Tag Archives: Jonathan Sweet

By Jonathan Sweet What a difference a month makes. The last time I wrote a column for the magazine, the topic was the labor shortage. That is hardly at the top of most businesses’ concerns today. (The long-term trend hasn’t changed, of course, so even now we should be thinking about it.) I have been hearing a surprising number of ...

By Jonathan Sweet A recent study from The Conference Board paints a disturbing picture of the future of blue-collar labor. For markets like the boating industry that are already facing major shortages, that’s a concerning development. Most notably, the study’s authors say the labor shortage will last until at least 2030 and could develop into the worst labor shortage in ...

Applications for the 2020 Boating Industry Top 100 are now open, with a new streamlined application process. “We know the Top 100 application process can be overwhelming, especially for first time applicants, so this year there will be an easier way to apply to be part of the program,” said Jonathan Sweet, managing director of the Top 100 program. This ...

By Jonathan Sweet The most important question on the Top 100 application is what dealers have done to get better over the previous years. It’s a recognition that no matter how good a dealership is, it can get better. We’re looking for that constant effort that shows a dedication to continual improvement. At the same time, it’s important that we ...

By Jonathan Sweet When people talk about diversity, the first thing that usually comes to mind is ethnic and racial diversity. But the truth is most of us are now facing a workforce that is also diverse when it comes to generational differences. Consider that for some businesses, there are five generations in the workforce: the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, ...

By Jonathan Sweet Here at Boating Industry, we have been recognizing the best boat dealers in North America for 15 years. Every company on this year’s list is worthy of recognition. And I’m thrilled to see a record number of new applicants bring a fresh perspective to the program in 2019. At the same time, we’d be remiss if we ...

By Jonathan Sweet From landing sales to managing expectations in the service department, communication is essential to keeping customers happy. Poor customer communication can sink a company. It’s a simple undertaking, but one on which companies consistently fall short. Customers will quickly bail on a company that doesn’t deliver a good customer experience. Nearly two-thirds of customers rank customer experience ...

This year we will be celebrating the 15th year of the Top 100. Since 2005, Boating Industry and the Leadership Alliance have recognized the best boat dealers in North America for their financial success, marketing, customer service, industry advocacy and overall business acumen. The 2019 Top 100 will culminate with the annual Top 100 Gala, Nov. 24, at the Rosen ...

As some of the best boat dealers in North America, the Boating Industry Top 100 dealers – and those who apply for the list – offer us great insight into the top issues facing the industry.  As I write this, we’re deep into evaluation of this year’s applicants. (By the time it’s published, the 2018 list will be done.) Here ...

Over the last decade the boating industry has seen both sides of the inventory challenge.  In the 2007-09 period, we saw dealers stuck with way too many boats when the housing market – and then the rest of the economy – crashed. With dealers dropping left and right and consumers defaulting on loans, excess inventory and repossessed vessels flooded the ...