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November Education with the AGM: Elevating Customer Experiences and Making Smarter Retail Decisions

October 28, 2026

ROCKLIN, Calif. – The Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) is bringing golf retail professionals a fresh lineup of educational opportunities this November, with sessions designed to turn everyday challenges into opportunities for growth. This month’s webinars explore how to create standout customer experiences, put retail data and AI to work, establish service standards that drive results, and better understand the numbers behind a successful golf shop.

Whether focusing on the customer standing at the counter or the data guiding the next buying decision, each session offers practical ideas participants can bring back to their retail operations. From building stronger customer relationships and encouraging repeat business to improving inventory performance and making more confident, informed decisions, November’s lineup helps golf retail professionals strengthen both the service they deliver and the business behind it.

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.

November Webinars:

The Red-Carpet Treatment: 3 Steps to Creating VIP Customer Experiences Every Time – Nicole Hoffman

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST
Presenter: Nicole Hoffman, Founder & Publisher at Retail Minded

Description: Every customer who walks into your store deserves to feel like a VIP. In today’s competitive retail landscape, exceptional customer service isn’t optional — it’s the differentiator that turns browsers into buyers and buyers into loyal advocates. This session introduces a simple, actionable 3-step framework for delivering “Red Carpet Treatment” service that builds trust, drives repeat visits, and leaves a lasting impression. Nicole Hoffman delivers this attendee favorite session with an unexpected twist that leaves participants surprised, immersed and ultimately, ready to take action when they return to their stores.

Key Takeaways:

  • Step 1 – Welcome with Intention: How to create immediate connection and set the tone for the customer experience
  • Step 2 – Personalize the Experience: Strategies for listening, anticipating needs, and tailoring service in meaningful ways
  • Step 3 – Leave a Lasting Impression: Closing the interaction in ways that inspire return visits, positive word-of-mouth, and loyalty
  • Retailers often compete on product and price — but the true competitive advantage lies in how customers feel when they engage with your store. By mastering these 3 steps, retail operators can elevate everyday service into a memorable experience that keeps customers coming back

Registration: https://pci.jotform.com/form/262284983641163

Beyond the Reports: Using Retail Data & AI to Make Better Merchandising Decisions – Northstar Technologies Inc.

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM EST / 10:00 AM PST
Presenters: Northstar Technologies Inc. Team: Karen Barok, Director of Education & Client Engagement; Charles Fox, Product Analyst – Golf Technology

Description: Today’s golf retail professionals have more data available than ever before—but turning that data into smarter purchasing, merchandising, and inventory decisions remains a challenge.

This practical webinar explores how golf shops can move beyond simply running reports to building a consistent retail analytics process that improves inventory performance, protects margins, and supports better buying decisions. Learn how to identify the metrics that matter, uncover hidden opportunities within your inventory, and use today’s AI tools to dramatically accelerate analysis without replacing professional judgment.

Whether you manage a single golf shop or multiple retail locations, you’ll leave with a simple monthly playbook you can immediately implement to make more confident, data-driven merchandising decisions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Build a practical monthly retail analytics review process
  • Identify inventory trends before they become costly problems
  • Evaluate product performance beyond simple sales reports
  • Recognize opportunities to improve inventory turnover and cash flow
  • Use AI tools to summarize large retail datasets and surface actionable insights
  • Develop a repeatable framework for smarter purchasing and merchandising decisions

Registration: https://pci.jotform.com/form/262467367569171

Million Dollar Standards – Justin Studebaker

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST
Presenters: Justin Studebaker, M.A., Owner/Certified Working Genius Trainer/Organizational Health Practitioner, Symphoneo Consulting

Description: Your customers can buy golf gear anywhere online. What they can’t get online is the feeling of being known. In this 50-minute session, Justin Studebaker, who was Nordstrom Roseville’s first million-dollar seller three years running and the namesake of Travis Mathew’s “The Studebaker” shirt, shares the system he now uses to help golf shops turn everyday service into growing sales and loyal regulars.

Key Takeaways:

  • Set clear service standards that leaders model and staff follow, no matter who’s working the counter
  • Build trust that makes every customer feel seen, valued, and relevant
  • Turn standards into daily habits that raise performance without constant oversight
  • Use simple discovery techniques that open better conversations and bigger sales
  • Build an ownership mindset so staff solve problems instead of passing them along

Registration: https://pci.jotform.com/form/262857034141151

Back to Basics: What Do My Retail Metrics Mean? – Justine Cook

Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST
Presenter: Justine Cook, AGM Director of Membership and Education

Description: Let’s get back to basics and take the mystery out of retail metrics. Retail metrics don’t have to be intimidating. In this seminar, we’ll break down the essential retail metrics every golf shop professional should know, including retail sales, inventory performance, profitability, and the key metrics used to measure golf shop performance. You’ll learn what each metric means, why it matters, and how to interpret the story behind your numbers to make more informed retail decisions. Whether you’re new to golf retail or simply looking for a refresher, this session will help build confidence in reading your retail reports, understanding your shop’s performance, and using data to support smarter everyday decisions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understand the purpose and meaning behind essential retail metrics
  • Interpret what your numbers are telling you about sales, inventory productivity, profitability, and the overall health of your retail operation
  • Build confidence in reading retail reports and using key metrics to make smarter decisions that support a stronger, more profitable golf shop

Registration: https://pci.jotform.com/form/262857017013150

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
Megan Fidler, AGM Director of Marketing
megan@agmgolf.org
916-717-4138

 

 

 

 

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