There had been great anticipation all year for the 2022 Show. The group’s October 2020 and 2021 meetings and shows had been canceled due to Covid concerns so some attendees came in a day early to reunite and socialize with a renewed sense of community. The Board of Directors met for a Sunday night strategy dinner session and a Monday morning Board meeting strategy and planning session to focus and direct the group’s committees and corporate office.
The popular Marketing and Best Practices seminar opened with group partner Mizuno’s Senior Director of Golf Jeremy Galbreth providing a product line plan overview and sharing some remarkable growth numbers by the group. Galbreth then conducted a Q &A to obtain feedback from members intended to zero in on how best to sustain that momentum.
The Chairman of the Board Ken Morton Jr. of Haggin Oaks then took the podium, and gave an overview of the content of his latest Little Book of Big Golf promotions. Morton then delivered an in-depth PowerPoint presentation on Experiential Retailing, and The Power of Planning and Promotions showcasing his vendor scorecard process and how NGBA’s exclusive, unique offerings can address previously unsupplied product price points. With samples of the actual products off to his side, Morton followed with a crowd-pleasing PowerPoint presentation of unique products and special programs that benefit both top-line and bottom-line gross profit dollars while filling consumer needs.
Monday concluded with the very popular Welcome reception that brought all the members and vendor partners together for a few hours of food, beverages and socializing in a Pergola overlooking Lake Hubbard.
The Tuesday member only Corporation meeting was opened by the group’s Executive Director Lee Clapp who welcomed the 38 members operating 66 stores coast to coast, including new member Dan Arrighi of Golf NV in Reno, NV. Since they joined in a year NGBA couldn’t hold this meeting Clapp welcomed Golf USA Coralville, Iowa members Bruce and Patti Brooke. He introduced the group’s Board of Directors and committees, who dedicate time from their families and businesses to provide insight and feedback regarding group projects.
Ken Morton Jr. gave a Board of Directors Report and pledged to build on the strong foundation built by current President Scott Hoffman. He restated the value of ideas that will emerge organically from networking with friends and peers and promised that the NGBA Team has left no stone unturned to build special buys, limited edition and exclusive releases with partners like Sun Mountain, Callaway, Sunday Bag Co., and Wilson. He announced two changes on the executive board; stepping forward to assume the Board term of the retiring John Rang and also voted in as a unanimous Board appointment was industry respected retailer Jason Fryia, and current Board member Ryan Austad being unanimously elevated to Vice President.
NGBA is first and foremost a buying organization, and Morton laid out a multi-point plan overview covering the course of the next 2 years to explore and potentially activate, such as special buy, limited edition and exclusive release line extensions to benefit all members.
The next presenter was Lisa Langas RX Global of the PGA Show, who with Ken and the NGBA Corporate Team created a very unique opportunity for the group. The mutual goal was to incentivize the membership to attend the January 2023 PGA Show. She outlined some of the larger companies returning like Ping, Titleist, FootJoy, Srixon Cleveland, Trackman, Bushnell, US Kids, Toptracer, Summit Brands, Straight Down and more, plus verbal agreements contracts with some larger companies.
NGBA’s own Sarah Hutchings provided an overview of NGBA’s Marketing platforms like the Monday Marketing eblast and Wednesday vendor update, marketing calendar and surveys and new projects on the drawing board. E catalog newsletters will be created to spotlight specific events like Masters, Father’s Day and Holiday.
Joe Costa, NGBA Programs Director briefed the group on the NGBA member Special Programs and Products most category coverage ever 300-page binder.
Ken Morton Jr. then returned to the podium and presented an abbreviated version of his 48 page Monday Best Practices Backspin and SMU PowerPoint category-by-category presentation that showcased the NGBA Golf Headquarters special products and programs.
Lee Clapp returned to the podium to announce the first annual Member Recognition awards recognizing service to the group or industry, along with its top 3 special program achievers and leading philanthropist.
Charpentier Founders Award: Joe Thomas of Golf HQ Boardman, Ohio.
Member Community Advocate of the Year: Ken Morton Jr. of Haggin Oaks, Sacramento, CA.
Polivka Founders Award: NGBA Special Programs Support (3 total awards).
Tim Whalen of Fiddler’s Green, Oregon
Dave Puetz of Puetz Golf and Mike Livingston in Washington state.
Bill Mitchell of Mitchell Golf, Montana.
The members then headed into the Showroom for the first of two days of the Order Writing Show with 43 Vendor partner companies in attendance.
As in the past, with sponsorship assistance from Mizuno, NGBA hosted a reception in the Showroom from 5 pm to 7 pm, where members and vendors could still visit in booths with food and beverages.
Wednesday of the show opened with a member only Round-table, member by member, asking them to share exciting products, programs and vendor feedback. There were many good points and suggestions made. The roundtable wrapped up and the members then headed back into the exhibit hall for the final day of the show. There was a final Wednesday lunch with the vendor partners, and at 4 pm the show concluded, with a sense of optimism from both members and vendors and looking forward to reconnecting at the PGA Show in Orlando in January, 2023.
For more information contact:
Lee Clapp, NGBA Executive Director
843-402-0142
