Market conditions seemed to improve somewhat in September, but boat dealer responses to a new survey fluctuated drastically depending on their location and segment.
This story by Reagan Haynes originally appeared in Trade Only Today.
Retail trends improved slightly from August, though more dealers, 41 percent, reported retail declines, compared to the 35 percent that reported growth, according to a survey that polled 63 dealers in North America on September market conditions.
Several dealers said promotions were working as well as new product and a “strong regional economy,” wrote one respondent to the Baird Pulse Report issued in conjunction with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and Trade Only Today.
“Large center console boats saw the first life in three months,” said one dealer; another said an unseasonably warm September was boosting sales.
That was in contrast to several who said fall had not provided the boost they had hoped it would.
“We are probably in a recession now,” said one respondent. “Nothing is working.”
“Promotions seemed to have little impact now,” wrote another dealer. “Potential buyers aren’t as impressed with promotion and seem to already have mind made up.”
Dealer sentiment regarding current conditions returned to almost neutral territory at 49, up from 44 in August, but sentiment on the three- to five-year outlook ticked down to 43 from 46 in August.
Dealers cited government action/inaction as the primary headwind, with several saying tariffs and impeachment talks were key distractions for buyers.
