It’s just not every day that a company gets braggin rights to say,
 “HEY, WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!” But when Bradford Marine was asked for an interview to become the cover story for the Boat & Motor Dealer May 2007 issue a sense of pride and true gratitude emerged, setting the stage for a great interview.

 For the ninth time in the past 13 years, Bradford Marine, with four locations, three in Arkansas and one in Texas, was named Tracker Marine’s “Dealer of the Year.”  The criteria for this award consist of producing the highest score in sales (75%) and achieving consistently high customer satisfaction index scores (25%).  Bradford Marine proves there’s a formula for success in boat dealerships. 

 Knox Bradford, who opened his first store in 1971 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, leads this family-owned and operated business.  Asked how he got into the boating industry, Bradford replied, “I had just completed a management training course with Sears and was ready to join their management’s team, when my father-in-law told me to follow my passion: I loved boats.  Six weeks later, I had a Mercury dealer number.”  He got off the Sears management track and onto the boat business track and hasn’t looked back since!

and the story concludes like this................

     Finally, Bradford said that he is a very content with the succession process for his dealership because his son now works for the business as vice president.  “ My son has done a great job with the Internet, with our Web site, and with automating our operation.  I’ll hand him the reins once I retire, but I don’t have any plans soon.  I’m having too much fun selling boats to people!”