BoatU.S. and West Marine report strategic alliance a success
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – BoatU.S. and West Marine, who formed a strategic alliance one year ago this month, said the relationship has been a success during a speech given at the kick-off of West Marine University in Monterey, Calif., they reported in a statement yesterday.
BoatU.S. Founder and CEO Richard Schwartz told an audience of over 500 participants from West Marine, BoatU.S. and the boating industry that, “We are 100 percent committed to making this partnership work and West Marine’s commitment last year to help build BoatU.S. membership through its 323 marine centers has exceeded our goals.”
Schwarz told the audience that the number of BoatU.S. members acquired through retail store operations was up nearly 25 percent from the previous year.
How the partnership operates
Under the terms of the strategic alliance, West Marine agreed to promote BoatU.S. membership and its consumer services when it acquired the BoatU.S. retail equipment operation, including its 62 marine centers, mail-order and wholesale components.
“West Marine shares BoatU.S.’ commitment to service and representation for boaters,” West Marine CEO John Edmondson said at the time of the acquisition. “By partnering with BoatU.S. to generate more members, we can contribute to the power of their work and that’s good for the boating community.”
“The bottom line is that more BoatU.S. members means more clout when dealing with Congress,” Schwartz said. “2004 has all the signs of being a spectacular year for membership growth.”
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