2011 Scholarship Winner

Daughter of Rob Clarke of Quality Performance Marine in Corona, Amanda Clarke was surprised to be named the winner of the award at a surprise ceremony during the Long Beach Yacht & Boat Show. Her high grade point average, broad range of outside activities and strong essay all were important elements in this scholarship gift.


The SCMA Board of Directors appoints a Scholarship Committee each year to review entries from the children of member companies for an award. Click here to learn more.

Some of the exciting features lined up for the 2012 show:

Jack Dagger Knife Throwing Show
World Champion and member of the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame

Jeremy Vanschoonhoven: Stunt Bike Rider
Finalist from NBC's hit reality show America's Got Talent!™

Bubble Roller Water Balls
Walk, run, jump and roll on water without getting wet!

There's lots more exciting news still in the works.

The ALL NEW Los Angeles
Boat Show website is live!

Check it out at LosAngelesBoatShow.com
SIGN BEFORE DECEMBER 9 TO SAVE!
Call or email Ryan today for details. Time is running out!
ryan@scma.com or 714-633-7581.

In our efforts to grow the number of boats on display at the 2012 LA Boat Show, SCMA is offering additional incentives with huge benefits to you!

Any exhibitor who commits to space at the show prior to December 9, 2011 becomes eligible for significant rate reductions.

BOOTH SPACE RATES - 10' x 10'
(Marine Hardware, Accessories and Services)

  SCMA Member Non Member
Standard 10' x 10' $775.00* $975.00*
Corner 10' x 10' $875.00* $1075.00*
Double 10' x 10' $1275.00* $1475.00*

Above prices include a $25 contribution to the "SCMA Grow Boating Fund."
*Reserve space prior to December 9, 2011 to receive $50 Discount

BULK SPACE
(Boats, Trailers, Inflatables, and Dinghies)

SCMA Member Non Member
$5.50 per sq. ft.* $6.50 per sq. ft.**

Please remember to remit an additional $50 with your total space cost for the "SCMA Grow Boating Fund".
*Reserve space prior to December 9, 2011 pay $5.00 per sq. ft.
**Reserve space prior to December 9, 2011 pay $6.00 per sq. ft.

 

Winter shows just around the corner from TradeOnly

My copy of the latest edition of Boat Show Exhibitor magazine arrived this week. It reminds me that the last in-water boat show of the fall season will drop anchor in St. Petersburg, Fla. Dec. 1-4. But, exactly one month later, the industry’s big winter indoor show circuit will kick-off in New York on Jan. 4-8. So, it’s not too soon to be planning your participation in the coming winter show(s) in your market.

First, if you’re not receiving Boat Show Exhibitor, it’s free and I urge you to go to www.boatshowexhibitor.com/subscribe.aspx and sign up. If you want to see previous issues just go towww.boatshowexhibitor.com.

The winter issue has some excellent articles including Evan Peterson’s look at building awareness of your boat show exhibit by using social media. For example, he offers reasons and tips for a successful YouTube-savvy strategy. He also discusses the lingo of Twitter‒TweetDeck and Hootsuite, for example. Yeah, I had no idea what they meant, either!

Other articles include “The Easiest Up-Sell,” by Matt Alderton that explores “two-foot-it is,” or advice in Brian Todd’s “Persistence Pays Off” is all about tapping into a segment of the market overlooked by your competitor‒long term boat show prospects, plus many more articles.

Seeing the magazine also reminds me that, in the past, I have advocated that dealers display in their local shows. I still do, perhaps now more than ever! Shows meet a variety of needs for all dealers that cannot be duplicated by any other promotional medium. Perhaps it helpful to look at 10 reasons to exhibit in your upcoming boat show:

  1. Cater to existing customers‒they'll likely be at the show.
  2. Prospect for new customers‒it's needed fuel for the sales team.
  3. In both cases above, it's face-to-face contact‒nothing's stronger!
  4. Introduce new products‒a prime reason boaters attend shows.
  5. Relate to competitors‒see what your customers and prospects are seeing.
  6. Reach audience pre-qualified by interest‒they paid to get in to see you.
  7. Make more contacts in a short time‒up to 19 times more than in a store.
  8. Enhance dealership image‒you control the impression prospects get of you.
  9. Receive customer/prospects input about your brands, products and service.
  10. Make immediate sales!‒never forget people still buy at boat shows!

Generally, since 2008, our boat shows have reflected the downsizing of our industry (dealers and builders out of business) as well as decreased consumer demand for our products. But there’s no denying this truth: Hundreds of thousands of boaters and wanna-be’s have still been attending our shows across the nation and dealers in those shows have benefitted. Moreover, to date, we have not found any other way to successfully put our products where large numbers of prospective buyers can touch them, standing face-to-face with our sales people, in a single location, at a definite date and time. Until we do, boat shows should rule in our marketing plans.

If you haven’t reserved space in your next winter show, it’s time.

 

Sad news from the SCMA...

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our long time friend and associate, Harry Monahan. Harry has been affiliated with the SCMA for decades, starting as our marketing and advertising man and later on, overseeing the Association's legislative activities. His loyalty was fierce and his support unwavering.

Far beyond his work with the Association, Harry was our friend. He was a gentle, kind soul who adored his wife, his family, his friends and life itself.
Congratulations Harry on a life well done. You will be missed, you will be remembered.

~Your friends at the SCMA