For over three decades, Sea Rocket has been an iconic name in Ocean City, Maryland.

However, the real transformation began when new ownership took charge in 2017, and William joined the team just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The brand experienced unprecedented growth, expanding to multiple locations across Florida, Delaware, and Virginia.

This rapid scaling was made possible by implementing advanced digital solutions like Wherewolf, which streamlined their operations, enhanced marketing strategies, and improved customer experience.

The Challenge

Initially, Sea Rocket had no structured systems for managing operations or marketing efforts. As William recounts, “We crushed it that summer, but because back then we didn’t have very good systems or marketing, people just showed up!” Fast forward to their expansion in 2021 and 2022, the need for robust digital systems became evident to support their growing business.

Why Digitize?

COVID-19 accelerated the need for digital solutions across various industries, and Sea Rocket was no exception. William explains, “We started with SmartWaiver, which didn’t collect any data. Marketing wasn’t the original concentration, but we were growing really quickly.” Realizing the importance of data collection and efficient operations, Sea Rocket decided to adopt Wherewolf, a digital waiver solution integrated with FareHarbor.

First Impressions of Wherewolf

“When I started all this, I didn’t know a whole lot about water sports. So I went to see what are the best operators using.”

William was immediately impressed with Wherewolf’s capabilities, and worked through a lot of nuances to refine his system to where it is today. The first roll-out was for guests arriving on the day; Will mentions that “We do up to 126 people every hour. In the beginning when we were figuring things out, getting the waiver simple so they can actually do it in person was important”.
Customization allowed Sea Rocket to tailor the platform even more to their specific needs, ensuring a seamless experience for both staff and customers.

“It’s just easy – I never have issues with it ever, on a day-to-day or week basis. That’s what we like”

Onsite Efficiency

One of the significant benefits of Wherewolf was its impact on onsite efficiency. William notes, “80% of our people fill out waivers ahead of time, making it much easier.” The ease of use and integration with FareHarbor meant that customers could quickly check in, reducing wait times and enhancing their overall experience. “It’s just easy – I never have issues with it ever, on a day-to-day or week basis. That’s what we like” adds William.

“We’re getting a lot more data about how they heard about us, what specific social media page, everything like that,”

Enhancing Marketing Strategies

Wherewolf’s data collection features have been a game-changer for Sea Rocket’s marketing efforts. William explains, “The biggest advantage of Wherewolf has been our ability to market and generate revenue in our shoulder months.” By collecting comprehensive data on how customers heard about them and their preferences, Sea Rocket could run targeted email and social media campaigns. “We’re getting a lot more data about how they heard about us, what specific social media page, everything like that,” says William.

Supporting Multiple Locations

Managing multiple locations was a significant challenge for Sea Rocket, especially given the seasonal nature of their business in Maryland.

Wherewolf’s digital solutions provided a standardized process across all locations, ensuring consistency and efficiency. William shares, “In Florida, we can have full-time crews since we operate year-round. Whereas up in Maryland, we’re limited by how many full-time people we can have.”

Conclusion

Sea Rocket’s story is a testament to the power of digital transformation in driving business growth and efficiency. By adopting Wherewolf, they have streamlined their operations, enhanced their marketing strategies, and improved customer experience across multiple locations. William’s closing thoughts capture the essence of their success, “It’s just easy and integrates directly to FareHarbor. Rarely do we deal with an issue with Wherewolf!”

Thinking about digitizing your operations? Follow Sea Rocket’s lead and experience the myriad benefits of Wherewolf for your business. Ready to transform your business?

Take the next step and explore Wherewolf today!