I was running several foreign trips a year and was fortunate to have no real mishaps at all until I left for Cayman Brac with a group about 10 years ago. The trip was not only a dive vacation for…
Donna AskewJanuary 27, 2009
If things ever seem tough in the dive retailing business, consider the farmer's life. If you were selling wheat, you would either have to accept the "going" price (or less) for your crop, or continue to store your product until…
Donna AskewJanuary 23, 2009
Close your eyes and dream. You are going to a place where you can dive all day, every day. Spectacular scuba diving is literally at your feet. You are surrounded by your best customers, who are delighted by the service…
Donna AskewJanuary 22, 2009
Many people learn to dive so that they can travel to dive. Going places to dive keeps them active, and that activity helps make dive retail work. It also adds the third leg to dive retail's stool, which is in…
Donna AskewJanuary 22, 2009
If your customers have trip insurance, they may be reimbursed for some or all of their losses. If they are uninsured, an unfortunate event can become even more costly and distressing. As a dive center owner or manager, you want…
Donna AskewJanuary 22, 2009
While we would wish that employee turnover in the scuba industry was lower, many retailers have a constant stream of new hires. Well-drafted, easy-to-understand work rules, relevant to retailing and scuba, are imperative to getting your people up to speed…
Alisa P. Cleek Esq.January 22, 2009
For more than 30 years my father owned a small business. At least once a year he had to meet with his lawyer, his accountant and his insurance agent. While he knew that the advice these professionals were giving him…
DCB StaffJanuary 22, 2009
Between dives, get them talking about other trips and classes they have been a part of. You don't want to do all the talking, but it will be to your advantage to make sure the topics of the day are…
Donna AskewJanuary 21, 2009
So there you are at the 2005 DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) trade show. Your primary goal this year is to get travel information. Your customers are asking about new dive destinations. Some of them want group trips. Others…
Donna AskewJanuary 14, 2009
