BLACK
GOLD
Issue No. 69 August 2008
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words...
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Well, we’ve gone and done it now. The term ‘credit crunch’ has been used so much in recent months
that the learned folks at the Oxford English Dictionary have felt compelled to add the Americanism
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to the dictionary. No one uses the word ‘recession’ any more – that is so nineties.
According to the latest golf industry report published by Plimsoll, which consulted over 800
companies in the UK golf industry, this recession - which is partly fuelled by the credit crunch - is
not as ‘nineties’ as we would all have hoped, with the industry shrinking in 2008 by 4.3%, and even
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though sales are up in some quarters, profit margins are down. i
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The report makes for sobering reading, yet from the aviation industry, Ryanair boss Michael
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O’Leary was characteristically bullish in a recent BBC interview.
“I love recessions,” he said. “Good times are a pain in the bum. In good times any idiot can make
money. In recessions the good get off their backsides and start doing sensible things that they
should do all the time. It’s good for our business because Ryanair will emerge from this recession
stronger, fitter, leaner and still taking lumps off competitors.”
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The advantage Ryanair has in a slow economy is that people still travel by air, but they will look to
do it for less and turn to the budget airlines. A similar trend might be appearing in golf shops.
People still have money to spend, but they might think twice instead of making impulse buys, and
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perhaps they will go for a mid-range purchase when previously they would have gone for the top.
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O’Leary’s message is a positive one: it’s not the recession itself that dictates success or failure, but
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the way in which we react.
Lastly, you may or may not have noticed a small shift in the editorial team at SGB Golf, with former
editor Duncan Lennard taking on the roving role of contributing editor, while I have sat down in the
editor’s chair. Duncan did a great job as editor and we are delighted he is staying on in this new role,
which will ensure SGB Golf continues to go from strength to strength.
Robin Barwick
robin@barwickmedia.com
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On the cover . . .
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August 2008 Harrington win lays the path for new Kartel sales team
Padraig Harrington’s recent back to back wins at the Open
Championship could not have come at a better time for MD Golf,
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Blown Away
Industry news and views the new supplier of Kartel clothing in the UK. The MD Golf team
from Royal Birkdale
is currently pre-booking for Spring-Summer 2009 and this win
can only strengthen the profile of Kartel in the UK. Kartel is
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known for providing good quality shirts at competitive pricing,
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Ground Breakers
Welcome to the golfing
space age
however for 2009 there are many new additions which are sure to
be popular with retailers. In particular the new River II waterproof
suit hits a very competitive £79.99 with great margin for the
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Shapes & Sizes
Golfing fashion goes
sleek, bold and sensual
retailer. Other key items include the absorbtec range of
performance shirts, the machine washable mercerised sweater
and the new Kalmar trouser.
SGB Golf working
in association
with the British
Golf Industry Stock the brand of a Champion
Association
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