For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2012 |
For more information contact:
Sherry Major | PGA Golf Exhibitions - 716.662.3855 |
smajor@reedexpo.com
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Productive,
upbeat
PGA
Merchandise
Show
draws to
a close
today
If the
59th PGA
Merchandise
Show is
a
measuring
stick
for what
lies
ahead in
the golf
industry,
then
2012
should
be
bustling
with
business.
There
was a
discernable aura
of
optimism
and
upbeat
economic
outlook
during
PGA Show
Week,
Jan
25-28,
2012 in
Orlando,
Fla.
"TaylorMade-adidas
had its
best
year in
history
in 2011,
and
judging
by the
first
two days
of the
Show,
this
year is
going to
be even
better,"
predicted
Mark
King,
company
president
and CEO.
"The
energy
and
enthusiasm
at the
Show has
been
phenomenal,
which
certainly
sets a
positive
course
for the
industry
in
2012."
The PGA
Merchandise
Show
concludes
its 2012
run
today
with
another
round of
Education
Conference
seminars,
industry
presentations,
Golf 2.0
discussions,
celebrity
appearances,
marketing,
merchandising
and
networking
with
1,000
leading
companies
and
thousands
of PGA
Professionals
and golf
merchandisers.
And if
the
initial
two days
on the
Show
floor
are an
accurate
barometer,
2012
promises
to be
productive
with a
capital
"P." |
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View
Full
Stories
at
PGA Show
News
Official
Webcast
at
www.pga.com
For more
information
www.pgashow.com
See the
PGA
Merchandise
Highlight
Show on
the Golf
Channel
Monday,
1/30 at
8:00p
Tuesday,
1/31 at
5:00p
Friday,
2/3 at
1:00p
Saturday,
2/11 at
5:00p
(all
times
eastern)
|
"The PGA Merchandise Show has provided the
industry with a lot of positive momentum going forward," said PGA of
America President Allen Wronowski. "Everyone throughout the industry has
really embraced the Golf 2.0 Strategic Plan to grow the game this week,
starting with the PGA Annual Meeting and continuing with the PGA
Merchandise Show. Everyone is asking, 'What can we do to reconnect with
golfers?' Everyone is excited to implement Golf 2.0 and re-ignite and
re-energize the golf industry."
Added an enthusiastic Brian Meyer, PGA Professional at Mount Pleasant
Golf Course in Baltimore, Md.: "On a scale of 1 to 10, I would have to
give the PGA Show a 10 or 11 this year. The two main reasons I came to
the Show this year was the PGA Awards Night, and to hear how Golf 2.0
will work for me and my facility."
Appearances by World Golf Hall of Famers Billy Casper, Lee Trevino and
Tom Kite, along with U.S. Women's Open champion Paula Creamer and
several additional celebrities and teachers, lent an extra buzz to the
Show floor on Friday. Meanwhile, seminar classrooms were packed as
industry professionals continued to review Golf 2.0 programs designed to
grow the game.
As the final day of the 2012 PGA Show approached, optimism abounded. "It
has been a wonderful Show for FootJoy; it has exceeded our greatest
expectations," said Acushnet Company's Chris Garrett, senior manager for
FootJoy consumer marketing. "Traffic has been tremendous. We did a lot
of research before deciding to return to the Show this year, and we are
glad we made the decision to come back with such a significant
presence."
"There is definitely a bigger buzz at the Show this year," said Mike
Attara, PGA Professional and president of Spirit Golf Management. "The
addition of FootJoy and its line of apparel have added a lot to the
Show, but virtually every major company is here with new products this
year. It's a good sign for the golf industry."
The Ping booth was not only bustling with business the first two days of
the Show, but PGA Professionals were lined up hundreds strong to
participate in the Ping $5,000 Skins Game Putting Challenge, which
introduced the iPing putter app to industry professionals in an
interactive environment.
"We had four Ping fitters devoted to the iPing putter app on the first
day of the Show, and they helped 220 PGA Professionals familiarize
themselves with iPing and sign up for the Ping Skins Game," said Pete
Samuels, Ping director of marketing. "Traffic has been terrific, and the
reaction to the Ping i20 and G20 lines has been extremely positive this
week at the Show."
"I would call this year's Show very upbeat and exceptional," said Todd
Trifaux, vice president of Sundog Eyewear prior to welcoming LPGA
standout Paula Creamer to the Sundog booth Friday to sign autographs for
a long line of Show attendees. "This is the best traffic we have
experienced in four years. We're seeing a lot more buyers and genuine
customers, which is a very positive sign." |
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New exhibitors add
excitement to PGA Show product mix
Of the more than 1,000 companies at this
year's PGA Merchandise Show, more than 300 are exhibiting at the event
for the first time. To help attendees quickly identify which companies
are making their maiden appearance, booths are sporting signs that
identify them as first-time exhibitors.
"The signs kind of jump out at you," said PGA Professional Terry
Wilbanks, the 2007 Dixie PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year for
private facilities. "We're all here looking to find something new to
spark our golf shop mix, and it's nice to be able to find those
companies so easily."
New exhibitors this year range from the high-end apparel of Leisure
Society to innovative golf bag designs from Golf-Vue Concepts. While the
products and services these companies provide are dramatically
different, the experience each new exhibitor has had is very similar,
and positive.
"We were told that we really needed to be here at the PGA Merchandise
Show, and I see that's true," said Jonathan Tudor, chief marketing
officer for Leisure Society, which produces upscale, heirloom-quality
apparel and eyewear. "Buyers seem very excited to see a line like ours,
which is more muted and classic, in today's marketplace."
At the other end of the Show floor, Golf-Vue Concepts is turning heads
with its Club-Vue golf bag--which turns the idea of a golf bag on its
head. Instead of accessing all clubs from a top-loading system, the
Club-Vue bag allows golfers to pull their irons out of the side of the
bag.
"The biggest reaction we're getting is, 'Wow, great idea!'" said John
Neyland, vice president of Golf-Vue Concepts. "People are glad to see
something new and innovative, and we're getting a lot of traffic."
A pair of new exhibitors focusing on women's products are also garnering
interest. Equipt For Play is spotlighting a new line of
ultra-comfortable and fashionable golf shoes and golf gloves, while Blue
Pacific Fashion is showcasing a large line of scarves and wraps.
"I'm really pleased to have the opportunity to talk to so many types of
golf facilities in one setting," said Annie Jaroszewicz, owner of Equipt
For Play. "Each is really its own universe, with a distinct opportunity
and demographics. Being here also gives you a chance to reach
international distributors, which was a goal for us."
"Buyers are telling us that our product crosses over well to golf
shops," added Fernando Todeschini, owner of Blue Pacific Fashion, which
offers its scarves in silk, cashmere, cotton and linen. "What we have
complements what's already in their shop, and works as either an impulse
buy for women or a gift idea for men." |
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Products and Services
companies unveil new lines for 2012
Companies exhibiting in the
Golf Products and Services area arrived at the 59th PGA Merchandise Show
with a vast variety of new products and an optimistic outlook for 2012.
Many companies are using the Show to introduce new technologies, launch
their latest innovations, and provide creative purchasing options and
specials for Show attendees.
"The PGA Merchandise Show has been an ideal launch pad for us to unveil
our innovative solutions in a variety of categories to new and existing
customers," said Harris MacNeill, President and CEO of Champ/MacNeill
Engineering Worldwide, maker of Champ spikes, which is showcasing its
new "My Hit" Zarma FLYTee, Flix Divot Tool and its full line of renowned
spikes and accessories at booth 2629.
"And the PGA Show has provided the most efficient platform for us to
reach our clients and demonstrate our products to everyone in the golf
industry."
Dynamic Brands, the parent company of Bag Boy, Burton, Datrek, Devant
and Sir Christopher Hatton, is utilizing the Show to debut its 2012 line
of golf products, which include new and innovative push carts, cart bags
and a travel cover from Bag Boy, stand bags, staff bag and den caddy
from Burton, a new women's cart bag line and a travel cover set from
Datrek, and premier custom towels by Devant and Sir Christopher Hatton.
Dynamic Brands is the official golf bag merchandiser of the 2012 Ryder
Cup and Devant is the official merchandiser of the 2012 Ryder Cup and
PGA Championship.
Bag Boy is introducing its new TriSwivel push cart, the only cart that
features a front wheel that swivels 360 degrees, giving golfers
effortless maneuverability. Bag Boy is also introducing a T-2000 travel
cover featuring a Pivot Griphandle that rotates 360 degrees, reducing
arm and wrist strain while transporting clubs. Burton, the company known
for its premium quality golf bags, is introducing the Pro and Player
stand bags. Datrek is offering a new line of women's cart bags called
the D-Light that weighs only 4.5 pounds.
"The Show provides a lot of value in that we can be in one location for
three days and work with an unlimited number of domestic and
international customers, as well as golf professionals and golf
retailers," explained Craig Ramsbottom, president of Dynamic Brands Golf
Division. "We are seeing a lot of positive economic signs for 2012. This
has been one of Bag Boy's most productive Shows yet."
Pukka, designer and manufacturer of premium custom golf headwear, is
unveiling exciting new cap styles, fabrics, color combinations and
trending designs at the Show while offering its proprietary production
model at industry-low minimums. Pukka's new collections for 2012 feature
more than 100 new pre-designed styles, but also allows customers to
create fully-custom headwear.
"Our theme at the Show this year is 'Breaking the Rules of
Customization,'" said Pukka Headwear President Tate Miller. "Simply put,
if you don't see what you are looking for, Pukka can create it for you,
stemming from nearly 10 years of experience in designing custom
headwear. Complete customization is the foundation of our core headwear
program."
Judging by the heavy traffic at the Club Car, E-Z-GO and Yamaha Golf Car
booths, 2012 could be a successful year for golf car companies, which
are streamlining lease programs and providing financial terms to make
fleet purchases more manageable in a challenging economy.
Range equipment companies such as Easy Picker, Range Servant, Fiberbuilt
and Wittek are displaying new, high-tech golf ball dispensers, range
pickers and ball washers in their respective booths on the Show floor.
The latest technology is also on display in golf simulators and launch
monitors, with Foresight Sports, Full Swing Golf, Flightscope and
aboutGolf all launching new software and new technology for
game-improvement and clubfitting platforms.
aboutGolf is introducing aG Mobile, a portable training aid/launch
monitor, to its exclusive golf equipment ensemble. "aG Mobile is
versatile and robust enough to use both indoors and out with the same
accuracy," said Chuck Faust, president of aboutGolf. "And it's more than
a launch monitor. Using the same 3Trak technology found in our PGA Tour
Simulators, aG Mobile provides accurate ball and club data where you
need it." |
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About the PGA Merchandise Show
The PGA Merchandise Show is not
open to the public. Organized in partnership with The PGA of America as a trade-only event,
the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show will be held in the Orange County
Convention Center ~ 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 26-27; and 8:30 a.m. -
3:00 p.m. on Jan. 28. For more information, visit www.pgashow.com. |
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CONTACT INFORMATION:
PGA Merchandise Show: Sherry Major, (716) 662-3855,
smajor@reedexpo.com
PGA of America: Jamie Carbone, (561) 624-8446,
jcarbone@pgahq.com |
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