Features

In Lee Child’s Without Fail, a Secret Service official simplifies a disturbing problem. “If the Yankees come to town saying they’re going to beat the Orioles, does that mean it’s true?” And then he adds, “Boasting about it is not the same thing as actually doing it.” It’s the same with sales where there’s often too much boasting and not ...

We are seeing some positive numbers in the housing market this past month. Growth is present in the Housing Market Index, Housing Starts and Existing Home Sales, continuing an upward trajectory from earlier months in 2014. While existing home sales are still 4.3 percent below year-over-year, this consistent upward momentum demands cautious optimism. Housing Market Index The Housing Market Index, complied ...

More than 350 industry stakeholders representing 180 dealerships from around the world gathered in New Paris, Indiana, this month for Smoker Craft, Inc.’s annual dealer meeting, as the parent manufacturer of the Starcraft, Smoker Craft, Sylvan, SunChaser and Starweld boat brands celebrated the introduction of several new models. Dealers attending the event enjoyed the opportunity to examine 160 different boat ...

As the U.S. budget deficit continues to decrease, we are also seeing strength return to the labor market with record-breaking job openings this month. Deficit narrows, revenue rises  The U.S. budget deficit is running 24 percent narrower than last year, at $460.5 billion compared to $697.4 billion during the same period. The government posted a $94.6 billion deficit last month, ...

The sound of the waves crashing against the hull. The wind in your hair and the mist in your face. Your parent or sibling nestled beside you. These are the pleasant senses that come to mind when remembering your earliest boat rides. For families who do not have regular boat access, one organization is providing an opportunity to experience these ...

Pontoons are all about the creature comforts. The model doesn’t matter a whole lot as long as everyone aboard is having a good time. To than end, Premier Pontoons opted not to introduce a new model for 2015 and focus on style and comfort. Boating Industry got a chance to look at the new updates for the 2015 line of ...

If it is true that we make a living by what we get and a life by what we give, Nautique and its employees are building much more than boats. Nautique employees recently traveled to El Salvador for a service trip as a part of the Nautique Cares initiative. Two four-day trips of 22 and 20 employees respectively did construction ...

Readings this week from the Institute for Supply Management suggest a strong outlook for the economy. The ISM manufacturing index was at 57.1 percent in July, a 1.8 percent increase from June and the 14th consecutive month of expansion. This report was well above economists’ expectations of 55.9 percent and the highest reading since April 2011. Out of 18 manufacturing ...

Freedom Boat Club will embark on a new venture next month, bringing all of their marketing efforts in-house for the first time. As a part of this new strategy, CEO John Giglio has tapped Wanda Kenton Smith as their new Chief Marketing Officer – a brand new position within the company. While the industry has been in slow recovery mode, ...

The housing market is seeing a lag in its pending home sales and home appreciation, but with consumer confidence at an almost seven-year high, we can’t be too disappointed. Consumer confidence: A reason to rejoice The Consumer Confidence Index is seeing an increase to 90.9, much higher than economists expected and a significant increase from 86.4 in June. This is ...