SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2011
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
Bob McCann, Director of Education, ARI – We find that most new prospects who visit a dealer’s booth at a boat show for the first time aren’t ready to commit on the spot. In fact, most sales are closed with prospects that dealers have been working with for quite a while, even as far back as past shows. Boats are luxury purchases that often require a long-term research and buying process, so this first visit usually marks the beginning of the sales process rather than the sale per se. Read more >>
JANUARY 18TH, 2011
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
By Christopher Kourtakis, director of sales and marketing, 360° Industry Solutions — In the end, it is not going to matter whether or not the consumer knows what a dealer pays for a boat from the manufacturer. In the end, what matters most to consumers is the level of customer service that they receive. What matters most is that the consumer feels that they received the best value for what they have purchased. Read more >>
JANUARY 4TH, 2011
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
Dan Coughlin, The Dan Coughlin Co. — The economic tsunami that began picking up speed in December 2007 and swept around the world with devastating force from October 2008 to April 2009 has died down. What’s left now are many organizations that have been devastated or destroyed and individuals who have huge gaping financial holes where they once had solid financial fortresses. The flow of credit that was the underpinning of consumer and business spending has largely dried up. We are at the starting point of a new way of life unlike anything we have seen in a very, very long time. Read more >>
OCTOBER 5TH, 2010
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
By Peter Granata, president, Granata Design and the Marine Design Resource Alliance — Just as “clocks” were incorporated into every imaginable electronic instrument a few years ago, so too are more sophisticated electronics being incorporated into daily use electronics, like your phone. Read more >>
AUGUST 24TH, 2010
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
By Jeff Scherer, Associate Partner, Callbutton LLC — I was fortunate to have the opportunity this past week to visit the famous Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle. You may be familiar with the “Fish Philosophy” that has been the focus of many books, videos, and articles. This place is where it started. The philosophy extols the benefits and importance of having FUN at work, but really goes far beyond that. It examines the impact of what instilling a positive culture can do to revolutionize the lives of the employees, not just their business. Read more >>
AUGUST 3RD, 2010
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
By Karin Gelschus, Associate Editor, Powersports Business — With skeleton crews working overtime to keep dealerships’ doors open, social networking sites are often at the bottom of their To-Do lists. Here are some tools to make managing the sites less time consuming: Read more >>
JULY 27TH, 2010
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
By Peter Granata, president, Granata Design and the Marine Design Resource Alliance — Does success follow a company that decides to replicate or assimilate someone else’s products? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but will it be competitive? Every time a company elects to take the easy way out and copy a someone else’s idea, aren’t they forced to compete on price alone? Read more >>
APRIL 30TH, 2010
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
By Christopher Kourtakis, director of sales and marketing, 360° Industry Solutions — Never let a customer out of your dealership mad or without a solution to their problem. Read more >>
MARCH 29TH, 2010
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
By Peter Granata, president, Granata Design and the Marine Design Resource Alliance — If you’re a boat dealer and you’ve managed to survive this downturn, now is the time to consider what you must do to thrive. One question you will have to ask yourself is, “Do I, and will I, have the right product at the right price?” Read more >>
JANUARY 25TH, 2010
By CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER
By Chris Kourtakis, Owner, H20 Limos Marine Service — As the marine dealership community enters a new decade, it will be looking back on the worst year of business in at least the last 50. Looking forward, dealers and OEMs need to share more information so they can do more with less. Read more >>
