Recognizing the industry’s best
This month’s issue features Boating Industry Magazine’s Top 100 as we honor the best boat dealers in North America for the 13th time.
This year’s Top 100 is stronger than we’ve ever seen in the history of the program. Total revenue for the 2017 Top 100 dealers and Hall of Fame topped $3 billion for the first time – up more than $400 million from the 2016 list.
But the Top 100 is about more than revenue. While the financial success of the companies on the list is important, we’re also looking at factors including overall business acumen, marketing strategies, service department efficiency and profitability, customer service and dedication to the industry. These Top 100 dealers stand out for their best practices in all areas of their businesses.
And it’s those best practices that are actually the most important facet of the program. Sharing the success secrets of the best dealers helps to improve the entire industry. We share some of those best practices here.
We also work to document those ideas throughout the year through our print edition, through webinars and on BoatingIndustry.com.
You can find the entire Top 100 list by clicking here. We also have a profile of Dealer of the Year OneWater Marine Holdings, which won the honor for the second year in a row, meaning the company moves into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
We’ve also profiled several other leading companies on the list, including eight Best in Class winners that stand out for particularly excelling in one area of their business, such as marketing, service or innovation. Finally, the members of the Boating Industry team have each profiled one dealer outside the Top 20 that they felt was worthy of special recognition.
Lastly, I want to make sure we recognize the group of manufacturers and service providers that support the Top 100 program throughout the year.
It is these organizations – Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance, Manheim Specialty Auctions, Volvo Penta, Sunbrella Marine, Brunswick Dealer Advantage, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and the National Marine Manufacturers Association – that makes it possible for us to recognize the best dealers and share their best practices with the entire industry.
