Retail Golf stores on the decline (Etail taking over)

Written by Mike Blair: (Owner of Linksmangolf.com and Gripgolf.com)

The holiday shopping season has come and gone for 2008 and it was an interesting one to say the least. If you happened to turn the news on you can't help but notice that the stock market has gone just a bit, people are losing their savings (albeit on paper for now), and retail stores are having sales advertising 50% off and many of them are closing their doors.

I personally do not like to shop in a retail store or mall environment (unless I am really in the mood and I can spend someone else's money). I was however gifted by my in laws a gift certificate at a local mall which I could use at any one of the stores. Did you ever notice how malls are really not made for men? Did you ever notice how malls really sell mainly clothing? And also what happened to Abercrombie & Fitch? (All their clothes are ripped and the store smells like cologne) Well anyways I was able to spend most of the certificate in no time flat acquiring clothing and shoes I really do not need (they need more golf stores at malls) but I am sure I will look more presentable with the new threads which will make my wife happy.

This leads me to my original thought. Retail is really in trouble. I run a golf business that is primarily run online but at the same time I work closely with many retail golf stores across the country through our sister company called SwingemAgain Golf where we buy used, new, and demo golf equipment from retail golf shops that have excess inventory. My family started one of the original retail golf stores in the country (and expanding to 7 locations before they sold the business) at a time when the concept was new but the times sure have changed for this channel of sales. Retail golf stores are really having an identity crisis where they can’t compete on price versus the internet and they are struggling to understand what will attract their customers through the store and once in the store to make a purchase. The online world has simply become too attractive for most shoppers as the pricing is substantially lower, the convenience factor is an asset, and the experience of online shopping continues to become more enjoyable as the internet matures and websites have new selling tools.

Photo of our home page on www.Linksmangolf.com

My wife, Virginia, who is not an avid golfer but a good shopper has also embraced the online shopping experience in exchange for the time consuming shopping retail experience. Since the shopping experience online is so much easier this actually has become a small problem as she finds more stuff to buy than I do in the world. With 2 small children she seems to somehow have a UPS package arrive at the door once a day (quite a challenge for most)

Ironically with all the above said our business which is solely online has just opened a retail store. Our store experience though is not very traditional in the retail sense as we are in a 10,000 sq ft. warehouse that is not clean and has poor lighting but golfers just love it.

Check out the photo of our shop:

We have a few sister companies that work under our umbrella of golf businesses which makes this little golf shop a must stop/shop for all golfers as we offer pricing that is not seen in traditional retail, no pressure sales, and a true warehouse experience. Check out our recent on FOX61 news: The photos is of me with the Rick (The Fox News Guy)

Happy shopping to all.