Leverage and Power are NOT the Only Bases for Negotiations by Phil Friedman, Marine Industry Consultant Many businessmen and lawyers will tell you that the key element(s) of successful negotiating are “leverage” and “power.” According to them, success in achieving a negotiated agreement reduces to which party has the stronger hand. The problem with that… (more)
Cost-effectively Meeting the Need for Strategic Expansion and Improvements by Phil Friedman, Marine Industry Consultant Even in this recovering recreational marine market, I’m finding that a significant percentage of marina and boatyard operators remain reluctant to undertake strategic expansion or make long-needed improvements. Their inertia may be fueled by a FOAP (Fear of Added Payroll)…. (more)
Fad Advice on Marketing Often Has Little to Do with Real Needs As I’ve said before, I don’t pretend to be a marketing guru. I have, however, been involved in marina and boatyard management for more than three decades. And as a result, have had occasion to develop and run several marine-related marketing campaigns. Consequently,… (more)
Boatyards, Marinas, and Other Marine Businesses Are Prime Candidates to Take Advantage of Inbound Marketing by Phil Friedman, Marine Industry Consultant Look, I don’t pretend to be a marketing guru. But I am experienced in boatyard and marina operations. And as a freelance writer/editor, I have, over the years, worked on contract for several marine marketing… (more)
SpeedyDock: Connecting with Your Customers Customers expect to connect with businesses as easily and seamlessly as they do with their friends and family. They expect marinas to be on the same channels they are, and they want quick and convenient updates. Boating customers, typically regarded as an affluent and well-educated group, probably expect more…. (more)
Avoid confusing customer relations management with customer service by Phil Friedman, Marine Industry Consultant In one of its brochures, a leading developer of CRM software explains customer relations management in the following way: “… CRM is customer relationship management … CRM lets you store and manage prospect and customer information, like contact info, accounts, leads,… (more)
Have You Outgrown QuickBooks? QuickBooks is a popular accounting system and is used by many small business owners in the marine industry. But as your business grows, there comes a time when QuickBooks simply may not provide you with the level of operational support you need to run a multi-faceted marine business. Here are six… (more)
Whether you see it as resting on your laurels or sitting on your butt, failing to constantly adapt leads to being left (on your) behind. by Phil Friedman, Marine Industry Consultant Always seek a competitive advantage Having a “competitive advantage” involves imbuing your product with a singular feature or set of features that distinguish it… (more)
Whether you are a boat dealer, marina, or boatyard you are probably familiar with the peaks and valleys of operating in a seasonal industry. According to research by Global Market Insights, Inc the recreational boating market is predicted to top $230 billion USD by 2024, with the US accounting for nearly 50% of the volume… (more)
