Retail registrations for 2015 MDCE up 77 percent
MINNEAPOLIS — Marine retailers across North America with the drive to be the best have committed to attending the 2015 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, Nov. 15-18 in Orlando, Fla., in record numbers.
The total number of marine retailers who have registered since MDCE registration opened on April 1 is 167, which breaks the all-time record set in 2013 of 162 retailers at April registration rates and represents a 77-percent improvement over last year’s retail registrations for this time of year.
Anchored by a brand marketing campaign inspired by retailers’ passion for the boating business, record 2015 MDCE registration could represent a “tipping point” in optimism and enthusiasm for the industry.
In preparation for the 2015 event, MDCE organizers have done more to collect retailers’ ideas for building the best education and networking event — and act on them — than ever before.
“This year’s show takes everything dealers love about the MDCE and expands on it,” explains Liz Walz, vice president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “In 2015, we’re offering the widest selection of educational workshops and sessions in our history, plus brand new ways to learn through features such as our Learning Labs and Dealer-to-Dealer sessions.”
Inspired by marine retailers own recommendations for the ideal event, this year’s MDCE campaign theme — “Made New. By You.” — may become the rallying cry for a resurging industry. With web banners that claim “Only you can sell the wind without a shield,” and “Only you can sell a lift without a ticket,” among others, the new marketing campaign is designed to celebrate retail and service opportunities unique to boating.
“There’s no other event that gives marine retailers so many chances to grow and improve under one roof,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “The record-breaking registration numbers suggest the industry is ready to exploit that to the fullest.”
MDCE 2015 will include an Opening and Closing keynote address and four Educational Tracks — Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus — designed specifically to address the most critical aspects of marine dealer operations. In addition, the MDCE Pre-Conference Workshops, which have featured several of the most highly rated educational sessions for two years running, will return with a larger and even more impactful lineup of unique, hands-on sessions. New for 2015, MDCE also will include Learning Labs, where attendees can consult one-on-one with leading experts.
The 2015 MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center, Rosen Plaza Hotel and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando. To learn more, visit marinedealerconference.com.
It would be very exciting for my company, Turning Point Propellers, to be able to showcase our products, have the MDCE attendees interact with our propeller experts, and offer training opportunities on the technology of modern propellers at the annual event.
Unfortunately, it saddens me every year to see the the dates of your event overlap with the largest Marine Trade Show on the planet (METS), and one of the largest Wholesale Distributor Shows in the US (Kellogg Marine). I would only want to attend MDCE with my top level employees, but asset commitments for the other shows (which have been occupying those dates for decades) leaves the cupboard bare at the office.
A move to the second week of December or the second week of January removes most conflicts, and may open your event to a much larger vendor ci=community. Why the annual lock on November 15-18?