Grady-White Boats raises the bar

GREENVILLE, N.C. – At Grady-White Boats’ dealer meeting, Sept. 16-18, Greenville, N.C., the company introduced new criteria for its top sales and service achievement awards, it reported in a recent statement.

Joey Weller, Grady’s director of sales and marketing, said the criteria now includes not only that National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Marine Certification be obtained, but also that top dealers are to sponsor a Grady-White owners’ club.

During the meeting, President Kris Carroll told the group of over 150 that retail sales for the month of August were up over the prior year–which had been a good one.

“Solving the puzzle of continuously maintaining strong retail performance is a challenge,” she stated. “Our plan is to provide the same type of focus on retail marketing as we have on customer satisfaction.”

Carroll also highlighted the products introduced in 2007 including the newest and biggest center console, the Canyon 336; the redesigned Express 330 cabin boat; and also the first full-year of the Tournament 275 dual console.

“We’re ending the season strong, and we’re increasing our unit sales goal for 2008,” said Weller, who also reviewed promotional efforts, market share information and unit sales projections.

Grady-White Senior Vice President Doug Gomes ended the business meeting with more on the theme of “solving the puzzle.”

“We are going to take advantage of increasing our market share in today’s ever changing environment,” he said. “Our challenge is to reach out to new customers wherever they may be and let them experience the passion that boating can create. There’s not just one answer to the puzzle of how to do this. It requires execution, hard work, perseverance and tenacity.”

Guest speakers included Yamaha Marine Group President Phil Dyskow, Thom Dammrich, NMMA president, who reviewed NMMA’s “Grow Boating” campaign, and Dr. James F. Smith, chief economist of Parsec Financial Management and senior fellow and director of the Center for Business Forecasting, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, UNC-Chapel Hill, who provided insight into the conditions behind today’s economic news headlines.

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