution and dealer, throughout the U.S. and Canada. It also represents some of the top brands in the marine accessory industry.

 

Through Partner Membership, marine manufacturers, suppliers and service providers can align their brands with the MRAA programs, including education and training, to effectively reach the dealer body and fuel success within the industry. Support from Partners enables the Association to expand its offerings and create a positive, long-term impact in the business of MRAA members.

 

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.

 

About Dealership Advantage

Dealership Advantage is a well-funded, fast growing software and consulting company located in the Riverview Building near downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Carefully designed to make a dealer’s life easier, Dealership Advantage is a dealer management software fulfilling Sales, Service, and Parts accessible from any browser without installation. We build software for the marine and watersports industry. Our specialties include: Technology, Marine, Marina Management Software, Dealer Management System, Boat Dealer Software, Marina Management System, Dealer Consulting and Marine Software. For more information, visit  www.dealershipadvantage.com or contact us at 616-210-1060.

 

About Derema Group

In January of 2000, the R.J. de Recat Co., Inc. and Eastern Marketing Associates (EMA) merged to form Derema Group. Combining more than 60 years of experience, and offering regional office locations in the Northeast, West, Southeast, and Central, Derema Group became the marine industry’s first and largest national Sales and Marketing Solution.

 

We service all customer channels including Retail Chains, OEM, Distribution and Dealer. Through innovative sales and marketing programs, Derema has consistently outpaced sales growth in our base territories. By leveraging Brand Enhancement concepts that create demand for product at both the consumer and dealer level, we understand the dynamics of the successful sale of products in each corresponding market channel. It’s the people behind the scenes at Derema who enable the sales team to effectively manage their territories and provide first-class support to our customer channels. Derema is committed to providing our customers with the latest news, product updates and happenings in the marine industry. For all of our brands, go to www.DeremaHelp.com.

Building on previous successes, House and Senate pass key bipartisan marine debris legislation

On October 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Save our Seas 2.0. Led by House Ocean Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Don Young (R-AK-At Large) in the House, and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), this bipartisan legislation which is supported by the recreational boating industry will strengthen the federal government’s response to marine debris and strengthen domestic waste management infrastructure.

Save our Seas 2.0 consists of three distinct items:

  1. It strengthens the federal government’s ability to respond to marine debris by establishing a Marine Debris Foundation and a genius prize awarded to groups for innovation or for research on how to address domestic marine debris.
  2. It incentivizes international engagement to address marine debris by formalizing U.S. policy on international cooperation, and federal agency outreach to other nations to specifically address marine debris.
  3. Works to reduce marine debris in the future by investing in domestic waste management and mitigation techniques and infrastructure.

The bill, which unanimously passed the Senate in January, had to work through ten different committees of jurisdiction:

  • The Senate Commerce Committee,
  • The Science and Transportation Committee,
  • The Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
  • The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee,
  • The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
  • The House Natural Resources Committee,
  • The House Foreign Affairs Committee,
  • The House Energy and Commerce Committee,
  • The House Science, Space and Technology Committee,
  • The House Agriculture Committee.

Save our Seas 2.0 builds upon the Save our Seas Act which was signed into law last October. The original Save our Seas reauthorized the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program through FY2022 funded at $10 million annually, and called on the Administration to collaborate with the U.S. State Department to address the global problem of increased marine debris and plastics in our oceans.

According to the United Nations, eight million metric tons of plastic bottles, straws, bags, fishing gear, and abandoned vessels are dumped into the ocean each year, harming coastal economies, marine resource viability, and creates a breeding ground for aquatic invasive species.

MRAA and the rest of the recreational boating industry thanks Congress for this bipartisan legislation that will take significant steps to increase global cooperation to address pollution in our worlds waterways, and strengthen wild fisheries habitats for the future.

For additional information, please contact MRAA government relations manager Adam Fortier-Brown at adam@mraa.com.

Recreational Boating Infrastructure Funding Included in Short-Term Spending Bill

On October 1, President Trump signed into law a short-term funding bill to fund the federal government at current spending levels until December 11. The measure includes a provision that extends the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund until October 1, 2021– a significant priority for the recreational boating industry

Funded through excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuel, the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund provides grant funds to U.S. states and the District of Columbia to improve and maintain boating access, fisheries, and education programs for anglers and sportsmen.

Passage of this funding bill punts full reauthorization of the Trust Fund down the road until next year. Until then, our industry will continue to work with Congress to ensure that this Trust Fund is reauthorized as part of a larger infrastructure package.

Members of Congress are expected to return to their home districts to campaign through the election on November 3, unless there is a breakthrough in negotiations for another stimulus package to address COVID-19.

For additional information, please contact MRAA government relations manager Adam Fortier-Brown at adam@mraa.com.

Gordy’s Lakefront Marine Proudly Partners with Malibu Boats

Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, a 65-year-old Wisconsin family run business, will partner with Malibu Boats in southeast Wisconsin to become the exclusive Malibu and Axis dealer.
Gordy’s was founded by Gordon “Gordy” Whowell and family in 1955 as a seasonal Boat Ride and Rental operation. The tradition of providing fun in the sun on Geneva Lake started by Gordy 65 years ago, continues today. Gordy’s grandsons, Steele & Tom Whowell now own and run Gordy’s.

Gordy’s Lakefront Marine has grown from a small, upstart business in 1955 to a diversified company consisting of a Marina, Cobalt, Malibu, Everglades, & Berkshire boat sales, Service and Storage, Boat Rentals, Boat Clubs, Ski and Wakeboard Schools, a Pro Shop specialty retail store (Home of the world famous Gordy Gear), The Boat House Bar & Restaurant and Cobalt Lounge…one of the lake’s most popular gathering spots featuring a lake view as incredible as it’s food and service! And, the Surf Shack…a seasonal deli and ice-cream snack shop on the shoreline at the foot of Gordy’s lighthouse pier.

Gordy’s was honored by Boating Industry Magazine as the #1 Boat Dealership and Marina in North America two years in a row. Achieving these honors earned Gordy’s the prestigious “Hall of Fame” status from Boating Industry’s Top 100 dealer rankings. Gordy’s also has been ranked the #1 Boat Service Center in North America by Boating Industry. These awards are given to only the most elite boat dealers and service centers that consistently provide unmatched customer service and care.

To best serve customers in Southern WI and Northern IL, Gordy’s has four well established locations including Fontana, WI, Oconomowoc, WI, Fox Lake, IL and Chicago, IL. Gordy’s is excited to partner with the Ski Boat industry leader, Malibu, in our WI Locations. Our mission at Gordy’s is to deliver the Ultimate Boating Experience to our customers and we look forward to building relationships and providing that experience to all our customers in all locations.

Sea Tow Foundation Announces Final Deadline for “National Boating Industry Safety Awards”

Only 8 days remain to enter the 2020 National Boating Industry Safety Awards. Applications are due October 15 and Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director Gail R. Kulp encourages entry from all recreational marine organizations in the for-profit sector who actively promote boating safety.

“Our awards program was established to recognize those companies throughout the for-profit sector of recreational marine industry who are doing an outstanding job promoting boating safety,” said Kulp. “Sponsored by KiCKER Marine Audio and produced in cooperation with our North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council, this year’s event features double the number of categories of entry, with the goal to shine the spotlight and recognize more segments within the industry who actively champion boating safety.”

The 2020 National Boating Industry Safety Awards include the following categories for submission:

  • 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
  • Marine Distributor
  • Multi-Year Campaign (any category)

Contest information and applications are available for download at www.boatingsafety.com/awards along with information and samples from the 2019 winners. Entries may be submitted until midnight, October 15, 2020 for any boating safety campaigns conducted between August 15, 2019 and August 15, 2020.

Winners for the 2020 awards contest will be announced live during the MRAA’s Dealer Week scheduled for December 8 – 11, 2020 in Austin, TX.

“We were very pleased by the 2019 entry pool that reflected such inspiring and important work by many marine organizations in promoting boating safety messages,” said Kulp. “The Sea Tow Foundation and our North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council, coupled with our 2020 title sponsor KICKER Marine Audio, are very pleased to host this competition and anticipate the review of some awesome entries throughout the industry.

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 650 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, please visit BoatingSafety.com.

Inventory levels won’t normalize for more than a year

While dealers across North America scramble to sell boats with little-to-no inventory in stock, manufacturers are scrambling to catch up on production.

 

At most boat builders, the incoming orders are far exceeding the ability to produce.

 

At a 100-boat-per-week builder, for example, they are currently receiving 300 new boat orders per week. “It’s a hole you can’t dig out of,” an executive there explains. “Everyone’s calling. They’re frustrated because they’re sold out of all of their boats. It’s insane.”

 

Another builder shipped 3 boats per day for most of the 2020 model year and is moving to 5 boats a day by next month. “This time last year, we had about a month of orders,” their head of sales explained. “We are into April 2021 with orders right now.”

 

And yet another has released a list of the eight models that it has already sold out of for the 2021 model year: “Please make note, we are no longer in a position to take orders for these models,” their letter explains.

 

Meanwhile, dealers, many of whom have pre-sold most of the product they have on order — one dealer has already pre-sold 19 of the next 23 units en route to his store —  fear not having enough boats in stock to maintain sales levels for the year ahead, let alone entertain the idea of having enough inventory to conduct a boat show, where they generate the lion’s share of their leads.

 

81 percent of dealers suggested they were either “very low”
or completely out of new unit inventory.

 

The inventory shortage threatens the marine industry’s ability to continue its momentum into 2021 on many levels, and dealers are racing to figure out a solution. In the meantime, the stats at the dealer level show that, according to a recent survey conducted by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, 81 percent of boat dealers are either “very low” or are completely out of inventory. Fifteen percent of them reported being out of new units to sell.

 

Of those same dealers, 88 percent suggested they planned to order the same (40%) or more (48%) inventory as they had in 2020; and nearly two-thirds — 64 percent — noted that their current lead time to receive newly ordered boats was more than three months.

 

The consensus from boat manufacturers seems to be that it will take 12-18 months before the inventory pipeline is restocked to normal levels.

Top Industry Trainers Return as 2020 Dealer Week ‘Education Hosts’

Once again, the Hosts will serve as guides throughout the event’s educational sessions — this year online.

 

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 1, 2020 — Dealer Week, the MRAA Conference and Expo, has released its lineup of 2020 Education Hosts, which brings back a couple of veterans from the inaugural event and adds a new (but familiar) face.

 

Dealer Week moves online for 2020, but many aspects of the event have made the transition to the new virtual setting. That include the event’s three main classrooms, or Education Pathways: The Dealership, The Customer and The Employee. Each of these Pathways will once again feature sessions, case studies, workshops — and a top marine industry trainer as host.

 

These dedicated “Education Hosts” will introduce each session and be online to answer question during the day. They will each also present one session or workshop within their pathway.

The 2020 Dealer Week Education Hosts are:

 

The Customer Pathway: Jim Million, Million Learning

The Dealership Pathway: Sam Dantzler, Wheelhouse College

The Employee Pathway: Valerie Ziebron, VRZ Consulting

 

Dantzler and Million resume their hosting duties from 2019, while Ziebron joins the group after hosting the Dealer Week Field Trip last year.

 

“Going into next year, we know dealers have a lot of questions and unknowns, so we once again brought in experts who they trust to lead the education at Dealer Week,” said Mike Davin, Brand Director at MRAA. “We’ve worked with each of these trainers to put together sessions that will help dealers carry the momentum from 2020 into the new year.”

 

The Education Pathways were selected because they represent the three pillars of MRAA’s education strategy. They were also designed to engage a cross-section of dealership employees through topics such as sales, service, marketing, customer initiatives, employee relations and more.

 

Sam Dantzler is a sought-after keynote speaker, 20-Club moderator and workshop trainer throughout in the U.S. and abroad for the marine, powersports and bicycle industries. 

 

Valerie Ziebron is well-known within the marine industry for her service department expertise. She has delivered over 5,000 presentations and has helped more than 1,000 small businesses as well as larger clients that have included Chrysler, General Motors, Yamaha Motor Company, Boating Industry Magazine, Shelby American Collection, Eastman Kodak, IPIX and many others.

 

Jim Million has worked with dealerships for the past four decades as a salesperson, service writer, sales manager, facilitator, developer, writer, speaker and consultant. He has experience in both automotive and marine and works closely with MRAA as a Certification Consultant.

 

Also announced was the Dealer Week schedule, which can be viewed at DealerWeek.com/schedule.

 

Dealer Week takes place online Dec. 8-11. Registration, which is available now, has been reduced by half to make it more affordable for teams to attend the event together. To register, go to DealerWeek.com.

 

About Dealer Week

For nearly 50 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week is MRAA’s annual conference and expo, designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. Learn more at DealerWeek.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.

OperateBeyond to buy lunch for dealership teams during Dealer Week

They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but don’t tell that to OperateBeyond. To keep your team fueled, they’ll buy lunch for dealerships that register four or more staff for Dealer Week.

Working on your business takes
 a lot of mental energy, which is why marine dealership platform provider OperateBeyond wants to buy lunch for dealers who register four or more staff to attend MRAA’s Dealer Week Conference and Expo this December.

For any dealership that registers
four team members from the same location, OperateBeyond will send a $100 Visa gift card to buy lunch from the venue of their choice. The “Lunch and Learn” promotion starts today and will continue for a limited time while supplies last.

“OperateBeyond
 wanted to think outside the box about how they could support dealers during Dealer Week,” says Allison Gruhn, Director of Business Development at MRAA. “With the cost of Dealer Week greatly reduced this year — especially with no flights and hotels to
book — and more dealerships able to bring a larger number of staff members, OperateBeyond thought it would be great to buy those teams lunch to fuel their learning and brainstorming.”

In addition to the $100 gift card, OperateBeyond is also offering
another $100 for dealers who sign up to view a demo with them during Dealer Week.

“The MRAA is an essential organization for marine dealers and we are thrilled to be partnering with them for the annual Dealer Week Conference and Expo this year
to help bring some energy and excitement to the event,” according to the OperateBeyond team.

Dealer Week takes place online Dec. 8-11. Registration, which costs half of what it does in a typical year, is now open at DealerWeek.com.

About 
OperateBeyond
Based out of Grand Rapids, Mich., OperateBeyond is an all-in-one digital platform built for dealers that manages inventory, CRM, classifieds, website, and leads in one convenience place. Their web-based platform allows users to post and
update current inventory to multiple online marketing avenues (Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.). Learn more at OperateBeyond.com.

About Dealer Week
For nearly 50 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world class
educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week is MRAA’s annual conference and expo, designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. Learn more
 at DealerWeek.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, contact us at 763-315-8043.

Dealer Week announces schedule, session topics

Earlier this month, MRAA’s Dealer Week announced that it would be hosted this year online. Today the schedule and education topics for the event were posted at DealerWeek.com/schedule.

“Since we announced that this year’s Dealer Week would be hosted online, naturally people have been curious how the schedule would compare to last year’s event,” said Mike Davin, Brand Director at the MRAA. “What people will find is that it is very similar to what they would expect from an in-person MRAA conference, with a few tweaks to take advantage of being online.”

Dealer Week’s schedule remains anchored by its education sessions, which will again be divided into three pathways. The pathways focus on challenges related to “The Dealership,” “The Employee,” and “The Customer.”

Session topics planned for the event solve problems including:

· · · · · · The event will also feature live Q&As with the event’s expert trainers, roundtable discussions with other attendees, and time to meet with solution providers in the Expo.

“Like a lot of things online, this year’s edition of Dealer Week makes some aspects of the event more convenient,” said Davin. “The fact that there’s no travel time comes immediately to mind, but there are other advantages as well. For example, you can set meetings from within the app or on your computer, so there’s no chasing someone down in the convention center or waiting in line at a booth. And obviously you can only attend one session at a time, but every session will be available on-demand after it concludes, so you can actually attend them all if you want.”

All sessions will be available to attendees through March 31, which was designed for dealerships that want to use them for training after the live event. Prior to the event, the MRAA is hosting a series of Dealer Week exclusive “Ask the Expert” webinars to help dealerships start working on their business before the conference kicks off. The topics for the webinars will be listed on the schedule page as they are announced.

Dealer Week takes place online Dec. 8-11. Registration, which is available now, has been reduced by half to make it more affordable for teams to attend the event together. To register, go to DealerWeek.com .