Women in Boating – understanding who controls the family budget

by Marine13 on 4 Feb 2013 The Marine13 International Conference and Trade Exhibition is all about providing the boating industry with the knowledge and tools to grow and sustain their businesses. And what better way to grow business than ensuring everyone gets a say?

Book your place for the educative and no doubt feisty panel discussion on the crucial value of women and families in the approach of recreational boating and its marketing in a session ambitiously called 'Empowering Women in Boating: Who Really Makes the Decisions?', featuring authors, journalists and researchers.

'There’s a lot more to it than running an ad in pink,' says Darren Finklestein, who will take his place among the female marketing experts on the panel and is quite content to be the 'token bloke'.

Darren is Co-Owner and Dealer Principal of St Kilda Boats Sales, has been in the brokerage business for 10 years and in boating since he was a boy. He believes boating is egalitarian and doesn’t belong to any or demographic or gender.

'Boating is inclusive. There’s something for everybody and it should be promoted as fun for all.'

As well as operating his brokerage, Darren spent many years in senior management with Apple, one of the world’s most versatile and progressive consumer companies and has written a book called 'Honey, Let’s Buy a Boat' – launched in October 2012 and 'going great guns' – a summation of many years figuring out the ins and outs of what buyers big and small, seasoned and novice want to know about getting in to boating.

He admits to being slightly daunted about being on a panel titled 'Empowering women in boating: who really makes the decisions?', but he comes well equipped with reams of research and personal coaching from his wife, who works for Women Leadership Australia, an organisation which supports equity and opportunity for women.

'One thing I have learned over the years is that everybody, male or female, is an individual. The onus is on us as skilled professionals to tailor our sales approach to each person, whether they be part of a couple, family or any variation on those.

'It’s really a life lesson, that people come in all varieties and we have to personalise our service to their requirements and preferences.'

The other key member of the panel is Karen Phillips, PR dynamo, professional MC, founder of Early Risers women’s networking events and author of best-selling book, 'Women’s Words of Wisdom, Power & Passion' – a collection of the advice and anecdotes from 50 of Australia’s best known women, from Wildlife Warrior, Terri Irwin and model, Miranda Kerr to the PM, Julia Gillard and many more among them.

In demand for her corporate coaching and assistance with branding and strategy with multinationals and businesses all over Australia, Karen has recently completed research on the conundrum of What Women Want from surveys and testimonials from women of all walks of life.

Karen will be a witty and wise panellist with the credentials to shed light on how companies can leverage female consumers’ appetite for quality, value and family-friendly offerings.

'In all, it will be an invaluable insight in to what motivates women,' says Nik Parker, General Manager of BIAA. 'There will be nowhere else in 2013 to get such a diverse range of business support delivered directly to the industry.

'Being at Marine13 is a must if you are serious about tackling the issues facing our industry – those topics we are continually discussing in the media, in association meetings, in the boat yard or dealership, day-in-day-out.'

More at www.marine13.com