CARLSBAD, Calif., (March 2, 2011) – adidas Golf and Ashworth have named Bill Bishop from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as their National Sales Representative of the Year, an award that recognizes an accomplished sales representative who delivers top-tier results representative of two of the top golf apparel companies in the industry.
“Bill’s ability to take iconic brands like adidas and Ashworth and position them in the golf marketplace is both admirable and impressive,” said Kevin Ross, VP of adidas Golf and Ashworth. “We’re proud of Bill and think no one is more deserving of this honor than he is.”
The road to the golf industry wasn’t as clear-cut for Bishop as for others. Bishop grew up in Killeen, Tex., and attended Texas Christian University on a full football scholarship – the third in his family to play in the school’s program next to his father and older brother. A passionate family man (with wife of 33 years, Sandy, three grown children), Bishop served as the National Merchandise Director of the NFL for eight years, before he joined a small California startup golf apparel company in 1988.
That company was Ashworth, and since, Bishop has been honored with five Salesmen of the Year Awards from the company as well as the Cornerstone Award and the Heritage Award, which is given for lifetime achievement for Ashworth. Bishop began selling adidas Golf goods upon the company’s purchase of Ashworth, and it appears that the profession runs in the family: son Jimmy is also an adidas Golf representative, selling shoes, sunglasses and accessories.
“My hope in being honored with this award is [to show] that if I can do it, anyone can,” Bishop said. “There’s never been a time in history that a single company has had a greater lineup of hot and innovative products to sell, nor has there been a company that has created a better selling culture in which to sell. I have never been more excited, energetic or passionate about selling and look forward to future growth.”
Bishop’s other past honors include:
2009 adidas Salesman of the Year
2009 adidas Salesman Club Award
2010 adidas Chairman’s Club Award
About Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. dba TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company
TaylorMade Golf has led the golf industry’s technological revolution since the company was founded in 1979. TaylorMade metalwoods, irons and putters have been used to win hundreds of professional golf tournaments around the world. In 1998, TaylorMade became a wholly owned subsidiary of the adidas Group. adidas Golf creates high-performance, technology-infused golf apparel and footwear worn by hundreds of professional golfers around the world. Ashworth, which became a brand of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company in 2008, creates relaxed, lifestyle-oriented golf apparel synonymous with authenticity and quality. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its brands at (866) 530-TMAG (8624) or www.taylormadegolf.com, www.adidasgolf.com, www.ashworthgolf.com, and www.tmag.com.
About the adidas Group
About the adidas Group The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry offering a broad range of products across the three core brands adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 39,000 employees and generated sales of EUR 10.381 billion in 2009.
Contact:
TaylorMade Golf
Public Relations Department
Christa McNamara
Tel: (760) 918.6466
christa.mcnamara@tmag.com
