Lappala to Oversee Field Sales Team throughout Canada
(TORONTO) – Golf Town – Canada’s largest golf retailer with unequaled selection and competitive prices at 39 locations coast to coast – announces that its recently acquired corporate merchandise services division, Accolade Reaction Promotion Group Inc. (ARPG), has appointed Tom Lappala as Executive Vice President, Sales.
Formerly the National Sales Manager at Trimark Sportswear Group, Tom’s leadership experience and professionalism further strengthens ARPG’s market position as the nation’s largest provider of corporate promotional products. He will oversee the company’s field sales team throughout Canada and aid in providing superior service to clients.
“I have worked with Tom for several years and have always admired his achievements at Trimark,” says Marc Roy, President of ARPG. “The entire ARPG team is very excited about welcoming him. His integrity, values and exemplary communication skills will most certainly be a tremendous asset to our management team as well as sales professionals.”
“I have always believed that the key to success is doing what it takes to attract and build on the skill sets of talented people,” says Lappala. ARPG’s level of professionalism and sales growth is a benchmark that is elevating the image of our industry and attracting the attention of corporate Canada. I look forward to building upon the company’s accomplishments and joining its leadership team.”
Golf Town, already a leader in logo products for golf events and other programs, purchased ARPG in May and has created a one-stop-shop for the promotional needs of businesses, meeting planners, sales and marketing executives, and human resource professionals. Named a 2008 Top 40 Distributor by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), ARPG is the first Canadian corporate merchandise services firm to achieve ASI Top 40 Status.
Industry-best pricing includes selections from golf and non-golf brands like Adams, Apple, Ashworth, Ben Hogan, Bose, Bridgestone, Bugatti, Bulova, Callaway, Citzen, Cleveland, Cobra, Cross, Danier Leather, Delta Tools, Dunning, FootJoy, Greg Norman, Hugo Boss, Kodak, LaCoste, Maxfli, Mizuno, Motorola, Movado, Nike Golf, Nintendo, Phillips, Pinnacle, Pioneer, Precept, Sony, TaylorMade adidas Golf, Timex, Titleist, Top Flite, Toro, Tour Edge, Under Armour, Whirlpool, Wilson, Yamaha and more.
For more information: www.golftown.com (905.479.0343), www.arpg.ca (877.733.7800).
About Golf Town
Canada’s largest golf retailer, Golf Town was founded in 1999 and has grown from one location in Scarborough, ON, to 39 superstores coast to coast. At an average size of nearly 18,000 square feet, these retail centres feature all the major name-brand products at the best price, ensuring customers find what they want, when they want it.
A centre of the Canadian golf community for individuals and organizations, Golf Town locations serve as sanctuaries where players of all ages and abilities try, buy, learn about and improve their games. The largest employer of CPGA professionals, Golf Town offers on-site lessons tailored to an individual’s needs through its In-Store Academy.
The company’s dedicated Corporate Sales Division features thousands of golf and lifestyle products for companies to strengthen customer relationships, leverage sponsorships and reward employee performance. These are highlighted by a wide range of logo-ready products – such as accessories, apparel, appliances, electronics, equipment, home goods, jewelry, luggage and musical instruments.
Golf Town has also established Canada’s leading customer advantage initiative via its Leaderboard Membership Privileges Program. Benefits of this free membership include the chance to win a $500 gift card in a national monthly drawing; timely e-newsletters; members-only special offers on equipment, accessories, golf lessons, in-store events; and more.
Among the largest charitable givers in the Canadian golf industry, Golf Town is an official partner with the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada (www.prostatecancer.ca) in the Drive for a Cure. Through its ‘Chips In’ donation program, the company also supports charitable golf tournaments of all sizes that are devoted to enhancing the lives of children, families and the community.
Golf Town was acquired by OMERS Capital Partners, the entity responsible for private equity investments of the OMERS pension fund, in September 2007. For more information: www.omerscapital.com.
About Accolade Reaction Promotion Group
Accolade Reaction Promotion Group (ARPG) is Canada’s leading corporate merchandise services firm. It has been voted Canada’s Distributor of the Year by the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada for an unprecedented five consecutive years as well as receiving top designation in Canada for sales volume by the industry group ASI Canada (formerly Team Task Force) since 2003. The clear leader in the Canadian Advertising Specialty industry, ARPG and its subsidiaries employ 145 dedicated and energetic individuals including 46 sales executives within its offices in Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.
Contact:
Kevin Satz
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3394
ksatz@billycaspergolf.com
