As the 52nd PGA Merchandise Show concludes today, the consensus among the visitors and exhibitors is that 2005 promises to be a prosperous year for golf based on the increased traffic, sales orders and new business on the Show floor.
Tens of thousands of PGA professionals, retailers and industry professionals from more than 70 countries met with 1,202 golf-related exhibitors and participated in a multitude of show programs during the annual industry gathering in Orlando.
“The feedback has been positive from exhibitors and attendees alike. The packed Demo Day was a great start to the Show and has been followed by new and improved opportunities for the industry to come together to do business,” said Ed Several, PGA Golf Exhibitions vice president and show manager. “Everything from the full hitting bays of the ETC, standing-room only attendance at the fashion shows and exciting live Golf Channel coverage to full fields at the Pro-Pro tournaments and full classrooms at the education conference have made this PGA Merchandise Show a key catalyst to industry business for 2005.”
Roger Warren, president of The PGA of America, came away from the Show feeling energized about the potential for the golf industry. “The feedback I have received from PGA members, and the enthusiasm I saw on and around the Show floor, point to momentum continuing to build as our industry moves forward in 2005,” Warren said. “The PGA Merchandise Show sets the pace for the golf season, and I am excited about the direction we as an industry are taking.”
Tim Clarke, vice president of pro golf sales and marketing, Wilson Golf, said. “We had written more business in the first two days of the Show this year than we did for the entire week last year, We exceeded all of our pre-Show targets, which I attribute to our new Wilson Staff product line but also to the great location of our booth. It is a big advantage to be right next to the Equipment Test Centre and a putting green so clients can try all of our products. Plus, the Demo Day was another home run for us. The Demo Day remains the best way to let people try your equipment and judge for themselves.”
“The entire Show week could not have gone better,” said Dennis Blake, director of public relations for Top-Flite and Ben Hogan Golf. “I would estimate traffic in our booth was up as much as 30 percent this year, I would give the Show an A-plus this year.”
“There is a good buzz on the Show floor and business has been fabulous this year. We had accounts who haven‘t dealt with us for four years who came by to order a nice line of the Bridgestone products. That gives us a lot of momentum,” said Dan Murphy, director of marketing, Bridgestone Golf and Precept.
The PGA Merchandise Show, organized by a partnership of PGA Golf Exhibitions and The PGA of America, is one of four leading golf trade shows in PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions‘ global golf portfolio including the PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas; the Ontario PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Toronto, Canada; and the PGA Merchandise Show of Australia in Queensland. For more information visit www.pgaexpo.com.
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