Features

Boating Industry: Following the recession, there’s been a lot of discussion of change, with talk of a “new normal.” How has your company changed and how do you view the changes in the marine market? Steve McKee: I would describe change within our company in terms of a more focused attitude and deliberate mindset from our management and staff versus ...

Many boat builders in the “value” segment of the market have been moving toward fewer options and more options packages. Boating Industry magazine interviewed executives from five boat dealerships to determine how this is impacting dealer operations and how it has been received by consumers. The dealers interviewed include Tom Mack, president of South Shore Marine, Huron, Ohio; Paul Davis, ...

Boating Industry: How many employees do you have on your team today? And how does that number compare to the same time last year? We are just hiring up to 225 employees versus a peak of about 450. Last year at this time, we had about 140. It is important to note that these numbers are meaningless, though, without considering ...

Boating Industry: How have you prepared your team to be successful in 2011? We went against the crowd a bit and purchased increased levels of inventory during 2010 and into 2011. While 2010 was our best year ever (sales volume and profit), we feel we are positioned even better for 2011. For the first two months, we are tracking ahead ...

Download Finding Growth in Today's MarketAfter six years of boat sales declines, the boating industry is hungry for growth. And not just a little growth. Whether you operate a one-location, $1 million store, the largest retail chain in the country, or something in between, you’re craving a substantial, double-digit increase in business.

Marine industry professionals across the country are at long last experiencing some positive indications of renewed consumer confidence. “Lingering high unemployment and the uncertainty it brings to those working or not will still hold consumers’ spending back at modest levels,” predicts Jim Coburn, managing partner of Coburn & Associates, LLC, based in Macomb Township, Mich., and immediate past president of ...

Here is a list of some of the many resources dealers can put to use in finding growth in today’s marketplace. ADP Lightspeed Report ADP Lightspeed offers mobile and online CRM that integrates with its LightspeedEVO DMS. Information gathered from these systems is used in aggregate to create studies that improve dealer operations. For more information, visit www.adplightspeed.com. Online Budgeting ...

These are the central issues to be discussed during the 2011 American Boating Congress, being held May 4 and 5 in Washington, D.C., according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, which produces the legislative conference. 1. Rebuilding the Congressional Boating Caucus: The 112th Congress began this year with the Republican Party enjoying a 242-193 majority with 63 new Republicans taking ...

Boating Industry: 2011 is a new year. How is your marketing strategy for this year different than past years and why? We will be focusing more on our Unique Selling Proposition at Pride — on-water locations. We have a unique advantage over most of our competitors, which is negated when we choose to chase customers by attending various shows and ...

Great weather, reasonable fuel prices, more jobs, higher home values, renewed consumer confidence … Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But even if all of it were to fall into place, and the 2011 summer boating season was one of the busiest ever, consumers aren’t likely to be out in the marketplace throwing money at everything they see. The downturn ...