If you read Dealer Outlook regularly, you know I urge retailers and service businesses to join their local marine trade association. And as the year end approaches, annual dues for 2024 will likely be payable shortly — ideal time for those who are not members to sign up.
When most people think of their MTA, they primarily think boat show, as many associations produce local shows. Or they think lobbying, something MTA’s take on at state and local levels to fight negative legislation or regulations.
But MTA’s do much more with the goal of both protecting and advancing boating in their markets. Many of these activities seldom get attention in our trade media, but they’re compelling reasons for every dealer to be supporting their local association. Here are just a few examples.
The Business of Boating Conference is one of many membership benefits in the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association. This popular educational event will be marking its 18th anniversary.
This year’s BOB conference will include sessions on the following topics:
• employment law/regulatory
• government relations actions
• succession planning
• a workforce panel featuring
• electric technology updates
• a Mass Reconnect introduction and benefits for businesses
• workforce funding opportunities
• national sales update with inventory and supply chain information
BOB is scheduled for Jan. 25 at Lakeview Pavilion in Foxboro, Mass. MMTA will also host two networking events the evening before BOB. Members can register now.
In Seattle, the Northwest Marine Trade Association annually provides Grow Boating Grants designed to support programs that can lead to an increase in the number of boaters and promotes year-round participation. For 2024, NMTA is offering 10, $1,000 grants to entities that help support the mission of growing boating. Since 2003, NMTA’s Grow Boating program has invested more than $2 million to promote boating in the Pacific Northwest. The newest grant recipients will be announced next month, with funds slated for distribution next spring.
In addition, NMTA annually offers member programs that include education and training sessions, workforce development initiatives, advertising and promotions, industry standards and best practices, and a group rate health insurance program.
The Marine Trades Association of New Jersey will conduct its annual food drive to support local food banks. According to the association, there are more than 900,000 people considered food-insecure in New Jersey, which includes more than 46,000 children just in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Like other MTAs, New Jersey also stands watch for legislation and regulatory matters that could impact members. In that vein, the Walt Johnson III Memorial Shoot Off is held to raise PAC funds. This year’s Shoot Off was held earlier this month, with some 90 shooters stepping into the woods to take aim at various stations. The first place team was from Robbie’s Loveladies Marina; second place was Team Navico, and third place was Viking Yachts. The top Male shooter was Shawn VanDaly, and the top woman was Cynthia Wouters.
The Marine Industry Association of Central Florida hired lead certification consultant Bob McCann to conduct a “Secret Shopper Experience” evaluation for each member. A detailed written report will be given to each participating dealership (an opt out was available). McCann is a lead certification consultant with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. The idea of a “Secret Shopper Evaluation” could be extremely valuable for any dealership as we head into the winter selling season with a less-than robust outlook that will require best efforts.
If you don’t have this year’s MRAA Dealer Week educational conference on your calendar, it’s time to book a flight to Tampa, Fla. It is the industry’s only annual educational conference exclusively for retailers. Many the associations are co-sponsors of Dealer Week, so check with your MTA for discounts.
Scheduled for Dec. 4-7, Dealer Week will include 15 sessions with expert speakers and access to more than 135 industry-leading partners exhibiting products and services designed to make dealerships more profitable. And given the economic uncertainties and daily contradictory forecasts about business expectations for 2024, this may be the most important year yet for dealers to listen, learn and share.
Click here for more information about Dealer Week.
