golf elite 2002

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Q WHAT ARE SOME CREATIVE PROMOTIONS YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CLIENTS THAT INCLUDED A GOLF THEME OR GOLF PRODUCTS? DID THIS PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN LEAD TO REORDERS FOR YOUR COMPANY?

FRANK CALABRO,
Senior Marketing Executive, Imperial Marketing Inc.

A We did some cool things, like a mouse (that looked like) the head of a driver, a back massager that looked like a golf club, chamois towels that are waterproof, and the towel with the mesh backing that cleans your club off.

One of the great things about golf products is that they're ongoing--it's repeat business. A lot of times there's a training conference or meeting and they will invariably include golf as part of that. As long as the events keep going on, they reorder every year. You get some ancillary business as a result of it sometimes. An executive of a charity foundation was at one of our golf events and I did two or three hundred golf bags (for them).

JULIE ROSS,
National Account Manager, Zouire Promotional Marketing Group

A Zouire worked with Wilson Golf to create custom packaging for one of our car manufacturer's Company Boutique fulfillment programs. Each sleeve of the golf balls featured four car models and logoed golf balls. The box for the dozen balls also featured custom packaging of their high-end vehicle. This was the first time this program had featured golf balls. It needed to be something that matched their brand and really stood out, not just another give-away golf ball. This has been a Top-10 performer for us in the 2002 program.

SCOTT OSTRO,
Senior Sales Executive, Hachi International Inc.

A About a year ago, (a financial service company) was looking to do a mailing. They used a junior "caddy". It had a golf ball with the five-tee set as part of the mailing. We put their logo on the ball and their name on the tees. We started off with 500, then 1,000 three weeks later, then 1,500 a month later, then 2,500 a month or so after that. Their last buy was 5,000. The reason they did it is because it was an effective tool. This wasn't for people going to a golf outing--it was just a general business application. It was a door opener, and it was successful.

JEFF ANDERSON,
Owner, KB Team/Logo Golf Gear

A We've used our golf slot machine for trade shows and customers' events. It has a golf motif, with balls and clubs and a "hole in one" on the wheels. If you hit three balls, you win balls; if you hit three clubs, you win a logo club, and so on. It is a great way for our customers to have fun or to gain information and "face time" at an event or trade show. For one client, we went to a tournament (with the slot machine). The price for people to use the slot machine was their business card. The client gained contacts and we met people who turned into new orders. We have also tied golf items into corporate gift baskets and holiday gifts.

GARY NEWELL,
President, Lasting Impressions

A The best and most notable item I have sold to my customers is a shoe bag that has been embroidered or silk-screened. This gift is one that can be given that guarantees its use for years to come. Do you want to be the promotion that gets hit in the water and forgotten in 10 minutes? Instead, how about becoming the promotion that your customer will use for the next two to three years, remembering you more and more each time they use it? I want that golfer to think of me, or my client, each time they go to the golf course knowing I sold a great promotional product.

Q IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS IT ABOUT GOLF PRODUCTS THAT MAKE THEM SUCH GREAT PROMOTIONAL MARKETING TOOLS?

FRANK CALABRO
Imperial Marketing Inc.

A Golf is a sport that you can play your entire life. You can start when you're 12 and play well into your seventies and eighties, and not many sports let you do that. Golf is a highly specialized sport, and it's like boaters and pet owners--the people are obsessive about that kind of thing. It's not something you need, but it's something you want. It's all about who has got the bigger bag. It's all about showing your buddies the cool stuff.

JULIE ROSS
Zouire PMG

A With the expansion of golf into the mainstream population, the corporate market can hit the perfect profile for golfers. If people don't golf themselves, they know someone who does. In addition, the promotional items get away from any size issue most of the time.

GENE BATTELLE
Southwest Data Corporation

A Golf is a great tool for business people to mingle and make deals. It surges across gender and generational lines to allow all levels of employees to be involved. The promotional items end up being kept and used for long periods of time, except for golf balls, which are generally lost during the outings. Golf clubs, trophies, bags of all types and other golf related items tend to be kept in plain sight in offices or used over and over again by the recipient.

Q WHAT PROMOTIONAL GOLF ITEMS DO YOU THINK ARE MOST POPULAR, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE LEAST POPULAR?

SAMANTHA ANTROBIUS,
Marketing Coordinator, Imperial Marketing Inc.

A I would say a self-cleaning golf towel (is popular). Apparently, when you rub your golf club on it, the dirt doesn't stick--it balls up and falls away. Another popular item was the Drizzle Stix--it's an umbrella to cover the golf bag. We've done a poncho inside a golf-ball shaped container that twists open like a plastic egg. The customized money clip is another popular one that sells every year. That's the repeat item--I just go in and change the date. For the price point it's a nice piece. It has a high-perceived value. It seems a lot of the individuals who go to these golf events are men. They can carry this around with them all the time. We always do apparel and hats, and Koo Clips for sunglasses. We have done customized disposable cameras--those are popular. Usually we throw in a duffel bag to put all the trinkets in.

VINCENT PANTUSO,
Sales Manager, GJP Advertising Associates Inc.

A I've done many promotions for various companies. I've often just done their logos or their name on golf balls. Golf balls are the most popular item. Next would be shirts. Golf tees are No. 3, followed by golf hats. The least popular golf item is a bag to put your tees in, but I do see many of them on golf cars.

JEFF ANDERSON
KB Team/Logo Golf Gear

A The Golf Globe from Golf Plus is a snow globe without snow. Inside, there's a floating golf ball and a tee attached to the bottom. The water magnifies the golf ball (and the customer's logo) and you try to get the golf ball to sit in the tee. This is an item that does not get used as a car wash rag or tossed into the bottom of a desk drawer. This is the best $20 retail item we have seen in a long time. The I-Gotcha ball retriever is also a great tournament item. The retriever head and carrying bag can be logoed and it retracts to only 14-inch to fit into a golf bag pocket. A great $3-$4 item is the Putter Prop. It snaps onto the putter and runs parallel to the shaft, and kicks out like a kickstand. When you have to lay your putter down, this thing keeps the putter dry if the grass is wet and keeps the fertilizers and chemicals off the grip and your hands.

The worst golf item of all time has got to be the golf ball imprinter. It looks like a walnut cracker and is supposed to print a name on a ball. They don't work. Sell your customers balls that are imprinted at the factory.