Leading golf apparel brand Glenmuir has announced the continued expansion of its international business with the appointment of K&A Golf as Official Glenmuir Licensee in India.
The Lanark, Scotland based company has been enormously successful in recent years in expanding the Glenmuir label beyond the mature UK and Ireland golf markets and has recognised the importance of establishing international distribution, particularly in the growing Indian market.
K&A Golf, established by golf professionals Karan Bindra and Anitya Chand, is based outside of New Delhi and exclusively distributes one major golf equipment brand in India. In 2009, the company managed two significant international events – the DLF Women’s Indian Open (Ladies Asian Golf Tour) and the SAIL Open (Men’s Asian Tour) – and is ideally-placed to assist Glenmuir in gaining a foothold in the Indian golf market.
Announcing the appointment, Glenmuir managing director Colin Mee, said: “In K&A Golf we believe we have found the perfect partner to give Glenmuir additional distribution in a growing market that increasingly features prominently within international golf and will continue to grow in importance over the coming years. “K&A Golf has a strong pedigree in India and give us great confidence that they will be able to gain a firm foothold for us in what is destined to become a major market.” K&A Golf will initially distribute Glenmuir’s main range products under licence and will, as the market grows, source and develop bespoke golf products specifically for the Indian market under the Glenmuir banner.
Adds Colin: “It is inevitable that this market will require some product specifically tailored for it, so it was extremely important for us to find a trusted partner with which to launch our brand in India. “Glenmuir’s golf roots go back to 1891, so we have a lot of heritage to protect and with K&A Golf we are confident that our brand values will be maintained.”
Glenmuir first supplied product to the exclusive DLF Golf & Country Club, where Karan Bindra and Anitya Chand operate the pro shop and DLF Golf Academy, before meeting Karan who expressed an interest in working with Glenmuir in developing the Indian market.
Says Karan: “Becoming the Official Licensee gives us an opportunity to present to the Indian golf community premium apparel from Glenmuir’s international line and to produce high quality bespoke merchandise for the Indian market. India has primarily had just a handful of brands in the apparel segment and we see that representing Glenmuir in India is going to add to the overall growth of the retail sector in the market.”
Karan Bindra and Anitya Chand are both staff members of the National Golf Academy of India and ‘A’ level teaching professionals. K&A Golf was started to expand into areas of golf distribution and retail – becoming exclusive distributors of Adams Golf golf equipment and accessories – event and player management and to set up golf academies and schools across the country.
As well as managing the DLF Golf Academy, the partners of K&A Golf also operate the Academy at Golfworx, India’s biggest indoor golf lounge, and are in the process of setting up golf programs in various schools.
Glenmuir is one of Europe’s leading golf apparel brands and was worn at The Open last year by the Rt Hon Alex Salmond, First Minister for Scotland. The company is a preferred supplier to The European Ryder Cup Team, will be lead vendor in the Ryder Cup Merchandise Pavilion at this year’s Ryder Cup in Wales, and is exclusive licensee of Open Championship official merchandise. Glenmuir www.glenmuir.com