MMA Announces Lauderdale Lineup

August 28, 2010  |   Posted in Industry News   |   0 Comments   Tags: Boat Shows, Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, MMA, Neptune Awards, Seminars

With trade and consumer show attendance down across-the-board, database marketing experts believe they have the tools to entice more qualified consumers to the nation’s boat shows as well as spur interest in the boating lifestyle.

Two leading experts will dive into this hot topic on October 28 during a program produced by Marine Marketers of America (MMA) at the upcoming Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Entitled “Boat Shows 3.0: Beyond the Booths and Berths,” the program follows in the wake of a front-page article in the June issue of Soundings Trade Only about declining boat show attendance. MMA Vice President Michael Sciulla, who heads up programming for the association, posted follow-up commentary on the article on three LinkedIn sites resulting in a burst of more than 125 online posts including comments, criticisms and suggestions for change from a broad spectrum of industry observers.

“Marine marketers can play a critical role in helping to burnish what some see as the fading allure of boat shows,” said Sciulla, chairman of the committee producing the program. “Sophisticated database marketing offers proven ways to both attract the public to boat shows, as well as target what can be done once exhibitors, manufacturers and dealers have these consumers in their databases.”

Featured speakers for “Boat Shows 3.0” include database industry veterans Michael Peterman, CEO of VeraData and Cara Cohan, National Accounts Director for Advantage Mailing. They will explain how a variety of techniques ranging from basic demographic modeling to psychographics can be employed to hook prospective consumers and reel them in.

The program will take place during the annual meeting of MMA at the Bahia Mar Hotel, beginning at noon, October 28. The event is co-sponsored by Info-Link, Home Port Marine Marketing and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The program will also feature the third annual MMA Neptune Awards for Marketing Excellence. These awards are designed to recognize outstanding performance in the marine marketing field. A call for entries is now underway.

Complete program details including entry guidelines and the official entry form are posted on the association website: www.marinemarketersofamerica.org. The competition is open to any company or organization producing marine industry marketing work from the period September 2009 – September 2010. Deadline for submission is Oct. 2, 2010.

Information regarding luncheon ticket reservations will be forthcoming. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available. For further information contact Sciulla at msciulla@gmail.com. The event is open to MMA members and non-members alike.

For questions about the 2010 MMA Neptune Awards program, please contact MMA Board member Cindy Pechous at +1 (312) 946-6239 or email awards@marinemarketersofamerica.com.