How The PGA Show Changed My Career Forever!
It was 11 years ago this up coming weekend that changed the path of my career forever. I was traveling down to the PGA Show just like I will be this week. I was already a part of the golf industry although not to the extent I am now…the internet was in its infancy and stories about the show were buzzing around the industry faster then ever before. So I made the trip down to Orlando to see what I was hearing so much about. And it didn’t take long to figure out that it wouldn’t disappoint.
Champagne Taste With A Beer Income
From the second I walked through the seemingly endless sets of double doors to the main floor…I literally stopped in my tracks. As far I could see to my left then to my right and in front of me…there was nothing but one booth after another of brand new and also established companies showing off their newest creations. Back then companies like Titleist spent millions on their booths. Times have changed a little now but back then the idea of where the internet would take the industry had companies spending unheard of amounts of money trying to stake their claim on this gold-rush type environment. One of the most memorable was Burrows Golf and their MAC wedge. This company was unheard of at the time although I heard they spent 10 million dollars on their booth at the show! How in the world did they plan to make up this expense selling wedges. Hard to fathom now but back then believe it or not…it was all uncharted territory so their were big risks being taken…and this was just one of many. By the way they were not able to pay back that amount and were barely heard from again less then a year later. But hey…you can still find some of these wedges on Ebay…they had quite the surplus.
Swiss Cheese – Business Plans
Companies thought that the internet was going to put them in front of millions more people…they had assumed that the pie was going to grow on and on forever. Not ever stopping to think about the fact that the amount of golfers buying golf equipment really was not going to change at all…it was only the way they were reached that would change. And up to this point no one really thought about how they were going to be reached. Business plans seemed to be drawn up on a sketch pads they were so many holes in them…although Venture Capitalist and other funders were backing almost every wacky idea that involved anything to do with online sales or online software. Their were deals being had all over the show room floor. Big companies walking the convention center buying up peoples ideas they had only months ago concocted in their garages…it was incredible.
Big Companies Own The Industry But The Little Guys Own The Ideas
Things HAVE changed but the show still makes people like me feel like a kid in a candy store with limitless flavors to sample. And the show also is one of the reasons I started MyGolfSpy. Since not everyone is allowed into the show I felt like I needed to bring it to all those not able to attend. The PGA Show launches many incredible products every year that the average golfer does not get to see. The big companies own the golf industry but the little guy owns the ideas. And literally thousands of those ideas are put on display every year at the show. For many it is make it or break it. They are giving it one shot to see if their midnight brainstorm will sell. And many of those that don’t make it might have had a great idea but just did not have the business sense or money to make it reach the market. And even some that do make it don’t make it big time enough to be seen by the majority of golfers. So I felt like I was going to make it my job to highlight as many of these companies as I could to the readers of MyGolfSpy. Some of the most amazing concepts and products come out of the show from the smallest booths at the show. And some of the wackiest too!
>> How To Stay Updated With The 2010 PGA Show! <<
So in a couple days we will be heading back down to Orlando to cover all theses concepts and ideas for you guys to see. We will bringing you guys videos, interviews, spy photos, product demos and much more! And there are lots of ways that you guys can stay updated on MyGolfSpy’s major finds at the show! It is super simple…You can follow us the following 4 ways:
- HOMEPAGE -Make sure to check out the homepage from time to time this week to see updates. You won’t want to miss something special ;)
- TWITTER – many items that don’t make it to the homepage you will see pop up on our Twitter account…so make sure to add us so you get all the great finds from the show!
- FACEBOOK – if you don’t have Twitter but have a Facebook account our additional updates will also be posted for you to see on our Facebook Account.
- iPHONE – remember we are now iPhone and other smart phone friendly. So you can stay updated right from your phone as well!
Sam
14 years ago
Well I understand that things come up and I respect that you put your family first mgs