Boat marketing business- Any suggestions?

[Matt1121]

Hi gents-

I am interested into getting into the marine business on the marketing side and am looking for suggestions about how to go about it.

I have an extensive marketing background in the financial services and pr industry. In addition, I have also been working part-time at boat restoration company to further increase my knowledge of boats.

Ideally, I would like to join the marketing team for either a manufacturer, large dealer or marketing agency specializing in the marine industry. I am also looking into the brokerage side of the industry as well.

Any information regarding how to get started, who to contact and what I should be careful of, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Ed

[AlexT]

First thing I would do would be to hit every boat show I could and pick the brains of all the people working the dealier/manufacturer booths. I would suspect that while most of them are sales guys, a few of them might be marketers.

I would think that there are a couple of challenges in boat marketing that are perennial challenges, ones the people are always looking for new approaches to and solutions for. I would focus on finding out what those are and noodling some creative approaches to them. That would give you your "platform" and talking points when you actually throw yourself into the job market.

I would also go to thehulltruth.com and see if you can find people who are on the marketing side there (and you can bet they read that board).

Lastly, I would start reading this site:

http://www.boating-industry.com/

[ February 03, 2003, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]

[Matt1121]

Thanks, Alex. I was planning on talking to many folks at the Boston boat show in a couple of weeks. I have also sent some letters to companies I would be interested in working for.

I'll check out those sites that you mentioned. Much appreciated.

[ocuyler]

Matt,

If you read the recent review on the new 23 Classic SeaCraft in Powerboat Reports, the SeaCraft (or Tracker) Sales and Marketing President, Frank Longino, came off as a dooffus (sp?) by not returning their calls for 3 weeks and then being elusive offering only "10 minutes" of his time. There's no excuse for that.

Dude, you should have his job. SeaCraft has a nice product line, not to mention a terrific product. I don't think they try hard enough. In fact, check out this link: http://ww2.basspro.com/careeropportu...ckersearch.cfm

Best of luck.

Otto

[ February 05, 2003, 11:26 PM: Message edited by: Otto Cuyler ]

[Matt1121]

Hi Otto-

Thanks for the vote of confidence. It'll take some time but I know I'll eventually get a job in the industry.

Have fun at the AC boatshow. I almost got snowed in Detroit tonight...barely made it home. Things could be worse...the Detroit boat show starts tomorrow!

Thanks again.

Ed aka "Matt1121"