Pro Shop Experiences

[MikeHolmes]

I was out this weekend with some golf friends this weekend and we got onto our experiences in golf pro shops over the last few years. We are all from a retail background so there was so many things we don't understand There was some great positives and negatives and with many a whiskey we set the world to right, we came up with:

• Why when you go into a pro shop does no one have an ability to approach you and go through a selling process?
• Why do so many pro shops continue to stock there shops with products that don't make them much profit?
• Why are there still so little pro shops use social media better to build chatter between members and potential members?

Do you think these are the top 3 or do you have any other things that grind on you? I'd love to see all these put right and them to start cutting into the profits online companies and American Golf make.
Lets make our golf clubs more profitable and better for all of us to visit I say.

 

[duncan mackie]

[*]Why do so many pro shops continue to stock there shops with products that don't make them much profit?

because if they only stocked things that made them a good profit they wouldn't be a pro shop?

please enlighten us with your suggestions of what a pro shop could stock that meets this criteria; you clearly have some things in mind?

 

[Deleted member 15717]

first post, different fonts...interesting!

Firstly, I believe if you walk into a pro-shop, chances are you are at a golf club, and so you play golf, so you know what you are looking for, which is why there isn't necessarily a 'selling process' in place. If somewhere like a Driving Range, where there is a shop attached, there may be more of a selling approach, as it could be anyone coming in to the store. I have seen first hand there is a selling process here, and the pro in store makes an effort to engage with everyone that walks through to the door to ensure they are looking at the right products etc

As for profit, the margin on clubs etc is so small. Clothing has a large mark-up which is fairly prevalent in most shops I have been in to.

 

[Dan2501]

They're never going to make the profit that American Golf or the Online retailers make because they're not purchasing the sheer quantities that the bigger brands are buying, so can't match them on margins.

 

[Jimaroid]

• Why when you go into a pro shop does no one have an ability to approach you and go through a selling process?

Personally I really dislike that approach in retail. I want staff on hand that I can approach when *I* need something when *I'm* ready. I do not want staff jumping on me the second I walk through the door trying to "help me with sizes" or asking me if "everything is OK?" or explaining how to use my eyes to look at stuff on a shelf as if I'm some sort of newborn adult idiot in a shop for the first time in my life.

It's that sort of behaviour that's made me want to shop online more.

 

[road2ruin]

Personally I really dislike that approach in retail. I want staff on hand that I can approach when *I* need something when *I'm* ready. I do not want staff jumping on me the second I walk through the door trying to "help me with sizes" or asking me if "everything is OK?" or explaining how to use my eyes to look at stuff on a shelf as if I'm some sort of newborn adult idiot in a shop for the first time in my life.

It's that sort of behaviour that's made me want to shop online more.

Agree with this! I want staff to be available but not constantly asking me if I'm okay or whether I need any help.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Strange post as most pro shops main sales are mars bars and soft drinks/water which generally have a 50% mark up.

 

[devonlad]

I agree with the OP and I hate being attacked by sales people. To be honest I am suprised pro shops have clubs in at all considering how much cheaper they are online. I find the pro shop always slightly unwelcoming and maybe this is due to the fact the person behind the counter is trying to be a pro golfer, who lets face it arent the warmest of people and also trying to be a sales person. I just dont think the two go together.
I personanlly think you could do away with a pro shop and just have vending machines outside.

 

[Green Bay Hacker]

Personally I really dislike that approach in retail. I want staff on hand that I can approach when *I* need something when *I'm* ready. I do not want staff jumping on me the second I walk through the door trying to "help me with sizes" or asking me if "everything is OK?" or explaining how to use my eyes to look at stuff on a shelf as if I'm some sort of newborn adult idiot in a shop for the first time in my life.

It's that sort of behaviour that's made me want to shop online more.

Agree with this! I want staff to be available but not constantly asking me if I'm okay or whether I need any help.

Same here. Most of the time I just want to browse in the pro shop and if I need help I will ask.

From what the pro has said, they do not make a lot on the sales of clubs but you wouldn't take those out would you? What else don't they make money?

 

[bladeplayer]

I was out this weekend with some golf friends this weekend and we got onto our experiences in golf pro shops over the last few years. We are all from a retail background so there was so many things we don't understand There was some great positives and negatives and with many a whiskey we set the world to right, we came up with:

• Why when you go into a pro shop does no one have an ability to approach you and go through a selling process?
• Why do so many pro shops continue to stock there shops with products that don't make them much profit?
• Why are there still so little pro shops use social media better to build chatter between members and potential members?

Do you think these are the top 3 or do you have any other things that grind on you? I'd love to see all these put right and them to start cutting into the profits online companies and American Golf make.
Lets make our golf clubs more profitable and better for all of us to visit I say.

Strange post , .........................................................................!!!

 

[devonlad]

Well unless clubs start working together to gain buying power they just arent going to compete. For the sake of the club they are better off just getting rid of them. My last two experiences have been

1, Turn up for a booking Sunday morning, shop locked, play the round then go to pop in to say hello, Shop locked....Pro in the bar
2, Paid full whack for a round of golf only too be told after they should of offered me a card for discounted golf. Asked the pro about it, just looked sheepish

Thats just the last two times I played

 

[duncan mackie]

Well unless clubs start working together to gain buying power they just arent going to compete. For the sake of the club they are better off just getting rid of them. My last two experiences have been

1, Turn up for a booking Sunday morning, shop locked, play the round then go to pop in to say hello, Shop locked....Pro in the bar
2, Paid full whack for a round of golf only too be told after they should of offered me a card for discounted golf. Asked the pro about it, just looked sheepish

Thats just the last two times I played

Neither of these is a function of 'a pro shop'; whilst it's become one at most clubs at others such matters are entirely handled by someone else (from golf reception to the secretary's office, and even the bar manager!)

In many ways it's the very nature of such functions that shape the experience you are likely to get from 'a pro shop' - and against any purity of retail experience it's always going to come off badly (although the actual experience will meet many needs because those needs are varied as already illustrated by posts to this thread!)

 

[devonlad]

Neither of these is a function of 'a pro shop'; whilst it's become one at most clubs at others such matters are entirely handled by someone else (from golf reception to the secretary's office, and even the bar manager!)

In many ways it's the very nature of such functions that shape the experience you are likely to get from 'a pro shop' - and against any purity of retail experience it's always going to come off badly (although the actual experience will meet many needs because those needs are varied as already illustrated by posts to this thread!)

So what is the function of the pro shop?

 

[hines57]

They're never going to make the profit that American Golf or the Online retailers make because they're not purchasing the sheer quantities that the bigger brands are buying, so can't match them on margins.

Our pro shop are associated with Foremost and offer to price match any legit price that a member tells them about. Best of both worlds IMHO and you get the correct help and support when selecting and super after sales support!

 

[CliveW]

I was out this weekend with some golf friends this weekend and we got onto our experiences in golf pro shops over the last few years. We are all from a retail background so there was so many things we don't understand There was some great positives and negatives and with many a whiskey we set the world to right, we came up with:

• Why when you go into a pro shop does no one have an ability to approach you and go through a selling process?
• Why do so many pro shops continue to stock there shops with products that don't make them much profit?
• Why are there still so little pro shops use social media better to build chatter between members and potential members?

Do you think these are the top 3 or do you have any other things that grind on you? I'd love to see all these put right and them to start cutting into the profits online companies and American Golf make.
Lets make our golf clubs more profitable and better for all of us to visit I say.

You are from a retail background where as most pros aren't. They would rather be playing/teaching than selling so don't have the same desire to sell. It would be interested to hear how good your golf is before you criticise other professions. Not all retail is about maximum profit.

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

You are from a retail background where as most pros aren't. They would rather be playing/teaching than selling so don't have the same desire to sell. It would be interested to hear how good your golf is before you criticise other professions. Not all retail is about maximum profit.

Why would how good his golf is matter when it comes to a shop? What is wrong with him wanting to see more pro shops be successful, and try to compete with AG/online? Or is he only allowed a view if he isn't a hacker?

 

[MikeHolmes]

Sorry guys to cause such astir over fonts etc, didnt even realise it had until it was noticed. The reason for the post was also that I have just seen a massive article in Golf Retailing magazine explaining how golf clubs are poor at selling and getting what customers want based on a survey. I used to work in training for years and wondered what peoples thoughts were to see if there was a way I might be able to get back involved in helping clubs be better at this.

In regards to selling, you don't have to jump on someone or hound them to use a sales process, anytime you buy something there is a process and there are good ways to do this and bad ways to do this as a business and being good at it will increase sales for a pro and make the shop more sustainable so therefore being better for us the golfer.

I agree with the food & drink comment in regards too margin as this must be good for them but to see so many shops over stocked with clubs and clothing which is little profit when they have to price match so heavily it seems odd.

Also with that I am not saying just stock high margin but lets be honest there are a huge number of pro shops which could do with some retail guidance to help make them better for them and for us the golfer.

 

[duncan mackie]

So what is the function of the pro shop?

first and foremost they equip you to play golf - both in terms of equipment and capability.

fwiw I've just looked back on the last 12 visits to clubs other than the one I'm a member at and on only 2 occasions did I go into the 'pro shop'; once for a drink/snack and once for a pin sheet.

all I'm really saying is that you don't need a golf professional to collect green fees and you can't really judge a retail experience on the basis of such a function (well you can but it all gets a little flawed )

 

[devonlad]

I agree but what I am saying is do most courses need a Pro at all? Ok, if you have a popular course with driving range etctc I can see a Pro as a valuable asset. But when its a struggling club paying for the pro and holding on to all that dead stock all year I cant help but think paying your fees at the bar and having a vending machine would be more cost affective. Also hanging around an empty shop all day cant do their enthusiasm for the game any good.

 

[MikeHolmes]

Devonlad I see your point but a pro's role is not only to teach, do you not think he has an obligation to try and generate new members and generate income for the club? Dead stock is only due to bad purchasing and bad promotion and merchandising to sell through products. A vending machine dooes not generate members or create a buzz around the club which is what a pro should also play a big part in. Why would they stay in the shop all day when they could be on the course looking at peoople playing and actively helping the members, if the shop need support there are apprentice route which are very cost effective for a pro to employ to help for the cover in the shop.

CheltennamHacker I agree that you dont need a pro to do this and it is a massive waste of his time as he is not doing what he is trained to do, they arent retailers I agree hence why I said wondered why more is not done to learn this process, the comments more back up my case to increase skills in the pro shops