Comments on: The marrying kind http://insider.boatingindustry.com/2009/12/the-marrying-kind/ Trusted Source. Proven Solutions. Real Results. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:07:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Peter Anzo http://insider.boatingindustry.com/2009/12/the-marrying-kind/comment-page-1/#comment-1485 Peter Anzo Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:09:35 +0000 http://insider.boatingindustry.com/?p=606#comment-1485 Liz, although we get mentioned from time to time, I think at a minimum the dealers need to be courting the marina operators a bit more. We generally have more interaction with the boat buyer before, during and after a boat sale than any dealer ever does. They only get married at the chapel( dealer), but after the honeymoon(warranty)they live with us! Liz, although we get mentioned from time to time, I think at a minimum the dealers need to be courting the marina operators a bit more. We generally have more interaction with the boat buyer before, during and after a boat sale than any dealer ever does. They only get married at the chapel( dealer), but after the honeymoon(warranty)they live with us!

]]> By: Douglyss Giuliana http://insider.boatingindustry.com/2009/12/the-marrying-kind/comment-page-1/#comment-1476 Douglyss Giuliana Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:12:22 +0000 http://insider.boatingindustry.com/?p=606#comment-1476 When we launched almost 3 years ago, we mainly considered 3 qualities of potential manufacturers: strength/popularity of brand, manufacturers' attention to customer satisfaction, and the care the manufacturer demonstrated for the success of the dealer. The popularity of the brand demonstrates if the product is a quality product, whether marketing is effective, and whether the management is moving in the right direction. The manufacturer's attention to customer satisfaction requires a strong warranty program and the motivation to work with the dealer to get a deal done; it is difficult to have many happy customers without having happy dealers. These criteria have served us well over these three years, and we don't regret any of our selections. The one thing that has changed in this environment is that we now also evaluate the required inventory levels established by the manufacturer. That's a no-brainer now. Going forward, we will also evaluate two new criteria -- the manufacturer's focus on retail sales over wholesale (thanks to Dusty McCoy's comment at MDCE) and the commitment of the manufacturer to help develop and educate the dealer principles through seminars, 20 groups, certification, and other educational support. When we launched almost 3 years ago, we mainly considered 3 qualities of potential manufacturers: strength/popularity of brand, manufacturers’ attention to customer satisfaction, and the care the manufacturer demonstrated for the success of the dealer. The popularity of the brand demonstrates if the product is a quality product, whether marketing is effective, and whether the management is moving in the right direction. The manufacturer’s attention to customer satisfaction requires a strong warranty program and the motivation to work with the dealer to get a deal done; it is difficult to have many happy customers without having happy dealers. These criteria have served us well over these three years, and we don’t regret any of our selections.

The one thing that has changed in this environment is that we now also evaluate the required inventory levels established by the manufacturer. That’s a no-brainer now.

Going forward, we will also evaluate two new criteria — the manufacturer’s focus on retail sales over wholesale (thanks to Dusty McCoy’s comment at MDCE) and the commitment of the manufacturer to help develop and educate the dealer principles through seminars, 20 groups, certification, and other educational support.

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