Rocklin, CA – This March, the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) continues its mission to advance the golf retail industry through dynamic, expert-led webinars that empower professionals to think strategically and act proactively. Each session this month is designed for golf retail buyers, merchandisers, and industry vendors who want to stay ahead of trends, strengthen communication, and drive performance in their shops.
From transforming your pro shop into a high-velocity retail ecosystem to mastering communication that builds trust and connection, reigniting your store’s energy with The Crackle Factor™, and refining markdown strategies for maximum profitability, the March lineup offers forward-thinking insights and practical takeaways to help you grow revenue, inspire teams, and enhance the member experience.
The upcoming webinars are complimentary for AGM members and registration for non-members is available for $25 per session. As part of AGM’s commitment to continuous education and professional development, PGA members are eligible for 1 education credit for each webinar, while LPGA members can earn 2 credits of education per webinar. PGA of Canada Class ‘A’ members eligible for credit toward the Golf Operations Specialization: live attendees will receive 1 credit for a 1-hour webinar.
March Webinars:
Pro Shop 2030: Spatial Strategy for Revenue Acceleration
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST
Presenter: Ray Ehscheid, FRDI, IIDA, LEED Green Associate, Principal & National Practice Leader for Retail at NELSON Worldwide
Description: Today’s golf pro shop is at a strategic inflection point where spatial design becomes a commercial lever, not a cost center. Leveraging insight-driven layouts, frictionless merchandising adjacencies, and scalable prototype models, brands can unlock wallet uplift while staying footprint-efficient. This session reframes the pro shop as a high-velocity retail ecosystem that fuels basket expansion, conversion gains, and sustained loyalty without operational disruption.
Key Takeaways:
- Layouts engineered for conversion, basket size, and dwell optimization
- Apparel + equipment adjacency modeling rooted in ROI
- Season-ready prototype governance for multi-region scalability
Registration: https://pci.jotform.com/form/253506927944164
REAL Impact Communications: Market Less. Connect More.
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST
Presenter: Rita Goodroe, Business Consultant, Sales Coach and Community Building Strategist
Description: Marketing gets attention, but connection is what makes people respond, trust you, and choose you repeatedly. We send many messages in retail – launch info, promotions, reminders, follow-ups, announcements – but how much of it actually gets noticed and inspires action?
REAL Impact Communications shifts the focus from broadcasting to building buy-in. Effective marketing communication isn’t about saying more – it’s about saying what matters in a way that makes the other person feel understood, valued, and clear on what to do next. This fast-paced, insight-rich session blends sales, marketing, and relationship strategies to help you strengthen relationships, stand out in a crowded market, and build the kind of trust that drives repeat business and long-term accounts. Award-winning speaker and connection expert Rita Goodroe brings her signature humor, storytelling and practical tools to show how small shifts in language and strategy can transform your marketing impact.
Key Takeaways:
- Identify communication gaps that affect trust, responsiveness, and follow-through
- Apply storytelling techniques that help your message land and get remembered
- Revise messaging to create more personal, meaningful, and effective touchpoints
- Demonstrates how intentional language strengthens relationships and loyalty over time
- Design a communication strategy that blends marketing with meaningful connection
Registration: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260536834936163
The Crackle Factor
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST
Presenter: Georganne Bender, Principal – KIZER & BENDER Speaking, LLC
Description: It’s time to turn off the auto-pilot and make your store crackle again!
You may have noticed that something is missing in retail stores lately. Too many stores look and feel the same: stale, uninspired, and staffed with people who look like they’d much rather be somewhere else, doing something else. How your customers view your store is what counts, and today’s savvy customers want stores that CRACKLE! Now, you might read this and think, “not my store,” but what if your perception is wrong?
Retail anthropologist Georganne Bender calls it “The Crackle Factor™,” that wonderful feeling of anticipation customers get every time they visit their favorite store. That “you never know what cool thing is around the corner” kind of feeling that builds in the pit of your stomach. Crackle! Isn’t the merchandise you sell, and it’s not the four walls of your store; Crackle! is what your customers feel each time they walk inside your front door.
Join Georganne as she shares what successful retailers do to re-invent their stores and consistently create unique customer experiences. You’ll leave armed with enough crackling ideas to thrill your customers and leave your competition in the dust! If your Crackle Factor™ has fizzled out, then you won’t want to miss this exciting and profitable presentation.
Key Takeaways:
- Discover how to reignite your shop’s energy and create a space that truly crackles.
- Learn what “The Crackle Factor™” is — and why it’s the secret to customer excitement.
- Explore proven strategies top retailers use to create fresh, memorable experiences.
Registration: https://pci.jotform.com/form/253506972124154
Mastering Markdowns
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST
Presenters: Justine Cook, AGM Director of Membership and Education
Description: Markdowns are more than just discounts—they’re a strategic tool for driving profitability and keeping your shop fresh and inviting. In this seminar, discover why a well-planned markdown strategy is essential to your business’s success and how it can streamline your operations while elevating your shop’s appeal.
Key Takeaways:
- Simple Steps for Year-Round Success: Create a seamless, efficient markdown program that works throughout the year.
- Elevating Your Markdown Approach: Learn how to turn markdowns into opportunities to enhance your retail experience.
- Merchandising Markdown Items: Explore practical techniques to display markdowns in a way that keeps your shop looking polished and professional.
Registration: https://pci.jotform.com/form/253507797096168
About the Association of Golf Merchandisers
The Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM), a leading global professional organization, boasts over 900 buyers and 200 vendors committed to advancing the golf merchandising industry. Recognized for excellence, AGM aims to elevate retail standards, enhance industry relationships, and deliver continuous education. Our focus lies on key metrics, visual merchandising, promotions, and buying strategies, fostering profitable collaborations between golf retail buyers and vendors.
For more information, visit https://agmgolf.org/membership-2/
Media Contact: For media inquiries, contact: Megan Fidler, AGM Director of Marketing – megan@agmgolf.org – 916-717-4138
