Our First P.G.A. Merchandise Show

The Golf Cradle's first P.G.A. Show in Orlando Florida was in January 2007. This is a show that takes up 10 square miles of Merchandise, New Products, and an assortment of venders ranging from the first time attendee presenting a new product to the big boys (Ping, Calloway, Taylor Made, etc.). This is the Big Show....

This was Golf Cradle's first showing. Needless to say, I was way in over my head on this one...When I first committed to the show, I had thought that all our loose ends would be tied up and our team would be ready. Was I wrong.

Some of the problems that I had to work through were buying and designing a booth, travel arrangements, who was going to work the booth, advertising, and product delivery. Now remember, the P.G.A. show was my first attempt at a trade show. I was scheduled to attend some smaller regional shows the weeks to follow (approximately 14 of them). In hide site, I had no business being at the P.G.A. show. I was not prepared with regard to retail packaging, advertising, nor salesmanship. My product was not ready, but yet I pushed to get there.

On the positive side, I was able to present my product and was picked up by a couple of distributors. With a great deal of work, frustration, and money, my efforts proved to be rewarding with regard to exposer and making contacts. My eyes were also opened with regard to how much more work was in front of me to to play in world of marketing and sales. A bit overwhelming.

What I took away from the show was a great deal of experience that I was able to apply to the following regional shows that I was scheduled to attend.