Retail-size wipes

January 1, 2010  |  Marine, Products

New 303 Products Aerospace Protectant Wipes™ are available for 2010 in a new retail size containing 40 towlettes. A powerful UV screening surface treatment, the protectant is sold in the automotive, marine, RV, hardware, pool/spa, outdoors and recreation aftermarkets. Regular use provides 100 …
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New boat sales sinking

January 1, 2010  |  Industry News, Marine

Spader Business Management, Sioux Falls, S.D., a training and consulting firm, reports that new boat sales dropped 34.2 percent and average total dealership sales declined by 23 percent during the first nine months of 2009. Revenue for pre-owned boats also dropped, but only by 5.2 percent. With boat…
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Waterproof leather

December 1, 2009  |  Marine, Products

Acqua waterproof leather from Spinneybeck is made using a unique process that ensures its waterproof formula penetrates fully into the hide, as opposed to topical applications. The formula also results in a more durable leather that can withstand abrasion and mildew. Acqua is available in 40 standar…
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Sunbrella View now available in marine colors

November 1, 2009  |  Marine, Products

Sunbrella® View, a light-filtering version of Sunbrella fabrics excellent for privacy screening onboard ship, is now available in Pacific Blue and Captain Navy colorways, in response to requests from customers for a version of the fabric with traditional marine colors. Sunbrella Supreme, a two-s…
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Adding value to your business

October 19, 2009  |  Marine, Marketing

Shop owners share their secrets for selling, upselling, expanding, and finding and retaining customers. By Shelby Gonzalez Collapsing financial system got you worried? Now is the time to focus on making your marine fabrication business strong. Thriving shop owners from around the country share insig…
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Specialized fabrics present opportunities for marine industry

October 7, 2009  |  Marine, Markets

Marine fabricators stay afloat following new fabric trends. By Derek Robinson In today’s challenging business environment, marine fabricators need to be tuned into trends within the industry, and within the larger sales and marketing landscape, to weather economic changes and position themselv…
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Experts give advice on keeping fabric and equipment clean

October 5, 2009  |  Marine

Industry experts tell their procedures for keeping fabric and equipment clean and functioning properly. Compiled from industry experts Quality-conscious fabricators demand top-quality components for their end products. Boat owners will insist that fabricators use high-quality, durable materials. The…
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Bradford brings virtual vision to life

September 1, 2009  |  Features, Management, Marine, Perspective

Katie Bradford uses computer imaging to master hard-to-design projects. By Sigrid Tornquist “We can take a photograph of a boat, create a computer model of it and add to it the virtual structure that we intend to build,” says Katie Bradford, MFC, IFM, owner of Custom Marine Canvas in Noank, Conn…
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A last resort financing fix and more

August 28, 2009  |  Management, Marine

By Mark E. Battersby A recently announced $15 billion, multi-pronged plan is designed to help ease the credit crunch affecting so many marine fabrication businesses. One part of the plan earmarks extra funding for loans and technical assistance by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA)…
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Shop layouts that produce big payouts

August 19, 2009  |  Marine, Marketing

Efficient and proficient shop layout and workflow optimize production, inventory, safety and the customer experience. By Maura Keller Marine fabricators have a desire to maximize their shop layouts to optimize production, inventory, safety and customer experiences. But that is easier said than done,…
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