The retail golf store has been witnessing changes relative to the vast growth of online consumerism. Probably as no surprise, the shift in buying golf equipment has increasingly being done by online sales. Also, there is a gravitation towards the experimentation component of the products, which entails equipment fittings and free trials that companies are adopting today.
In 2018, there was a 3.4% decline in the number of off-course golf specialty retail locations, which represents a drop of 708 to 684 stores. In the past 4 years, this sector of the market has decreased by 19%. However, this contraction of the brick and mortar stores is not correlated with a similar reduction to golf equipment spending. Rather, this contraction has more to do with a shift in the way consumers are buying products. Consumers are gravitating towards e-commerce golf companies/websites and places like Amazon that can offer greater convenience and better online exclusive deals. As a way to adapt, many brick and mortar stores have sought to adapt experimental components to their experience by doing personal fittings and indoor simulators.
These types of trend change within the golf market line exactly align with our strategies here at OnCore. Our direct to consumer approach allows us to sell directly to you rather than going through a big-box store, which allows us to sell our products online at lower prices. Also, providing you the ability to test our products for free and utilize our OnRange experience (indoor golf simulator) allows you to experiment with the ball and hone your game. Our goal is to provide golfers with a great golf ball for lower prices along with an easier and more convenient process of purchasing, emphasizing the belief that we can and will adapt to this everchanging consumer market.
