Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/776460
www.BoatingIndustry.com INDUSTRY NEWS 10 | Boating Industry | February 2017 work for another region. Just like dealerships, what works at one dealership doesn't neces- sarily work at another dealership. So you kind of have to go in, learn and understand that particular region or OEM or dealer. You have to get to know the people that are there and un- derstand the dynamics of how they sell or what their area is like." BI: What do you think we can do to attract more women to work in the marine industry? BONIVICH: "I think we need to stop looking at it as a 'boating' industry [job]. I'm looking for an accountant. I'm looking for a salesperson. If a person has sales skills, they can learn how to sell a boat. If a person has accounting skills, they can learn how to do accounting in the boat- ing industry. If a person has technical skills and can turn a wrench, you can teach them how to [work on boats]. If they have the basic skills and understanding of the end task, I think we need to understand that they can learn our [industry]." BI: What can we do to get more women into boating in general? BONIVICH: "I don't think we advertise to women enough. Like the Ladies Professional Golf Association. I don't think we advertise enough with them [and] reach out to those ladies. We don't reach out to groups like that we should reach out to." BI: Right, you think of all the men out there who are golfers and also boaters. Why not advertise to golfer women as well? BONIVICH: "Right, why don't we have a sponsorship of an event for the ladies? Why don't we encourage ladies to go out and [boat]? Marcia Kull, years back when she was at Gen-mar, she started a program called Women Making Waves that I think helped a whole lot. We need to maybe bring back some- thing similar to that. I know a lot of the dealers do that, but I think the industry as a whole we don't push that enough either. I think there's some good dealerships out there that do take advantage of that, but I think we should em- brace that more." BI: What advice do you have for young women starting their career in the marine industry? BONIVICH: "Look at every day as a learning experience. Understand different parts of the business. Understand some of the technical parts. Understand the trials and tribulations of the technician or a salesperson or an accoun- tant. Get out of your own little world and see what others are doing and see how your job affects their job. And don't be afraid to go out and introduce yourself. Put yourself out there and meet people. And don't be afraid to ask how or why." Summit votes to continue funding Discover Boating A group of industry stakeholders have agreed to continue funding the Discover Boating campaign, citing its "ability and impact in attracting new boaters." Members of the Grow Boating Board of Directors, the National Marine Manu- facturers Association's Boat, Engine, and Marine Accessory and Component Divi- sion Boards, the Marine Retailer Associa- tion of America's Board of Directors, and invited guests, unanimously agreed to continue the industry-funded marketing campaign. The decision was made during a two- day "Grow Boating Summit" held in Rose- mont, Ill., just outside Chicago, on Dec. 13 and 14. Throughout the two-day summit, which was partially underwritten by Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance, the group learned from leading research- ers and marketing experts from outside and within the marine industry on new boat sales and the overall economy, con- sumers' buying behavior and shifts in ex- pectations, marketing trends and impacts, and how the Discover Boating campaign has performed during the past decade. Key insights included: Between 2005 and 2015, the recre- ational boating industry saw a net loss of more than 1 million boaters. Boaters are leaving faster than we can replace them. (Source: Info-Link) By 2025, if we continue at this pace, it's projected that the number of boat own- ing households will diminish dramatically. (Source: Info-Link) Fifty-four percent of first-time boat buyers in 2005 are already out of boating. (Source: Info-Link) Between 2000 and 2015, the number of first-time new boat buyers dropped from 175,000 to 69,000. (Source: Info-Link) We must attract first-time buyers, but it's easier said than done because tomorrow's boaters will be very differ- ent than they are today — vastly different