16 January 2009 www.NorthCountryBusinessNews.com
2
ND
ANNUAL
Boat show kicks off sales
By Sandy Lockhart people looking for their first selling our service. “
Many marinas in Muskoka boat often come to the boat Campbell’s Landing in
took their business south this show,” says Cleland. “There Gravenhurst has been taking
month for the annual Toronto are a certain number of new part in the Toronto Interna-
International Boat Show, a customers that we acquire tional Boat show for at least
must-attend event when it down there.” 35 years.
comes to meeting customers, Steve Sharko, marketing “We go to sell boats and
showing new products and and sales for Woodland sell fun,” says Glen Camp-
2008
selling boats. Marine Inc. is positive going bell, sales and marketing. “It
Award Recipients
The show opened on Fri- into 2009 and looks forward is important for us to see and
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
day, Jan. 9 with a charity pre- to a strong year. A lot, howev- meet customers, both new and
view and concluded Sunday, er, is dependent on how the old. The show is about cus-
Jan. 18. boat show goes. tomer retention, meeting them
at 11:00 am
Bruce Cleland, sales man- “I’d estimate about 50 per and showing them our new
ager of Gordon Bay Marine cent of the boats are sold at products.”
on Lake Joseph, says his com- the show. It is a make or break He says that they make a lot
Mark O’Meara Ballroom
pany been attending the time for a lot of marinas,” of contacts at the show but
Toronto boat show for 44 says Sharko. most of the resulting sales
years. This is the company’s sec- take place in the summer.
Jane Templeton
Businesswoman of the Year
(1-10 employees)
Delta Grandview,
“The show generally repre- ond year at the show and this “The show is really an
sents 20 to 25 per cent of our year they have a more promi- opportunity to make people
sales for the year,” he says. nent location with more boats aware of what you have and
Huntsville
“And it’s just plain fun. It on display. where you are located.
gives the country boys a “It is an opportunity to meet “People will drop by in the
chance to go to the city.” new customers, sell some summer and say, ‘Remember
Gordon Bay takes between boats and introduce our prod- me, I met you at the boat
Celebrating Muskoka’s Business Women
40 and 50 boats to the show to uct line to customers,” he show.’”
showcase a cross section of explains. “The Toronto show Campbell says last sum-
their product lines. About 24 is the largest indoor boat show mer’s rainy weather had a
employees also take part in in Canada so it is worth our negative impact on business
Ingrid Van Vlymen
the show. time just because of the great and the price of gas didn’t
Businesswoman of the Year
(11-25 employees) “People recognize that if number of people that attend.” help either. Notwithstanding,
you want a new boat, and As Woodland Marine, he says 2008 was an average
want it in the water ready for which also owns Windermere year for sales.
May 24 weekend, you should Marina, continues to grow, He won’t predict the com-
get it in January,” he explains. Sharko says it’s particularly ing season but says the best
While Cleland says famil- important to increase visibili- economic news would be a
iar faces are common at the ty. good weather forecast.
boat show, it also introduces “We want to introduce our- “When it is hot and sunny
new buyers to Gordon Bay. selves,” he says. “We are sell- in Muskoka, people are going
“New cottage owners or ing our boats but we are also to play.”
Barb McLaughlin
Businesswoman of the Year
(26 or more employees)
Discover why more people choose
2009 Categories Include:
Muskoka Window and Door Centre
Muskoka Businesswoman of the Year
(1-10 employees)
Ann Kenney
Muskoka Businesswoman of the Year
Professional of the Year
(11-25 employees)
Muskoka Businesswoman of the Year
(26 or more employees)
Muskoka Professional of the Year
Heart & Soul Award
Employee of the Year
Mary Jane Philp
Heart & Soul Award
Young Entrepreneur
Muskoka Businesswoman
of the Year – Tourism
For more details on how your
organization can get involved in this
exciting event, please contact one of our
Ellen Wiley
Businesswoman of the Year –
Sales Representatives:
Real Estate
Martha Gillan Laurie Johle
Donna Ansley Gord Kidder
Curtis Armstrong Mary Lee Zimmer
(705) 646-1314
15 Robert Dollar Drive, Bracebridge
645-3057 1-800-461-5495
an Andersen
®
company
Crystal Payne
Employee of the Year www.muskokawindowanddoor.ca
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