New Boat Sales Continue to Rise
NMMA president Thom Dammrich told the audience that the industry could set a retail sales record this year.
Trade Only Today
The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference opened its 25th show on Tuesday with National Marine Manufacturers Association president Thom Dammrich saying the boating business will enjoy “good times” for at least 2-1/2 more years.
Total retail spending in the industry was $35.4 billion in 2014, which is approaching the all-time high of $38 billion in 2006, Dammich said as he presented a chart showing the steady growth to a crowd of 650 in the audience at the state-of-the-industry breakfast.
The three-day event is being held at the Kentucky International Convention Center. The show includes 550 displaying companies, 110 of which are new to the event.
“I am very confident when we are done calculating the numbers for 2015 we’ll be back to that previous high or above that previous high of 2006,” he said. “So I tell people — and have been telling people all year: We’re back!”
New-boat sales were calculated as being up 7 to 8 percent on a rolling 12-month basis, said Dammrich, who anticipates that kind of growth will continue.
Originally published here.