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For Immediate Release

Tuesday, January 13, 2004

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THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS ENJOYING NMMA’S ULTIMATE BOATER’S GUIDE

Twenty more manufacturers participating in the next release

Chicago, IL

NMMA's recent release of their Ultimate Boater’s Guide received an overwhelming response at the New York National Boat Show, held December 27, 2003 to January 4, 2004.  The interactive boating resource was a huge hit with both consumers and boating manufacturers.  More than 8,000 boat show attendees had installed the Ultimate Boater’s Guide CD within two days of the show’s closing, and the number continues to rise.
 
The Ultimate Boater’s Guide (UBG) provides boat buyers and boating enthusiasts with unprecedented desktop access to boating manufacturers’ products, marine services and topical boating information from their own computers, and it quickly caught the attention of boat show patrons at the New York show.  As consumers began to install the software and provide demographic and other information on their marine buying habits, that information was then shared with the Guide’s sponsors.  

The Guide immediately relayed consumer statistics and demographics providing vital information that will help sponsoring companies understand and serve their customers better. “Not only can the boat buyer receive extensive boating and product information, the manufacturers can get important feedback from their consumers - it opens up an unprecedented line of communication within the industry,” said Chris Hunter with MultiView, the software services organization that developed the Guide in cooperation with NMMA.  In short order, the data gathered through the UBG registration determined revealing statistics concerning boat ownership, boating habits and preferences.

NMMA boat show exhibitors at the NY show responded enthusiastically and signed on for additional sponsorships. “That’s the beauty of the way this Guide works. As the number of NMMA members who sponsor the UBG increases, so does the quality of information and value to the consumer,” added Hunter.

The more manufacturers who contribute and provide additional product information to the Guide, the  more useful it becomes to the consumer, allowing them to access more marine product inventories from the nation’s top manufacturers - and all from their own computers.

Companies that advertise in the Guide can update their listings throughout the year.  Updates are distributed electronically via a brief connection to the Internet.

Manufacturers and NMMA boat show exhibitors are invited to have their information included in the second version of the Ultimate Boater’s Guide, which will be distributed beginning with the Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show starting January 21st, 2004.  For information on getting involved, or on NMMA consumer data, contact Chris Hunter at (972) 582-7052; chunter@mvinc.net.

The world's biggest producer of consumer boat shows and boating industry events, NMMA produces 19 consumer shows throughout North America, as well as the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) and the International Boatbuilders Exhibition and Conference (IBEX). Learn more about NMMA at www.NMMA.org.