Christine Rentner, Author at Lightspeed DMS

Delivering a Great Boating Season Starts with Operational Confidence

Posted on May 27, 2026 (May 28, 2026)

As the marine industry heads into peak boating season, one thing is clear: success today requires more than strong demand, it requires discipline, visibility, and adaptability. Dealerships are operating in a more complex environment than in years past. Margin pressure, shifting customer expectations, and increased operational demands are forcing leaders to rethink how their businesses […]

Managing the Spring Service Surge: Reducing Repair Cycle Time at Your Dealership

Posted on April 27, 2026 (May 5, 2026)

For marine dealerships spring brings one of the most intense operational periods of the year. As temperatures rise, boat owners rush to prepare for the season, scheduling maintenance, addressing winter damage, and resolving any lingering mechanical issues. For service departments, this surge can quickly create bottlenecks. Boats (and other units) pile up in the yard, […]

Smoother Sailing: Streamlining Your Marine Dealership with Lightspeed DMS

Posted on April 6, 2026 (April 6, 2026)

Running a marine dealership means navigating constant change. Seasonal demand spikes, complex service schedules, large unit inventory, warranty processing, and customer communication can quickly become overwhelming without the right systems in place. For many dealerships, disconnected tools and manual processes create inefficiencies that slow down service departments, delay parts availability, and make it difficult to […]

Inventory Strategy & the Used Boat Advantage: Turning Visibility into Profitability

Posted on March 25, 2026 (March 25, 2026)

The marine industry has always required balance between optimism and discipline, growth and cash flow, new and used inventory. But in today’s environment of margin pressure, fluctuating demand, and rising carrying costs, inventory strategy has become one of the most critical leadership functions inside a dealership. Used boats, in particular, present a significant opportunity but […]

Why Every Marine Dealership Needs a CRM – And How to Get the Most From One

Posted on March 9, 2026 (March 9, 2026)

For marine dealerships across the U.S. and Canada, competition for customers is nothing new — but the way those customers shop has transformed. Today’s buyers research boat models online, compare financing options, browse accessories, and schedule service appointments digitally before ever stepping into a store. The result is a more complex sales cycle with more […]

Navigating Seasonal Inventory: How Marine Dealers Can Optimize Parts Stock

Posted on February 12, 2026 (March 9, 2026)

For marine dealerships, inventory isn’t just about boats and trailers — it’s also about parts. Whether it’s propellers, engine components, or accessories, the parts department plays a critical role in customer satisfaction, service profitability, and long-term growth. But with the unique seasonality of the marine market — heavy summer demand followed by quieter winter months […]

How to Sell More Units and Service Without Leads Slipping Through the Cracks

Posted on January 30, 2026

Dealers don’t lose sales because customers aren’t interested. They lose sales because leads aren’t followed up fast enough, service opportunities go unnoticed, or customer communication breaks down. Between walk-ins, website inquiries, OEM leads, phone calls, and service requests, managing everything across disconnected systems makes it easy for revenue to slip away. The solution is an integrated system with transparency and visibility across […]

Celebrating Excellence: Lightspeed Dealers Recognized Among Boating Industry’s Top 20 for 2025

Posted on January 26, 2026

At Lightspeed, we believe that great technology is only as powerful as the people who use it. That’s why we’re especially proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our dealer partners who were recently recognized by Boating Industry as part of its 2025 Top 20 Dealers list. In its annual awards, Boating Industry honors dealerships […]

Managing Cash Flow in Marine Dealerships: How a Dealer Management System Makes the Difference

Posted on January 23, 2026

In the marine industry, cash flow is the financial lifeblood of your dealership. It’s what keeps the lights on, the service bays spinning and your team focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences. Yet for many marine dealers, maintaining healthy cash flow remains one of the most persistent challenges especially during the slower winter months when […]

Introducing the 2026 Dealer Insights Series: Solutions for Today’s Dealerships

Posted on January 20, 2026 (January 20, 2026)

Running a dealership today is more complex than ever. Between managing sales, service, parts, inventory, accounting, and customer expectations, many dealers find themselves juggling disconnected systems that slow teams down and limit visibility. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the 2026 Dealer Insights Series a new webinar series designed specifically for dealers who are evaluating […]

Author: Christine Rentner

Posts by Christine Rentner