Features

The 2017 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo was big, but the 2018 event is on pace to be bigger. The 2018 MDCE will be held Dec. 9-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., hosted jointly by Boating Industry and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “At MDCE, we’re dedicated to helping attendees anticipate the future, minimizing ...

Software vendors address integration, dealer needs Dealers can expand their business bottom line by paying close attention to software upgrades that can expand revenue streams.  Boating Industry recently surveyed consultants and industry experts for suggestions, tips, and strategies that can be used when it’s time to consider a computer-based management system change.  We asked about new software applications for the marine industry, ...

Manufacturers look to innovation and the future Once the top dog in the boating world, there’s no denying that the sterndrive engine does not hold the place in the marine industry it once did, for the time being. There’s also no denying that things are changing in the sterndrive world. Manufacturers like Ilmor, Mercury Marine and Volvo Penta are introducing new ...

October was declared Manufacturing Month across a multitude of different industries. The National Marine Manufacturers Association encouraged members of the marine industry to participate by hosting an event to promote and educate others about the boating industry. Last year, a record 300,000 students, parents and teachers nationwide gained insight into modern-day manufacturing. Manufacturing Day, according to a survey from DeLoitte, ...

Survey respondents address family role Employee retention was the top issue of succession concern in the latest survey of Boating Industry print and digital subscribers, conducted by email in mid-October.  Respondents were a mix of boat dealers, manufacturers, marina owners, industry suppliers and others working in the industry.  Seventy-three percent of surveyed business owners who completed a transition or ownership ...

In a state full of boat dealers as far as the eye can see, Regal & Nautique of Orlando continuously strives to lead the pack. Regal & Nautique of Orlando’s sole location resides just off of Florida’s well-traveled Interstate 4 in Orlando. The dealership’s 6,000-square foot facility located in the center of the property features a reception and sales office, ...

When was the last time you watched a video online? Based on recent stats, the answer is likely within the last 24 hours. Over 500 million hours of video is watched on YouTube every day, with another 100 million hours on Facebook.   So, how can you turn those views into revenue for your boat business.  A client of mine ...

It’s long been clear the importance a supervisor plays in employee’s happiness. A bad one will drive good employees away and a good one will keep people happy. It’s more important than salary or almost any other factor in keeping your best workers. A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research underscores the outsized role that a supervisor ...

Boating industry researchers continue to shed new light on the importance of tracking lapsed boaters as a potential return-to-market segment.  During the Second Annual Grow Boating Marketing Summit presentation at this year’s International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference, Jack Ellis, managing director at Info-Link Technologies, Inc., estimated there are 5 million to 10 million lapsed boaters, individuals who have previously owned ...

After being presented with a special project with NASA, the MarineMax Houston service team couldn’t help but accept the challenge. “It was an incredible experience being able to work on such a unique project. It’s not every day that we get to support NASA!” said Billy Foulkes, MarineMax Houston Service Advisor.  The MarineMax Houston Service team recently had the opportunity ...