All articles by Arlene Sloan – Page 24

Article

Management study | Private label strategy: Private inroads

2007-11-01T11:29:00Z

In the US boating industry, the private label phenomenon is most visible in the retail sector, where consolidation has made West Marine far and away the market leader. However, in Europe, where marine retail is still highly fragmented, it is in the wholesale distribution business where private label activity is ...

Article

Management study | Supply chain logistics: Even the biggest players can be caught off guard

2007-10-01T09:51:00Z

Supply chain logistics may not be the most glamorous side of the boating industry, but recent events certainly remind us of the importance of distribution and how disruptive it can be when things go wrong. The near overnight unravelling of one of Europe’s largest boat distributors, UK-based Peters Opal, ...

Article

World News Focus | Finance: Inventory financing

2007-08-01T13:02:00Z

IBI takes a look at the three-way partnership between boat manufacturers, dealers and lenders to share the costs and risks of boat distribution.

Article

Management study | Strategies for increasing operational flexibility: Industry antidotes for production cyclicality

2007-02-01T14:08:00Z

Are annualised hours the antidote for seasonality and demand fluctuations in the boating industry? Alan Morgan, joint managing director of UK RIB manufacturer Avon Inflatables, says annualised hours are fully embedded in his company’s work practices and believes they provide a better solution than part-time or subcontract workers. “Annualised ...

Article

Management study | Strategies for increasing operational flexibility: Flexibility counts

2007-02-01T14:06:00Z

Flexibility is a much valued attribute — in physical and mental well-being, in sports, and in business. Witness the prelude to almost every major sporting event with the prominent display of its stars limbering up for the contest ahead. The athletes and teams that are unable to flexibly deploy ...