palindromicbob
Tour Winner
Well ladies. You'll no longer be the target of Wilson marketing if Karen Stupples tweets are true. They are dropping her sponsorship.
https://twitter.com/Kstupples
https://twitter.com/Kstupples
Wilson dropping women?
- Thread starter palindromicbob
- Start date
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Seems they want to move away from promoting their goods to Women........
I guess it shows that not many buy Wilson (Louise?) but it can't be a good move can it? Surely they should up their emphasis as it's a big market..
They're going to get some seriously negative publicity from this.
I guess it shows that not many buy Wilson (Louise?) but it can't be a good move can it? Surely they should up their emphasis as it's a big market..
They're going to get some seriously negative publicity from this.
ArnoldArmChewer
Tour Winner
These are still tough times, maybe womens golf is not profitable to Wilson?
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
on the face of a tweet - yes
on the other hand, they won't (can't) respond to that medium, have another woman staff player still, and KS had a terrible 2012 and was clearly 'let go'. Such things happen and there's never a good time for the player but there must have been a set contract review point etc that she would have been aware of - and there may even have been contractual elements such as being out of the top 100 at the end of the year.....
some will come out over time, but most companies will not 'react' to such social media with words - only actions. So if they drop their other player, and don't take any others on, we will know!
otoh they may have had to budget this way to pay for Padraig's new contract!!!
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
I can't believe with golfs excellent record on sexism and inclusion for women that this has happened. I am going to write to the the Royal and Ancient golf club and also the The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to see what they have to say about this.
dufferman
Journeyman Pro
Lol HK... I like your stance on this disgrace!!!
If you look in many shops (including my local American Golf) one of the main 'women' club manufacturers is Wilson, so I highly, highly doubt they're dropping the female line. Maybe Titleist are dropping male golfers, since Rory left them this year?
If you look in many shops (including my local American Golf) one of the main 'women' club manufacturers is Wilson, so I highly, highly doubt they're dropping the female line. Maybe Titleist are dropping male golfers, since Rory left them this year?
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
what's happened?
AmandaJR
Money List Winner
Hmmm have to wonder if there's a bit of sour grapes for being dropped. I doubt any manufacturer would actively exclude a group from their marketing.
louise_a
Money List Winner
indeed as Imurg says I play with Wilson clubs and I do like them, they certainly seemed to be the best that I tried.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Bit of a bad show after all the money they made out of selling Patty Berg clubs.
Nice girl Karen, my daughter used to play with her a bit on the ladies amateur circuit.
Nice girl Karen, my daughter used to play with her a bit on the ladies amateur circuit.
One Planer
Global Moderator
Does Sophie Horn know?
Very slippery slope for the brand if true!
Very slippery slope for the brand if true!
I think the poorest thing is the timing, only 3 weeks before the season starts for her.
She's either out of contract and their not renewing or Wilson aren't happy with her and they have a clause to opt out without penalty. Even with the latter I think a suitable notice period would have been more forthcoming!
I think women's clothing is a huge market going by our pro shop who seems to carry more items for women than men as I think they like to shop traditionally rather than on-line.
What other women are/were on Wilson's books?
She's either out of contract and their not renewing or Wilson aren't happy with her and they have a clause to opt out without penalty. Even with the latter I think a suitable notice period would have been more forthcoming!
I think women's clothing is a huge market going by our pro shop who seems to carry more items for women than men as I think they like to shop traditionally rather than on-line.
What other women are/were on Wilson's books?
Foxholer
Blackballed
R&A just might respond with an "It's a commercial decision, so not for us" response, but I would expect HCEG were neither interested in responding in the first place, nor particularly inclined to be inclusive! Their policy at Muirfield is 'Ladies may play if accompanied be a gentleman' and I don't believe there is a Lady member!
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
Maria Verchenova is the only lady staffer.
Hacker Khan
Yurt Dwelling, Yoghurt Knitter
I wasn't really going to write to them you know, please do not believe everything I post as about 80% is made up. It was just an ironic cheap swipe at the R&A and the HCEG, what with them being not that keen on the old 'person with lady bumps' thing.
She's in stark contrast to Karen with multiple sponsors and a decent website.
With what I have just looked up, Karen hasn't really achieved much and it looks like all her eggs were in one basket with Wilson so, she'll be waitressing again over the next few weeks me thinks
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
I thought that too but on twitter she's pretty explicitly saying that they're not targeting the female market. I'd imagine there must be some truth in it. She's promising more detail in her blog so maybe we'll hear. I wee bit depressing, if true.
Maybe it's more indicative of a general lack of interest in the women's game; how much exposure do they get from a female pro using their gear? That's a whole other issue....
I personally think its sour grapes as offloading a single lady golfer from the stable is hardly an indicator or statement of not targeting lady golfers! I think if a lady golfer is winning tournaments, has a certain visibility inside and outside of the golfing arena, then brands from all markets inside and outside of golf will be interested in that person, Karen had no sponsor other than Wilson from what I can see or find!
That's dangerous as she effectively has no income what-so-ever now to enter and get to tournaments!
Foxholer
Blackballed
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
Anyone analysing her tweets (for some period prior to her 'sudden announcement re Wilson') might have thought she was sponsored by a number of brands, including a large club one, already.
Time will deliver the wider picture, but for someone with the career earning she has achieved it's all rather sad at this point.
