Chasing public dollar

September 2, 2014  |  Features, Management

Remember the Good Old Days? You offered a service; they signed up and sent the money. That was then. Today’s fabricators of marine products must be proactive in securing business. And if you’re seeking to procure accounts with the military and/or government sector, that business mantra spikes to…
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Got you covered

September 2, 2014  |  Management

Liability insurance protects shop owners from being swamped by possible misfortunes. Predicting the future is like forecasting the weather. You think you know what’s going to happen—then it doesn’t. There has been a great deal written in the past few years concerning the legal liability of com…
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Seven steps to sales success

July 1, 2014  |  Management

By Bill Foster There is certainly no lack of advice on how to increase your sales success. Books and seminars can be counted by the hundreds, and many of these are quite good. First-hand experience working for others in sales positions and managing my own business have helped me to formulate princip…
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Quinte Marine Canvas and Upholstery

July 1, 2014  |  Management

Quinte Marine Canvas and Upholstery Quinte Marine Canvas and Upholstery How did you get started? I bought a boat. Its upholstery, though, was not something I would want my cat to sit on. An old-school electrician and contractor, my dad always taught me to be handy, to fix things on my own. So, with …
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Compensation control

July 1, 2014  |  Features, Management

You can protect your workers … while keeping workers’ compensation costs in line. If you’re a typical marine-fabrication business owner, workers’ compensation costs—or the threat of them—can quickly become a major expense burden. Almost every business in the United States that has em…
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On-the-job training vs. classroom workshops

July 1, 2014  |  Features, Management

Both have their advocates. Hear from the experts in the marine fabrication industry to see which fits your business. What is the best route to become a skilled marine canvas fabricator? Focused classes or on-the-job training? For Mark Hood, owner of Hood Marine Canvas in Merrimac, Mass., taking a se…
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Hiring the right person can be a tough job

May 1, 2014  |  Management

By William J. Lynott On the surface, it appears to be a routine chore: You have a job to fill, so you must interview the applicants and select the most promising. In truth, interviewing job candidates today is far from a routine task. One of the toughest issues to resolve with new hires is measuring…
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Cushions for a lean mean fishing machine

May 1, 2014  |  Features, Management

The end use of a boat really dictates how Trevor makes his cushions at Kennedy Custom Upholstery. So last summer when we were asked to make all new cushions for a charter fishing boat, we knew we had to make them as tough as possible while still looking like a high-end custom product. The boat &hell…
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Stand out

January 1, 2014  |  Features, Management

“The past years’ economic challenges have not been a problem for my business—in fact, I think they’ve made my business even stronger because I’ve separated my business from the competition,” says Dave Elliot, owner of David’s Custom Trimmers, Brisbane, Australia. “We offer produc…
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Knowing your customers helps spur sales and return business

September 1, 2013  |  Management

A customer is standing in front of you. Maybe she has a question. Or a complaint. Or maybe she’s thinking about a purchase, and wants to discuss a product issue. What do you say to best serve the customer, and bring about a win-win resolution of the conversation? Sounds like a simple question.…
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