Originally posted on 14 October 2016 on LinkedIn.

It is an outstanding birth (berth) rate far exceeding the most developed countries in which they are usually held. Surely this growth rate cannot be sustained in an industry which takes the term ‘disposable income’ to colossal levels? Bien sûr c’est possible.

Take my adopted home for instance. There are 5,696,506 individuals residing in Singapore and roughly 1,000 pleasure craft registered here. Surely this means there are 5,695,506 people still looking for their perfect boat? Huge market potential! Why isn’t there a boat show, yacht show, yacht rendezvous or any incarnation of a leisure marine exhibition each weekend? And that doesn’t even factor in the regional population!

You know if I had an extra 10 minutes I would start a rendezvous for potential boat owners and lovers. How hard can it be? Pop a few champagne corks. Roll out a bit of red carpet. Invite a few boats and yachts plus anyone I think who may like them. It would be a sensation!

The yacht and boat brokers would be more than happy to extend their marketing budgets (that is of course if I decide to charge them) because the market is clearly just there for the taking.  And the visitors (and it is all about them as I have previously discussed) will be flocking to the docks brimming with excitement to see even two boats. All 5,695,506 of them.

Gosh it seems so easy that anyone could do it!

In all seriousness, I would like to appropriate the words of President Barack Obama stated in February 2016 in relation to one D.J. Trump. “And the reason is that I have a lot of faith in the American people boating industry. Being president a boating show organiser is a serious job. It’s not hosting a talk show, or a reality show running a marina or a publication or two. The American people boating industry professionals are pretty sensible, and I think they’ll make a sensible choice in the end. It’s not promotion, it’s not marketing. It’s hard. And a lot of people count on us getting it right.”