The traditional round of fall boat shows kicks off today with the opening of the 30th annual Michigan City In-Water Boat Show just outside Chicago. (Read More…)

We’re pushing a year since the industry’s national ad campaign for Discover Boating had to be beached because of the state of industry sales. Hope was to have it return this past June along with an anticipated turnaround in the economy. Neither happened, of course. (Read More…)

I took up guitar playing as an undergrad at Indiana University. As I recall, someone told me that if I strummed the guitar and brought along a six-pack of Bud, coeds would fall at my feet! Unfortunately, the latter didn’t happen, although they did down all my beer! (Read More…)

Just when we think there isn’t much to laugh at in the news these days, we can always count on the wing nuts at PETA for a gut-buster. PETA — that’s the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, as opposed to People Eating Tasty Animals — has offered to pop for $15 million to save a 2.6 mile bridge that spans Tampa Bay. (Read More…)

In spite of the ongoing recession and general belt tightening by consumers, the fact remains people will still pay more for better customer service. But, even a good experience has a price point. So, just how much more would they be willing to pay? (Read More…)

Have you noticed that customers and prospects seem more difficult to deal with these days? It seems they want to challenge our sales presentations at every turn. They act tough, adverse and suspicious. Why, you’d think they don’t trust us. Fact is, they probably don’t! (Read More…)

On Tuesday, I touched on some of the good and bad in the recently announced SBA floorplan loan guarantee program. If you didn’t see it, please go back and read it, along with the reader comments, some of which I’ll refer to here. (Read More…)

NOTE: This is Part I of a two-part look at the SBA loan program.

Exuberance echoed throughout the marine industry when the Small Business Administration announced it would begin using TARP funds to guarantee dealer floorplan loans under its 7(a) program. It was an overdue action, to be sure. (Read More…)