Weekly 5: Montana boat dealer heads to jail
The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of news, tips and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Tuesday on BoatingIndustry.com.
1. Montana boat dealer heads to jail
Shawn William Corbett, owner of Maximum Marine in Helena, Mont., pled guilty to a felony charge of deceptive practices as part of a plea bargain with local prosecutors. Corbett had been facing seven felony charges for allegedly taking payment for repairs from customers and not performing them. He received a 10-year sentence, with all but one year suspended. He was also ordered to pay $33,000 in restitution and perform 500 hours of community service.
2. Illinois Senate supports two recreational boating bills
An Illinois state senate has passed two bills affecting boating focused on safety and education, NMMA reports. The first bill requires mandatory boater safety education for anyone operating a boat powered by more than 10 hp and born after Jan. 1, 1991, while the second would require operators to display a flag when towing a person.
3. Small biz job confidence picks up in March
Small business owners are feeling more optimistic than a month ago, but still not at pre-recession levels. After declining in February, the National Federation of Independent Business’s Small Business Optimism Index increased 2 points in March to 93.4.
4. The problem with being too nice
It’s important not to needlessly criticize or belittle your employees, but being too nice can be a problem, too, writes Michael Fertik in his most recent Harvard Business Review blog.
5. 13 Google+ tools to improve your marketing
Having trouble gaining traction on Google+? Social Media Examiner chimes in with 13 tools to improve how you are using the social media channel.
