How to Market Golf Merchandise

Golf and golf merchandise have gained massive popularity in the last decade. The rise of Tiger Woods and other popular golfers have taken the sport out of the green and onto the main stage.

Now is a wonderful time to sell golf merchandise. Golf appeals to a wide demographic range. This allows the business person the ability to offer more products and have access to greater marketing techniques and venues.

Instructions

1. Decide the location and demographic you wish to market to. This will depend on what type of merchandise you are marketing. A marketing campaign is only as good as its target. If you are trying to sell pink golf clubs to a college men's golf team, you are wasting time and money.

2. Connect with golf courses, driving ranges, golf/pro shops and sporting goods stores in the target area for marketing campaign. Talk to the owners of these businesses. Ask if they will display your products or allow you to come into their store and set up a demo stand for a few hours each week.

3. Find local golfing clubs in your area. This can include school clubs, social clubs, residential clubs, golf pros/instructors, etc. Offer them special offers, such as putting their logo on any purchased merchandise, or free or discounts for group orders. Ask if you can come and give a special presentation.

4. Find local golfing events and see if you can set up a booth or act as a sponsor for the event. This is especially good if the event is benefiting a non-profit or other charity organization.

5. Stage a creative public-relations campaign. Do something that gains attention and makes you and your products stand out from all other similar products available.

6. Find a celebrity spokesperson. Having someone who is seen as an expert or trusted member of the community represent your product will help develop trust and make your merchandise more attractive for potential buyers.

Tips & Warnings

• Be unique! There are a lot of similar products out there. Emphasize something special about your product that makes it stand out from the crowd Be repetitive and consistent. It is important to "brand" your product in this way. Present your merchandise in the same way in every marketing campaign you wage.

• Don't market to too wide of an audience. Determine what your first-, second- and third-best target demographics are and market to those people. Market other more suitable products to other groups. Not every product is perfect for every person.

References

• List of Golf Courses in America
• General up-to-date golf information
• Website for the PGA