#038: Midnight Express Powerboats - President Harris Glaser

Midnight Express sets the standard as the leader in luxury center console powerboats. In this episode, Host Fran Racioppi travels to Miami to combine his passion for boats, journalism, and the beach as he sits down with Harris Glaser, President and Owner of Midnight Express. 

Harris, along with his brother Eric, bought Midnight Express in 2006 and have since redefined the boating industry bringing unparalleled design and construction, elaborate color schemes, flawless precision and unmatched performance. 

Fran and Harris discuss entrepreneurism, building an iconic brand, precision engineering, high-level customer experience, the importance of human capital, and the keys to building a successful family business. We also discuss the impact the loss of his father had on the company and his family; and how COVID has propelled the boating industry into uncharted seas. 

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.

Highlights:

-Harris explains the history of Midnight Express, the rebranding efforts after the company was acquired by his family, and how their design and color patterns have changed the boating industry.

-As a family business, Harris and his brother Eric jumped into building a boat manufacturing company and have complementary skill sets as an entrepreneur and an engineer. Harris credits his father, Bert, in mentoring and leading them in the early days of the company and describes the details of how he and Eric split responsibilities and resolve brotherly disputes.

-Fran and Harris break down the proprietary construction methods used to build each custom boat, as well as some of the wildest requests the team has been asked to build. 

-Harris gives The Jedburgh Podcast the exclusive first look, never publicly released details on the brand new Midnight Express 52’ coming this winter.

-Government and law enforcement have different requirements for their boats; Harris explains how Midnight Express worked with Customs and Border Patrol to customize the boats to their needs.  

-Harris shows the importance of access as the owner of a premium brand, how he empowers his team to take ownership, and his thoughts on making mistakes. 

-Despite supply chain disruption, Harris describes how boating has skyrocketed since the start of COVID, but also how Midnight Express has weathered multiple industry setbacks throughout the years. 

Quotes:

-”You see it and you know it’s a Midnight Express.”

-”We can adapt the boat to be able to get what they want out of it.”

-“We don’t throw many marketing dollars out there, but social media has been very impactful.”

-“Content, content, content...create new content. Create better content.”

-”I don’t think there is any one master plan for family businesses...communication is key to even having a hint of hope to making it successful.”

-”It took me time to learn humility. Certainly when I was 22, humility was not oozing out of my veins.”

-”Even when you are right, sometimes you give anyways.”

-”I’m ok if you make a mistake...you lie to me...that’s when we have problems.”

-”We found our way around without having to sacrifice quality.”

Harris’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:

-Communicate effectively and openly

-Show gratitude to all people, regardless of role and level

-Think macro but get micro quickly when needed

This episode is brought to you by 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.