{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Why You Win","title":"Robb and Dante Young of Young Boats","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/ed286d82\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2584,"description":"Selling through dealers can create scale, but it can also create distance between you and your customer. What happens when a manufacturer chooses to own the relationship from day one?\nIn this episode, Kyler and John sit down with Robb Young, Founder of Young Boats, and Dante Young, Vice President, to explore what it looks like to grow a marine manufacturing company without a traditional dealer network. From selling grouper to fund their first prototype to maintaining a two-year backlog during the pandemic, the Youngs share how a factory-direct model shaped their brand, operations, and customer loyalty.\nRobb and Dante discuss the tradeoffs of bypassing dealers, how direct customer feedback fueled product innovation, and why over 80% of their buyers still own a Young Boat. They also unpack how to manage service across geographies, protect margin in a volatile marine market, and build a team that treats every hull like it has a name on it.\nFor OEM leaders navigating B2B2X distribution, dealer relationships, and channel strategy, this episode offers a clear look at what happens when you design your go-to-market model around trust.\nKey Takeaways:Design with the End User In The Room: Invite customers into the build process to accelerate product innovation and increase long-term loyalty.Treat Every Unit Like It Has A Name: Connect production teams directly to buyers to drive quality, pride, and repeat purchases.Diversify Services To Weather Circumstances: Expand the business model with service, restoration, and custom lines to stabilize cash flow in volatile OEM markets.Timestamps:(00:00) Meet Robb and Dante Young(04:57) Funding Young Boats through commercial fishing(07:39) Designing a boat that solves real problems for anglers(09:22) Why charter captains became the first true customers(12:08) The advantage of factory-direct customer feedback(13:53) The operational challenges of selling boats factory direct(16:06) The Young 27 and finding an open space in the...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/9VBqkUppjqhYPsDQfYliEvQK0lwrc-N9EiJPYADyXy4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83MThk/ZDEzOGRjM2I4YmE0/Y2IwYjAwOGRkYjlh/YzU4Mi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}