One of the largest golf distributors in Europe, the Spanish company Holiday Golf, has just entered the golf markets of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Founded in 1991, Holiday Golf has grown from its modest origins based on hard work, effort, teamwork and an intuitive and strategic commercial action, to become one of the largest golf distribution groups in Europe. It currently works with a large number of top brands in the sector at European level, including leading firms such as J. Lindeberg, ECCO Golf, Glenmuir, Golf Pride, AHEAD, Bridgestone Golf, Oakley, Garmin, Peter Millar, Daily Sports, Black Clover, BIGMAX, Callaway Apparel and Ofelia T, among many others.
In its launch in the UK and Ireland, Holiday Golf is initially focusing on certain brands, such as CaddyTalk, an advanced distance meter from Korea; as well as Ofelia T, a premium in-house leather goods and accessories brand already present in the UK’s high-end golf resorts. More recently, it has also been commissioned to introduce Black Clover, a premium cap and apparel brand from the US, which is making its debut in the English-speaking market with its much-loved four-leaf clover logo.
The CEO and owner of the company, Stefan Tjellander, joined the company in 1995, when there was only one part-time office employee, and today it is a multi-million Euro turnover company, with a team of over 40 direct employees, 10 sales representatives in Spain and Portugal, together with independent international agents, from a world-class general center, with spectacular warehouses and showroom in Marbella, in the heart of the Costa del Sol.
“We distribute 10 of the best golf apparel brands in Spain, controlling around 60%-70% of the apparel market in the region,” explains Stefan Tjellander.
“There are stores whose stock is exclusively of our clothing. It’s a different model to the traditional UK approach, but we make sure that each golf store has the right brands for its clientele. We also invest in redesigning the stores to maximize their sales and ensure they have professional merchandising.”
While Holiday Golf operates primarily as a distributor of golf products to retail stores – the majority of golf clubs and stores in Spain and Portugal receive its products – the company also has more than 1,500 corporate clients. In addition, it has expanded its operations to include most of Europe, including the Emirates and the U.S.
Over the past 20 years, Holiday Golf has successfully developed its own Spanish product with Ofelia T, a renowned brand of luxurious leather accessories and complements for golfers, handcrafted in Jerez.
Distributed worldwide, Ofelia T’s products are now featured prominently in exclusive clubs such as St. Andrews, Trump Turnberry, The K Club, Archerfield, Ballybunion, Old Head, Hoggs Head, Fossil Trace, Wynn, Valderrama and Finca Cortesin, among others. With all this, we can find her articles in 25 countries around the world. Ofelia T is also an official ‘proud supporter’ of the Solheim Cup, and will have a prominent presence in the merchandising tent of the event next September.
Heading up Holiday Golf’s new UK and Ireland operations team is Steve Grant as Sales Director. A highly regarded industry professional, recently Sales Director of Worldwide Golf Brands, he will bring with him a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the UK golf market, with over 38 years’ experience. Damien Vaughan, and his experienced team at Inspired Sports, will also support the Irish golf market.
“It’s really exciting to be working for a company with such a fantastic reputation globally. I’m currently building my commercial team, and we’re starting with CaddyTalk and Ofelia T, and I think Black Clover, an exciting premium cap and apparel brand, is going to do really well in the UK,” comments Steve Grant.
Over the past six years, Holiday Golf has focused on increasing its supply capacity by developing its warehouse, internal administration, and digitizing the company in all areas, with an efficient B2B ordering system. Undoubtedly, an efficiency that is going to help it grow its business rapidly in the UK and Ireland.
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