Tag: matt gruhn

MRAA Adds 4 New Employees to Amplify Marketing, Membership and Operations

MINNEAPOLIS, November 27 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today the addition of four new employees: Membership Engagement Coordinator Kaelyn Olson, Senior Accountant Josh Nelson, Senior Director of Marketing Bob Stanke and Senior Marketing Specialist Gunnar Davies. “Bringing Kaelyn, Josh, Bob and Gunnar to the MRAA team has strengthened our team in […]

Powered by Boating and Fishing, Data Shows Outdoor Recreation is a $1.2 Trillion Economic Engine

WASHINGTON, D.C, November 27, 2024 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is excited to share new economic data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economy Analysis (BEA) highlighting that outdoor recreation, and in particular boating and fishing, continue to be a major driver of the U.S. economy, jobs and local […]

Identifying Opportunities in the Dealer-Manufacturer Relationship

Collaborative effort between the MRAA board and leading manufacturers and suppliers focuses on driving improvements in the customer experience. By Matt Gruhn, MRAA President In the world of major unit retail, stark differences exist between the auto and marine industries. Major unit sales volume, alone, drives the bulk of the disparities between how each industry […]

Don’t Split Up the Team

How the strength of the dealer-manufacturer relationship drives customer loyalty. By Matt Gruhn, MRAA President “Don’t split up the team,” Christina Fliakos said. Nearly 50 dealers and manufacturers paused their conversations and turned to Fliakos, who is Senior Manager of Parts and Service Processes at Brunswick Corp.’s Service Center of Excellence. They had been buzzing […]

Beer vs. Boats

In the game of trying to stabilize inventory, there really is no difference. By Matt Gruhn, MRAA President Have you ever played The Beer Game? No, I’m not talking about a frat-house game. I’m talking about The Beer Game as chronicled in the book The Fifth Discipline. The book shares the story of three businesses — a […]

2024 Discover Boating Brand Campaign Attracts Millions

Discover Boating’s 2024 Year-Round Brand Experience Attracts 6.5 Million People to Its Digital and In-Person Experiences Over the past 12 months, Discover Boating, powered by NMMA and MRAA, has been working hard to attract the next generation to the boating lifestyle while simultaneously retaining current boaters. Through Discover Boating’s year-round, fully integrated omni channel strategy – including the […]

Marine Retail Market Outlook Highlighted at NMLA Conference

• Matt Gruhn, MRAA President, Among a Distinguished List of Guest Speakers for Annual Industry Event Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), continues to be one of NMLA’s favorite podium speakers, which is why he’s invited back year-after-year to deliver his retail industry opinions, perspectives, insights and updates. Since […]

Webinar: Mastering the Waves — Navigating a Dealership Exit During Uncertain Times

• Webinar and panel discussion with host Performance Brokerage Service, Morgan Stanley and Matt Gruhn, MRAA President By Jon Couwenberg, Partner & Director Marine Division, Performance Brokerage Service, an MRAA Platinum Partner Member Are you contemplating the future sale of your marine dealership? Like many of your fellow dealers, you might find yourself with more […]

Jeff Strong, MRAA Board Chair, Testifies on Capitol Hill

• Testimony Highlights Benefits of MAPOceans Act and H.R. 8704 for Marine Retailers, Emphasizes Concerns Over Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule WASHINGTON, D.C, June 27, 2024 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces that Jeff Strong, MRAA Board Chair and President of Strong’s Marine, testified before Congress on Capitol Hill regarding the MAPOceans […]