Let’s Get Personal

March 1st, 2014

Expand your market by adding customized graphics. By Dara Syrkin Imagine your customers at the marina. They put the name board cover on, and the neighbor asks, “How’d you get the name of your boat on there?” Or, at the lake, “How’d you get that image of martini glasses on your bimini cover?” Soon, you’re […]

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Repair or Replace? Part 1: Posing the Question

March 1st, 2014

A customer wanders into your store with a tattered and torn bimini top in hand—one that obviously has seen better days. Although the boat owner requests repairs be done to his beloved top, your better judgment foresees the need for a complete replacement. So how do you handle this situation? How do you ensure your […]

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Repair or Replace? Part 2: Make your best bid

March 1st, 2014

Don’t undersell the quality of your work in effort to win the job. You’ve just landed a dozen bid requests for repair or replacement projects. Based on your estimate, it is expected that these jobs will yield a healthy profit. But how will you ensure that this healthy profit will materialize? Or that you’ve estimated […]

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Are you prepared for the worst?

March 1st, 2014

In the unlikely event of an emergency, are you adequately prepared to overcome obstacles? Suppose a raging pandemic forced you to shut your doors for a week. Or a fire raced through neighboring buildings, disrupting your business operations. Or a natural disaster created havoc in your community, rerouting traffic, deliveries and work schedules. The statistical […]

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Up another 5 percent, boating industry leaves recession in its wake

March 1st, 2014

The National Marine Manufacturers Association ended 2013 with the optimistic report that recreational boating in the United States will continue its post-recession climb with an estimated 5 percent increase in new powerboat retail sales. The increase comes on the heels of the industry’s 2012 rebound when new powerboat retail sales increased 10 percent—the industry’s first […]

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NMMA unveils Boating United

March 1st, 2014

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) hosts a new grassroots advocacy platform—Boating United—for NMMA members, business owners, industry stakeholders and others who hope to ensure that their voice is heard on Capitol Hill on behalf of recreational boating. Through Boating United, users can sign up to receive updates on legislation affecting the industry, learn more […]

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NAM wins workplace labor poster case

March 1st, 2014

The National Association of Manufacturers has won its case against the National Labor Relations Board and its “poster rule,” which would have required manufacturers to post notice in their workplaces informing employees of their right to organize and strike. After two federal appeals courts struck down the rule, the NLRB had a final chance to […]

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Xtreme Seal taps Rex Pegg Fabrics

March 1st, 2014

Xtreme Seal LLC has announced Rex Pegg Fabrics of Tacoma, Wash., as a new West Coast distributor.

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Marlen Textiles products compliant with Berry Amendment

March 1st, 2014

Following an internal review, New Haven, Mo.-based Marlen Textiles Inc. has determined that its entire product line is now in compliance with the Berry Amendment, which requires that certain purchases by the U.S. Defense Department comprise American-made end products made with American-made parts. It specifically covers textiles, food, and hand and measuring tools. “We have […]

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SeaDek relocating

March 1st, 2014

SeaDek Marine Products will relocate its production operations, currently located in Rockledge, Fla., to a 72,000 square foot manufacturing facility in the same city. The move comes after years of growth and expansion that necessitated multiple off-site facilities to meet growing needs for machine space and storage. The move puts all operations under one roof […]

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