The Boat Biz
By Matt Gruhn
The Boat BizSep 28, 2022
The Boat Biz Podcast, Episode 17, ft. Matt Radich, Active Water Sports
Matt Radich sets an example for our industry to emulate when it comes to fighting for and protecting our businesses. Listen in to this great and very important conversation on how boat dealers can take a few easy steps to get more involved in advocacy work and take the lead in overcoming restrictions, bad policy and harmful legislation that can and will harm the boat business.
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Special Dealer Week Episode: Boatline Lori Stacy and Nicole Schantz
Gain some great insights into the world of digital marketing and digital retail in this fun conversation with Lori Stacy and Nicole Schantz from Boatline. Recorded at MRAA's 2022 Dealer Week Conference and Expo, listen in as they talk to JB about how dealers can tap into the wealth of data and information from Statistical Surveys. Boatline is a valued Education Champion member of the MRAA.
Special Dealer Week Episode: John Souch, Boats Group
It’s all about exposure at Boats Group, a platform to literally get your boat inventory listed all around the world–from small boats to yachts. Listen in to this episode as John Souch, Sales Director at Boats Group, shares insights into what the recent model year listing activity and the overall healthy consumer activity mean for the year ahead. Boats Group is a valued Strategic Partner of the MRAA, and this special edition podcast was recorded at MRAA's Dealer Week Conference and Expo.
Special Dealer Week Episode: Russell Baqir, Northpoint Commercial Finance
Tune in to this special edition episode of the Boat Biz Podcast, to hear some of the key elements that Russell Baqir from Northpoint Commercial Finance believes dealers should be thinking about throughout 2023. Follow along as Russell and JB talk about how perspectives from the RV industry may translate into the marine market, when aged inventory may become an industry issue, and what it will take to navigate the year ahead. Northpoint Commercial Finance is a valued Education Champion member of the MRAA, and this special edition episode was recorded at MRAA's 2022 Dealer Week Conference and Expo.
Special Dealer Week Episode: Jimmy Delegro, Elite Recreational Finance
In this special edition episode of the Boat Biz podcast, which was recorded at MRAA's Dealer Week Conference and Expo, you can gain some great insights into the world of retail finance from Jimmy Delegro, the founder of Elite Recreational Finance. Listen in to how he built the company from the ground up and how he’s carved out a niche as an industry leader. Relationships have been the key, and you’ll hear from Jimmy first-hand on that topic. Elite Recreational Finance is a valued Education Champion member of the MRAA.
Special Dealer Week Episode: Brad Lloyd, Lightspeed
Technology continues to become more and more critical to the success of our boat dealers. Take a listen to this great conversation, recorded at MRAA's 2022 Dealer Week Conference and Expo, between JB and Brad Lloyd of Lightspeed Dealer Management Systems to hear how automating processes can help dealers become more effective in their customer communications and overall dealership systems. Lightspeed is a valued Strategic Partner member of the MRAA.
Special Dealer Week Episode: Nancy Cueroni, National Marine Distributors Association
Listen along to this great special edition episode of the Boat Biz podcast, recorded at MRAA's 2022 Dealer Week Conference and Expo as Nancy Cueroni, president of the National Marine Distributors Association — a personal friend and mentor of MRAA president Matt Gruhn — summarizes what it was like on the distributor side of the covid-related supply chain issues and shares her wisdom and experience having navigated the ups and down of the market place over her career. The National Marine Distributors Association is a valued Education Champion member of the MRAA.
Special Dealer Week Episode: Ross Solwold, Vantage Resource Group
A longtime friend of the MRAA, Ross Solwold of Vantage Resource Group touches base with JB in this special edition of the Boat Biz podcast, which was recorded at MRAA's Dealer Week Conference and Expo, and shares his insights into how dealers can strengthen their alternative profit centers through Vantage’s unique products. Vantage Resource Group is a valued Education Champion member of the MRAA.
Special Dealer Week Episode: Troy Buttleman Global Marine Insurance
The world of marine insurance has undergone some significant changes over the last few years. Join in on this conversation, recorded at MRAA's 2022 Dealer Week Conference & Expo, with JB and Global Marine Insurance’s Troy Buttleman as they discuss the changing state of insurance and how Global delivers for today’s dealers. Global Marine Insurance is a valued Education Champion member of the MRAA.
The Boat Biz Podcast, Episode 8, ft. Amy Mauzy, Centurion & Supreme Boats
Gain an inside look at Centurion & Supreme Boats’ post-deposit nurturing program, a unique approach to filling the time void between order date and boat delivery. Amy Mauzy, VP of Marketing and Brand Direction at Centurion & Supreme, shares how this program was developed and how it has changed the customer experience for the brands’ boat buyers.
The Boat Biz Podcast, Episode 7 , Ft. Jeff Strong, Strong's Marine
January's Boat Biz Podcast features Jeff Strong, President of Strong's Marine, and the discussion touches on industry partnerships and an outlook for the year ahead.
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linkedin: Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA)The Boat Biz Podcast, Episode 6 , ft. Jamie Haradine, Wakeside Marine, Elkhart , Ind.
Psychology major to school teacher to dealership principal, Jamie Haradine has built one of the marine industry’s Great Dealerships to Work through a consistent focus on treating team members like family. Listen in on this conversation about how Jamie found herself in her current role, how she’s found success, and some of the unique insights she can offer your approach to leadership and management.
The Boat Biz Podcast, Episode 5, ft. Lou Cecchini, Off Shore Marine, Branchville, N.J.
From technician to dealership owner, Lou Cecchini has created dealership success through his approach to employee engagement. “If you ask most business owners, they would tell you the most important thing in the business is the customers. It’s NOT,” he says. “Our employees are the most important.” Listen in to hear how this MRAA Great Dealership to Work For creates a world class culture that drives business success.
The Boat Biz Podcast, Episode 4, ft. John Haymond, Medallion Bank and the National Marine Lenders Association
Recorded at the National Marine Lenders Association 2022 annual conference, Matt sits down with the NMLA president and the senior vice president of Medallion Bank, John Haymond to discuss the state of subprime lending in the marine industry and the role of the Lenders Association in the boat business.
The Boat Biz Podcast, Episode 3, ft. Chad Lyon, Wells Fargo Distribution Finance
In the third episode of the Boat Biz podcast, hear from Chad Lyon, the Managing Director of the marine and RV division of Wells Fargo Distribution Finance, as we talk about the state of the boating market place, the future of dealer inventories, and a look ahead at the next 12-24 months of the economy and its impact on the boat business. This podcast was recorded on location at the National Marine Lenders Association 2022 annual conference.
The Boat Biz, Episode 2, ft. Chaparral/Robalo’s Ann Baldree and Buck Pegg
Recorded at the Chaparral/Robalo 2023 model year dealer meeting, listen in to this conversation MRAA’s Matt Gruhn has with the boat brands’ Ann Baldree (Senior Vice President) and Buck Pegg (Founder) on product line updates, supply chain outlook, and the company’s approach to relationships in business. Ann discusses the boat brands’ endorsement of the MRAA Dealership Certification Program, and you can learn more about that program here. (https://mraa.com/get-certified/)
The Boat Biz, Episode 1, ft. MRAA’s Liz Walz
In this very first episode of “The Boat Biz” Podcast with MRAA President Matt Gruhn, he’s joined by MRAA Vice President Liz Walz as they discuss the state of the boating market place and how the MRAA is responding to meet the needs of boat dealers and their customers. Listen is as they define the mission for this all-new podcast by starting with MRAA’s mission and vision: To fuel the success of the marine industry by fueling dealer success.
Here are some of the resources discussed in this conversation:
- Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"
- MRAA Spotlight Series
- MRAA's Spotlight On: Reassess Your Plans for the Second Half of 2022
- MRAA's Guide to ABC Scenario Planning
- Dealer Week
- Youtube Video of this conversation