Seattle Boat Show 2011- a dealer's perspective

(from the NMTA site)

"With the Seattle Seahawks win last night, the team will host a play-off game at Qwest Field this weekend. This means there is still a potential for conflict with the boat show. The only scenario where the Seahawks could host a game at Qwest Field during the show is if they win their next two games AND the Green Bay Packers win their next two games. If that occurs, the Seahawks would host Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 23. If Green Bay loses its game against Philadelphia this weekend (or the following weekend against Atlanta), then there is no chance for a conflict regardless if the Seahawks win all of their games.

If the Seahawks do host the game on 1/23, NMTA has a plan in place to adopt an alternative layout that involves moving exhibitors out of the North Hall and re-organizing the East Hall and moving some exhibitors to the expanded concourse located on the 2nd floor of the Qwest Field garage. The show would also likely need to be closed for some or all of the day of the game. All other show dates and hours would likely remain the same."
 
Doryman":2mxj4tv8 said:
How much does it cost for a non-profit group to have a booth at SBS?
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There is no discount for a not-for-profit - the base booth is 10x10 @$6.45/ft, plus a $265 application fee for a total of $910 (which is what my local club paid).
 
Pat,

Good Ideas, at least from my perspective. I like the '05 version of the collage, more boats, which I think is what people are looking for, but I like the addition of the people too, because it shows people having a good time. that does need to be included, that is what the “C-Brats” are, but maybe not as heavy, (many people pix), as is the video. Maybe there would be a place for both panels to be seen.

I did like that video, nicely done, good photos, good timing and good music selection.

JMHO.

I agree totally with the Big banner idea and the BIG C-Dory poster boards. If you can't show the boats, folks are going to think it's just a trailer and motor shop.

What about a BIG video screen, with C-Dory, boats and C-Brats, both? Any reason not to show that off?

I tend to agree, TOO BAD that the only C-Dory there will be at Master’s.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Matt, an excellent post on the challanges which the dealers and builders currently face. I suspect this will be the "norm", although I notice that Nordic Tugs will begin producing boats again, with a lead time of 4 to 5 months. Also, Cook Composits announced another price hike (seems like this is at least once a year). The high price of oil indicates that most components of glass boats will cost more in the immediate future.

This also reminds us that the best salesmen are the boat owners!
 
The silence from Matt Gurnsey is thunderous here.

Matt - are you going to sell C-Dorys or just motors and trailers at the SBS? Please don't capitulate - sell C-Dorys. Triton must be able to at least co-op some form of promotion for your booth...
 
I believe that Matt has already said his piece and there's nothing significant he can add. This is clearly a challenging year for the entire industry and I support the dealers - and factory - doing whatever they can to survive.

ON a side note, Bill Bishop (The Marine Installer's Rant) just posted about the new WM store in Sarasota (http://themarineinstallersrant.blogspot.com/2011/01/west-marine-grand-opening-fun-in.html) where he named the R21 "Best in Show", specifically calling out the local dealer.

My point is...I think the dealers - and factory - are highly attuned to what activities make them the most money in both the short and long run. It's just that right now, I think they're more focused than ever on the short term.
 
Pat Anderson":1ti123kz said:
Triton must be able to at least co-op some form of promotion for your booth...
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Um, no they mustn't.

Last year we footed the entire bill for the C-Dory display, with Master Marine helping, and providing a few boats. Both dealers worked the booth, and I'm sure that we'll be able to work out of the Master Marine C-Dory display.

My feeling is that it does not help the brand to have two competing displays, so we're still discussing how we'll be promoting the C-Dory product.
 
I'm not sure we really understand what it can cost to set up a booth and have boats at the SBS. I was at the factory yesterday talking with Jeff Lindhout and according to him it can reach $20,000 or more just to be there. That puts some of our more off the cuff suggestions about why can't the factory do this or that in a different perspective. Incidentally, there was a 22 pretty well along at the factory. Black trim not sure who's it will be.
 
Matt, I haven't been to the show in several years, but don't brokers have displays at the Lake Union venue? If you had a brokerage C-Dory could you display it at the in water portion of the show?

Just a though, and this doesn't necessarily get around the issue of owner customizations.

Best of luck at the show.
 
I just wanted to add my two cents worth from a factory perspective in response to Matt's comments.

There is no question that the entire boating industry has been hit hard in the last couple years and dealers and builders are understandably cautious.... putting it mildly. Everyone in business is always trying to maximize return on investments and the Seattle boat show is a classic case in point, where we must ask does this make sense?

During the "good" years, participating in the Seattle show was an easy decision. It was a huge, well respected show that resulted in sales. Even though the costs to do the show could get high, the return was there. The show is still one of the best in the country, but the last two years has made all of us in the industry a little nervous and good business means we need to look at every expense even more carefully.

I love the Seattle show and I have worked it for the past twenty years....yes that means I am getting old. I think it is a great vehicle for promoting our boats and boating in general. However, we certainly have a different economic climate out there, and I think it just requires business people to be even more prudent in their decision making.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the economy and in the boating industry right now. Much of this is we can't control. That's why I choose to focus on what I know....and what I know is that we make great boats and we have an enormously supportive C-Brat owners group that is one of our best sales tools. We will continue to build boats the best way we know how and I know that all of you will continue to support us and promote C-Dory as you always have.

These are tough times for sure, but we have some pretty good things going for us. Scott and I believe we can become stronger as we wade through the challenges. I liked and appreciated all the suggestions about what we could do further at the Seattle show to give C-Dory a strong presence. Scott and I will be discussing this further, but feel free to give us a call if you think you may have an idea that would really work well. Again, we recognize the asset that we have in the C-Brats and we appreciation the suggestions. Thanks for letting me ramble on.

_Jeff Lindhout
 
Having been in the marine industry for my working career, mostly at the retail end I am very aware of some of the challenges faced by folks in the industry. I picked up my 2011 CD 22 from Dave at the Port Boathouse and am glad to have a local dealer. Any issues (which I doubt I'll have, it's quite a build) I'll be able to go see my local guy. This dealer network lets Scott and his team build good boats to order. If I was a builder in this climate I wouldn't build any boats on spec. You give me a po I build you a boat. Financing floor plans must be really tough currently. In retail we are seeing widespread inventory availability issues due to tight money. Many big suppliers produce to po now where years back they would do production on "booking" orders that many times canceled or produced to last years numbers. These are great boats with a bunch of super owners and just showing support by being at the show as a group speaks volumes. Anyone know anyone else doing their first rendezvous of the year at The SBS? Haven't heard of any. George :lol:
 
This will be my first boat show ever. As one of the most recent converts to the CD cult, is it valuable to say that I discovered them on-line, and then promptly settled onto cbrats for final brain takeover? :)

I have no idea how to promote myself or anything, even as superior a product as a cdory, so I'm just glad to be here as a smart consumer who does enough homework.

Happy 2011 everyone BTW!

Brenton
 
Just to be clear, because I seem to have been muddled in my posts yesterday, I'm not blaming Triton for thier level of support, just pointing out where we're all at at this point.

I think sometimes it can be felt that because one is a manufacturer, or dealer, or whatever, then there must be deep pockets attached to the venture. While true for some, and true for more during good times, it isn't true for as many now.

Last year, just before the boat show, I was sitting at the local watering hole next to an attractive woman who I had never seen before. We're making small talk, talking about the economy and how tough things have become, and sharing stories of getting by. I mention the ten day slog of the boat show, and she looks at me and says something like "Who are you to complain about the economy, you're going to make $70,000 in that ten days".

Really, she specifically said "$70,000". Unfortunately, I don't have any product to sell that in any combination would allow me to make that over the course of the show. I would have to sell something like 25 C-Dory 25 Cruisers to make that kind of money. (I'm willing to try, though, if 25 of you want to write checks at the show in two weeks :lol: ).

The Ranger example from 2006 is an interesting one, but must be put in perspective. The marine industry was doing very well, financing was easy to come by. Demand for boats was high, and sales came easier, and it was the perfect time to introduce a new boat. Introduced in 2008, and the company would not be where they are today.

We're still working on what we'll be displaying, and how we'll be promoting. I know that in a perfect world many of you think we have this stuff planned out far in advance, but in reality, we often don't know exactly what will be in our show booth, or how it will look, until a week before the show. And then when we move in we find we have to alter the plans because it doesn't quite fit how we thought it would.
 
Matt: Right now if I was in your shoes with the Puget Soundkeepers Alliance, or whatever they call themselves, with their sights set on my business I wouldn't be risking any resources. I have been following that whole mess in the trade journals and it is such a miscarriage of the original intent. I don't know how the yards and repair facilities can even keep going. And to be a dealer you just about have to offer the other services. One misstep and they will own you.
 
Copied from another thread, and brought here because I think it is relevant here too.

Most of post is not copied to this post.

"I bought what I could afford (I think most of us who visit this site do), the boat is exactly what I expected and wanted, and I'm very happy that I got it.

Will the C-Dory go away? I hope not but heck, I had a Fiero V6 that I loved too and they no longer make them. But I had that car for 10 years and sold it to someone who loved the car for what it was and I suspect that when I'm done with my C-Dory the same will happen.

I wish there had been a dealer like Matt closer to me. If so and I was looking now instead of last year I'd be working with him right now to buy a boat. And the reason is simple. As I've followed postings on this site, the guy seems honest, sincere and out to treat his customers right.

So, I hope things go well for Matt, for the manufacturer, and for this brand. But it won't affect my love for this boat one way or the other.
_________________
Jeff and Deb
the Get~Aweigh
2008 25 Cruiser
Celina, OH
http://www.MontezumaBay.com
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Jeff, I think you are right, Matt is one of the Good Guys. Things are tough all over. I have worked both as an employee and as a business owner for all my working life and spent many years in business promotion. It is always hard to get the message across, that advertising, in some form is necessary for business growth. it is an investment into the future of the business. You can have the best widget in the world, and even have a great stock pile of them, but if nobody knows you have them, you aren't going to sell any. Even if your widget is perfect, does miracles, and ..... If you don't sell any you don't make any $$$$ and eventually, you will not be selling widgets, because you either starved to death, or went to work for the government.

Advertising takes many facets, from big glossy spreads in national magazines, to hiway billboards to word of mouth. The return has to be weighed against the cost to calculate the investment. A great widget with an excited, enthusiastic customer will generate sales, and return customers. But let one widget be a bad one, and the word will spread 10 times over what the good ones did.

Right now, Matt, Marc, Scott & Jeff all could use some really good, strong support. There are things we can do. Show up at the SBS. Wear C-Dory gear, vests, Hats and T-shirts if you have them. Carry a boat card. like a business card, and pass them out. Talk to people who are looking at boats, and give them directions --- to the C-Brat site and the C-Dory dealers.

The boats are worth it, and they will be around for a long time. Let's be thankful for the support, from our own "Nerds", from the factory, and the dealers.

I like the #1 rule, "Be Nice" and I think there should be another one, #2. Enjoy.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I would like to commend Matt, Marc, Scott & Jeff for their effort and just plain old "guts" in trying to survive in these awful economic times. This isn't a game that they are playing. This is real life stuff. If you fail you don't get to eat or sleep indoors anymore. It is not a video game where you can push the restart button.
As a long time C-Dory owner (28 yrs.) I have followed the C-Dory story since 1982 through all of the ups, downs and sideways movements.
Prior to purchasing my 1983 CD I had only seen one other. It was here at Deep Creek, Alaska in 1982. Two guys came down the hill with a 22' CD, got it ready and launched into the creek and went out into some awful waves and wind effortlessly and disappeared in the horizon. I as well as others were extremely impressed. I called Mark Toland and he sent a brochure in the mail. In the spring of 1983 I ordered my dory. He put me on the production schedule. It was ready in early August so we loaded up the old pick-up and drove down to Kent to pick it up.
I have been watching the C-Dory story ever since. I did not have a boat to look at in a boat show. It was actual real life performance where I use a boat that sold me and I have never been sorry for my purchase.
Finding this C-Brat site when it started was an added bonus as you can keep on with your boating interest in the winter lay-up time.

Please keep on with your plan for the continued success of C-Dory both in manufacturing as well as sales and I wish you all the best in your effort.
 
Jack,

I think it was your C-Dory trolling off of Deep Creek in 1992 that convinced me that I wanted a C-Dory. I was bouncing around in a Zodiac and you took off to go out to fish for halibut. It took me 12 years to execute on that desire. Since then I have logged more than 8700 miles on 2 C-Dorys.

It's the style of boat and what it let's us do that sells them. Sure a display boat or boats at the show would be nice, but I suspect most people looking for a C-Dory are not impulse buyers. Marc, Scott, and the rest, I will be at the SBS, so if someone wants to ask me what I did in those 8700 miles, I will be glad to tell them, and Pat, I will have pictures on my IPhone.
 
I have worked a number of boat shows at sailmakers booths, in good times--and it can be tough. I don't know if this is possible; but a single page hand out, maybe both sides, with photos of the entire line, as well as specs and floor plans. Promjnently displayed, a link to the C Brats web site, and a collage like Pat has built. People like to take items home from boat shows to look at and ponder. Our Christmas letter was black and white on one side, and color on the other--cost on 22# semi gloss paper was 62 cents each. Maybe that is too much--and in black and white both sides it costs a dime.....

Sorry that we cannot make it--I would carry a Sandwich board if allowed! My son gave us all long sleeve T shirts, which have "C Dory Tom Cat 255", with "Admiral" "Captain" and "Mate" on them (the third one is a dog shirt). The logo was an anchor, and American Flag.
 
Hi Matt, if you'd like a volunteer C Brat in your booth to talk to folks part of Saturday or Sunday the 22nd or 23rd count me in. As a West Marine store manager I've worked lots of shows and I took delivery of a 2011 C Dory 22 recently, I also have owned the 19 for a couple years. I'm enthusiastic about the brand and the people. Perhaps a tv and dvd of Pat's running in a loop?. Let's get some order to get Scott and team all busy.

George :lol:
 
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