Marine
Brunswick Dealer Advantage Celebrates Its Inaugural Year by Introducing An Employee Purchase Program
LAKE FOREST, Ill., Feb. 13, 2008 – Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) is pleased to celebrate the inaugural year of Brunswick Dealer Advantage, a menu of benefits and services, either offered through the company or through program partners, intended to support the growth of its marine dealers. As part of its first birthday celebration, qualified Brunswick marine dealers will have access to discounted pricing on Brunswick Billiards' products and Life Fitness® fitness equipment effective April 1.
At a news conference during last year's Miami International Boat Show, Brunswick first introduced Brunswick Dealer Advantage — a bold initiative designed to help Brunswick marine dealers build long-term value in their businesses. Brunswick Dealer Advantage is a suite of product and service programs targeting three specific areas: enhancing the retail customer buying experience; attracting and retaining employees; and reducing costs through operational excellence.
“After only one year, more than 1,400 Brunswick dealers are reaping the benefits of Brunswick Dealer Advantage programs,” said Betsy Lazzara, Brunswick Dealer Advantage director. “We've more than doubled the number of programs available in the United States, and we've recently announced our plans for expansion into Canada.”
Brunswick Dealer Advantage's newest program will allow Platinum-level Brunswick dealers and their employees to purchase specific Brunswick products for personal use at significant savings. The Dealer Employee Purchase program will feature Brunswick Billiards pool tables and equipment as well as Life Fitness treadmills, elliptical trainers, recumbent bikes, gym systems and a host of other fitness equipment.
“Employee retention is a challenge our dealers have identified that significantly impacts their bottom line,” said Lazzara. “So our employee-focused programs— like the Dealer Employee Purchase program— are designed to help make Brunswick dealerships more desirable places to work. This program is easy to implement, and it doesn't cost the dealer a thing.”
According to Lazzara, total documented savings for participating dealers in Brunswick Dealer Advantage programs in the first year are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Some programs— such as health care, property and casualty insurance and real estate services— have much greater lead times and more complex applications, yet they stand to be the greatest opportunities for dealer savings or benefit,” she said.
Qualified dealers include marine dealerships that are in good standing and carry Brunswick boats, and/or Mercury engines, Brunswick parts and accessories, and Mercury service only dealers. There is no cost to participate in Brunswick Dealer Advantage, and dealers may opt to participate in all or some of the benefits depending on their unique business needs.
Brunswick Dealer Advantage features three levels of participation – Silver, Gold and Platinum – each based on the amount of the dealership's retail business with Brunswick. The deeper the partnership with Brunswick, the higher the dealership's level of eligibility and the more benefits they can access.
The list of Brunswick Dealer Advantage benefits available includes programs to enhance the customer buying experience including extended product protection, retail financing, retail insurance, catalog/Internet parts and accessory sales, discounts on Internet advertising, Web site management and design and lead management solutions; programs designed to attract and retain employees include preferred pricing on customized retirement plans, supplier pricing on automobiles for personal vehicles for employees, discounted rates on computers and equipment; discounts for wireless service for employees and their families, healthcare coverage and college scholarships for employees' children; programs to reduce costs and promote operational excellence include discounted rates for succession planning, Brunswick marine industry certification, 20 Group participation, office supplies, small package shipping, wireless services, credit card processing, payroll and tax administration, business insurance, real estate services, technology products, uniform rental and leasing, technology products and wholesale financing.
“We've come a long way in one year,” said Lazzara. “We owe much of the success of this initiative to those dealers who have offered program suggestions – we look forward to adding more benefits and building future value together.”
Dealers can learn more about Brunswick Dealer Advantage by visiting its dedicated Web site at www.brunswickdealeradvantage.com or by calling 1-877 GO-ADVTG (462-3884).
About Brunswick
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill “Genuine Ingenuity”Ô in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Albemarle, Arvor, Baja, Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Hatteras, Kayot, Laguna, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Örnvik, Palmetto, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Savage, Sea Boss, Sea Pro, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land ‘N' Sea, Kellogg Marine, Diversified Marine and Benrock parts and accessories distributors; IDS dealer management systems; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables; and Dynamo, Tornado and Valley pool tables, Air Hockey and foosball tables. For more information, visit www.brunswick.com.
Contact: Daniel Kubera
Director – Media Relations and Corporate Communications
Phone: 847-735-4617
Email: daniel.kubera@brunswick.com
