Tag Archives: MDCE

Smaller budgets are a frustrating reality in all departments. Smarter spends are mandated.

During the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo last month, I was thrilled to hear Joe Verde talking about the importance of marine businesses getting the right people working in their companies and leading and training them well. That is essential if dealerships are to recover from the effects of the recession and grow. I’ve experienced the power of such leadership ...

Three years ago, our team here at Boating Industry had an identity crisis. We had assembled a collection of editors, sales people, a publisher and a production team that sought to revitalize a brand that had, for the most part, lost its way. The easy decision at the time would have been for our team to continue what it had ...

We've been sharing thoughts, opinions, and personal stories about the marine industry for months now. So have many of you, and we thank all of you who've reached out, through comments and tweets and posts. Now we'd like to continue the conversation in person.

There’s no more effective method of education than learning from your peers. You can read about an idea, be taught a strategy in a classroom or take a course online, but it’s not the same as learning about it from the person who thought it up and put it to work in their business.  That’s why most of the best ...

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) announced this morning that it's combining its Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) with the fall 2010 International Boatbuilder's Exhibition and Conference (IBEX). This news doesn't come as a surprise. Trade show producers run a business just like the rest of us, and when times are tough, consolidation is a natural consideration. Plus, it ...

Denny Hecker is widely known in the Minneapolis/St. Paul-area. A long-time auto dealer based here in the Twin Cities, Hecker's career changed abruptly this year when, under the pressure of the economy, his numerous area businesses collapsed dramatically. Over the course of the last few months, Hecker's empire has come crashing down around him in unimaginable fashion. According to the ...