The largest in-water show in the Great Lakes region this fall, the Progressive Metro Boat Show, will cruise into the Lake St. Clair Metropark near Detroit this Thursday for a four-day run. Meanwhile, for anyone planning to attend MRAA’s Dealer Week this year, early-registration discounts disappear Sept. 30.
Produced by the Michigan Boating Industries Association, the Metro Boat Show will mark its 13th year with the display of hundreds of new and preowned boats to 60 feet. In addition, dozens of landside displays around the boat basin will include marinas, docks and hoist suppliers, accessories, services and more.
“The Metropark marina is a picturesque, boardwalk-lined setting along the shores of Lake St. Clair,” says Nicki Polan, MBIA executive director. “It’s why this show is so popular with dealers and boaters. This year we’re widely promoting the show as both a great place for a first look at new 2023 models while also emphasizing calling attention to end-of-season deals. This show always draws well.”
Special features this year include boarding the 68-foot training ship Pride of Michigan, which is part of the Great Lakes Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, live music in a Tiki Bar, food trucks, beer tents, a Kid’s Crafts area and more.
Dealer Week Discounts
Rounding third base and heading for home, your chance to score a healthy discount for this year’s Dealer Week requires taking action now.
Produced by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, Dealer Week runs Dec. 5-8 in Austin, Texas.
MRAA members and non-members can save on the registration fees by acting now. Savings notwithstanding, those who regularly read this blog know how strongly I believe every marine dealer should attend Dealer Week. This year, perhaps, more than ever.
Why? It’s the only national meeting of boat retailers, providing a comprehensive, dealer-oriented, educational program and events exclusively dedicated to helping businesses be more profitable.
“The educational lineup is spot-on with what the market is facing right now and will be facing into 2023,” says MRAA president Matt Gruhn. “Dealers need this content to answer their biggest questions.”
This year’s Dealer Week boasts an outstanding list of learning opportunities framed by great opening and closing keynoters. At the heart of the conference are the big three educational tracks focused on:
1. Sales & Marketing
2. Service & Parts
3. Dealership Leadership.
Plus, the conference includes an exposition that features a wide variety of new retail profit-center opportunities and services.
“Our goal with Dealer Week’s courses is not to just use talking heads to deliver a message,” says Liz Walz, MRAA vice president of education. “Our goal is to give dealers a direct path to implementing the ideas, insights and inspiration they collect at the conference when they return to their dealerships. That’s our mission.”
More than 200 dealers from the United States and Canada have capitalized on the early-registration discounts, with more than 40 percent indicating they are first-time attendees. It’s confirmation that dealers are focused forward and will be seeking information that reflects the economic times and expectations for our industry.
And this year marks MRAA’s 50th anniversary, so attendees can expect an atmosphere of fun and celebration.
So, let me ask you: If so many dealers already know it’s a good deal to learn in-person at Dealer Week — plus have the option of revisiting key content online for up to three months after the conference — doesn’t it make sense to join them?
Click here for registration and discount information.
