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PGA show moment

Just returned from the 2020 PGA Show in Orlando.

Had a great time meeting customers, viewing and trying new products, and making new friends.

But what struck me most was an interaction I had with a sales rep who uses GolfSurfin.com

While walking the show floor, someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked my name.

He said he noticed the logo on my shirt and wanted to introduce himself.

We shook hands and exchanged the usual first meeting pleasantries.

He then said he wanted to meet me because, as a result of our service, he was able to pickup a great line and deeply appreciated what we do and how we do it.

I was kind of caught off-guard and thanked him for the compliments.

As I walked away my eyes teared up for just a few seconds.

The most gratifying feeling one can have (at least for me) is to know that what you do for a living is actually helping another person and/or maybe adding to their quality of life…even if it’s just a teeny, tiny bit.

So despite being surrounded by tons of the fun, a simple Thank You from an appreciative service user was my most impactful experience at this year’s show.

Ok enough sappyness.

If you or your company is in need of quality sales reps, check-out our Sales Rep Blast Package.

Details below.

Dawn Schlesinger
Chiefgolfologist
Dawn@GolfSurfin.com

You don’t know jack about Thanksgiving

…at least we don’t at GolfSurfin.com.

Did you know there are over 200 websites discussing what really occurred during the very first official Thanksgiving celebration?

In fact, there’s a debate on just about every aspect of the first Thanksgiving meal including WHEN and WHERE it actually took place and WHO attended.

In reality, much of the information we were taught in school about Thanksgiving wasn’t necessarily true.

Details were manipulated and given a more positive “spin”.

Here are just a few interesting myths:

THE MENU

No turkey, cranberries, or pumpkin pie on the first Thanksgiving table. Instead the menu choices probably included passenger pigeon, venison, lobster, clams, mussels and eel.

No bread or butter or even sugar was available at that time!

ATTENDEES 

18 adult woman boarded the Mayflower. Yet by the time the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in the Autumn of 1621, of the 50 colonists who attended, only 4 were women!

Unfortunately for the men and women who arrived on the Mayflower, many did not survive that difficult first year in the U.S..

Regarding the Native American guests, no-one really knows for sure whether they were invited OR were already in the area busy with their own harvests and crashed the party.

UTENSILS 

No forks! Only knives and spoons were used at the first Thanksgiving table.

The origin of this fact is gray. Some sources claim colonists had forks yet traded them with native Indians for supplies and information. Others claim forks had not yet been invented. Instead, settlers ate with spoons, knives and their fingers!

When it comes to Thanksgiving facts or any claims made by anyone for that matter, you really don’t know what you’re getting until you do your research.

Which brings us of our Sales Rep Blast Promotion.

If you’re seeking sales assistance and like discounts, save 15% on our Sales Rep Blast Package for a limited time.

(If you miss the promo, purchase Sales Rep Package anyway. We’ll find independent reps for your company quickly & professionally and it’s still a great deal!)

Purchase package, save $$…no research needed!

Click here to get started.

Beware of Spooky Golf Employers

Employers constantly complain about bad candidates, a lack of solid ones available and turnover.

But what about scary employers?

You know the ones that never take responsibility for screwing-up the interview process and/or cause turnover.

In the spirit of Halloween, let’s look at some of the most scary golf employers that should be avoided during your job search.

The Ghost

The ghastly employer who “ghost”, fail to acknowledge applications, is the #1 culprit for angry candidate creation. This type of employer cannot get their act together to acknowledge receipt of your resume and/or position throughout the interview process.

It’s rude and unprofessional and eventually tarnishes the employer’s reputation.

Golf employers who ghost are usually the top tier manufacturers and golf clubs who get tons of applications for just about any position they post.

A funny twist that started about 2 years back, is that employers are now being ghosted by candidates!

The bottom line is poor etiquette on both sides.

The Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Employer

These ugly ghouls lurk throughout the interview process creating havoc the very first day at the workplace.

They describe your “dream job” during the interview yet when you accept the offer and begin employment, the job is not what you expected.

For example, you accept a job as GM thinking you’re the decision maker on most club issues yet quickly find out “the board” is really in-charge; you’re hired as a chef, clearly describing your talent in the fine dining arena during your interview, only to find out that club members demand basic comfort food. Or as a sales rep you take-on a new product and realize, after a couple of customer visits, there were four sales reps before you in two years in two years who failed miserably with the same line.

The Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde employer is dangerous because what you see is not what you get!

The Revolving Door Employer

Title sounds innocent enough but its effects are deadly.

Revolving door workplaces experience high turnover…when a % of employees leave your club/company over one year.

High turnover wastes money, time and kills a good company reputation.

Most importantly, turnover is like a hidden disease that starts with one employee and spreads throughout the organization.

The Revolving Door employer also creates low employee morale. When people start falling like hotcakes employees who remain start to wonder why they’re still there…even becoming bitter.

No one wants to be caught dead within The Revolving Door Employer!

So candidates beware of the above employers not just around Halloween but throughout the year.

And if you’re like one of the employers described above, chances are there are some issues within your company or its culture that must be solved before you start hiring new employees again.

If you’re an employer who refuses to wear one of the above costumes and have a position/positions to fill, post your job now.

Dawn McGarry Schlesinger
ChiefGolfJobologist
Dawn@GolfSurfin.com

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Take advantage of salespeople who call on your shop

Came across an article written in 1977 for Golf Business magazine titled “Take advantage of the salesmen who call on your shop”. Btw should now be titled “salespeople”.

The article gives a “birds eye” view of the trials and tribulations of a golf sales rep in “olden times”.

Thought it would interesting and valuable to compare the sales process today vs. yesterday.

We contacted a slew of current, solid golf reps and asked them to read the article then give their opinions on what they believe to be the biggest changes now vs. selling then.

Here’s what they said:

Buyers are unqualified – Gone are the days when golf pros owned their own shops. Today plenty of shops are staffed by under qualified employees, poorly maintained and merchandised and overall, unappealing to the buyer. Golf reps today must be product experts, know their accounts and educate the buyer. The most important task for today’s rep is to build customer rapport and figure-out which product will sell in each particular shop. Learning buying habits of club members is crucial!

Reps need to be picky when choosing lines – Buyers today don’t have lots of time and patience to spend on new product introduction. Typically this gives the rep time for maybe 2-4 new product/service presentations so the rep has to be smart and creative in what’s shown to the buyer. A big problem these days is golf reps carry too many lines. Some carry 10–15 lines. Unfortunately they throw as much product at the buyer as possible to see what sticks. This approach “waters down” the sales person’s credibility leaving a pissed-off buyer and manufacturer!

Golf sales reps have always had to be knowledgeable, honest and creative even back in the 70’s when the average price of a new home was $49,300.00, a gallon of gas cost 65 cents and a shiny new BMW 320i set one back around $8,000.00.

Current times are much tougher.

Green grass pro shops are up against on-line venues and big box stores making it nearly impossible to compete on price. Not to mention the overall health of the industry – shrinking since the glory days of Tiger Woods.

Reps today need to work smarter, prioritize the customer’s needs and be product “picky”. And for all you club pro shops out there with seasonal/temporary help, take advice from your loyal sales rep!

Although times have changed, some challenges remain the same.

Dawn Schlesinger
Chiefgolfjobologist
Dawn@GolfSurfin.com