In order for a dealership to achieve industry-leading customer loyalty and profitability, it must employ a highly effective service team. Many dealers are finding that to be a challenge today. Not only are they struggling to find qualified technicians to fill open positions, but increased competition also makes it more difficult to retain employees. At […]

Providing dealership customers with finance and insurance options when they buy a new or pre-owned boat can be a big boost to your business’ bottom line. But when buyers opt for outside F&I products, dealers lose out on a major profit center; additionally, customers miss a golden opportunity to secure excellent, marine-specific coverage and protection […]

Effective marketing is vital to a dealership’s success. But given the speed at which marketing technologies and communications channels are changing, what worked well yesterday may not deliver the same outstanding results today. At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., sales and marketing whiz Don Cooper will […]

Often, dealership principals are so busy working to stay on top of day-to-day management of their respective businesses that they struggle to find time to plan for the dealership’s future. At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., bestselling author and family business maven Tom Deans, Ph.D. will […]

Accessories sales can be a solid money-maker for today’s marine retailers. Yet sadly, many dealerships dismiss this opportunity due to big box competitors. At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., MDCE favorite Sam Dantzler will return to the conference to help dealers unpack the value that accessories […]

Organizers of the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, the industry’s premier annual dealer educational event, have taken the conference’s information-packed print brochure and transformed it into a digital version, complete with easy-to-navigate tabs highlighting all the event’s sessions and workshops, individual speakers and day-to-day schedule. The MDCE digital brochure contains all the same key information […]

Today’s hyper-informed, tech-savvy boat buyers aren’t merely looking to buy products; they’re looking to buy experiences. If you’re not prepared to engage this new wave of Internet-junkie “researchaholics,” who are more informed than ever about your products and services when they first step foot inside your showroom, then you’re likely missing out on a plethora […]

Video has become one of the most powerful marketing tools available to today’s dealers. By learning to use this tool more effectively, dealerships are likely to see a much bigger payoff, both in terms of increased online traffic and boots through the door. At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 […]

It’s not uncommon to read a great book, attend an eye-opening seminar or finish up a powerful 20 Group meeting and come away from the experience feeling inspired, but also overwhelmed. The trick is to have a process for harnessing the key take-aways from that experience and channeling them into the areas of your business […]

For years, there have been studies that show women typically hold the purse strings in their families. But while almost everyone in the retail marine industry is aware of it, little has been done within the sales department to improve success among this group. At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. […]