May 20, 2025

If your business suddenly experienced a 10% increase in sales demand, would you have the resources to handle it? What about a 20% increase? In our Editor’s Message last week, “The Good Times Start Now” we speculated that sales this summer could even be a record breaker if we are ready to capitalize on the opportunity.

I am seeing more and more editorial about the changing travel and vacation plans of Canadians and their families and if this shift plays out as it should, (given the bookings and cuts to travel to the U.S.A.) we can reasonably anticipate increased domestic vacation spending here in Canada. So, will you have the staff and product inventory to handle a big increase over 2024?

There have been reports of both new boats in inventory available and also new non-current models that are still available. Do you share access to your inventory or do you need to sell it yourself? Have you cleaned up and water tested your used inventory? Have you planned an early-season advertising blitz to capitalize on sales opportunities going into the summer? What about smaller items like inflatable toys, skiis and boards, SUPs and other discretionary purchases? Can you support that demand? Are you promoting those products?

If you need staff, you can advertise your Career Opportunities here in Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest and the listings are FREE. (Check that at the bottom of this email).

Do you have the service technicians you need? We hear stories about tech shortages all the time – that’s old news. A suggestion is to pay close attention to your current people, think about who seems to justify an investment in training and prepare to encourage that this season so people have time to plan a return to school in the fall.

Composites repair and fabrication skills are widely needed but not widely taught. For a short and effective skills boost, consider ACT, the Advanced Composite Training program that I attended just two weeks ago.

Courses are only a week-long and very intensive. I certainly came out feeling that I had gained the skills to take on some repair projects. The session I attended had two people from BC, two from Quebec and me as the lone Ontario resident. Here is their website to learn more: www.advancedcompositestraining.ca

Perhaps the best source of insider knowledge would be to talk to your suppliers and learn what orders they are responding to. It’s been my experience that there are some very smart and well-informed people in our business. Talking to them now, could pay big dividends later in the season. I think we have a shot at a record year in 2025.

Andy Adams – Editor

ADDENDUM

Just as we were going to press on this edition of Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest, we learned that noted Canadian yacht designer, Mark Ellis had passed away. Look for the tribute by Rob Mazza in this edition of News Week for an interesting overview of Mark Ellis’ career.