Mizuno, the Japanese golf equipment manufacturer long renowned for its industry-leading golf clubs and product innovation, has reported strong sales figures in all categories for the full year (April 2017 to March 2018) across its EMEA golf operation, with net sales up 12% year-on-year (YOY).
An incredible response to the three new MP-18 iron models helped Mizuno’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) golf operation achieve a record first half by volume and margin sales, and despite some of the worst weather on record during the early part of 2018, that strong performance has continued throughout the second half to leave net sales for the 2017/18 full year up 12% YOY, with nearly all product categories showing significant year-on-year growth.
“2017/18 has been a benchmark year for the Mizuno brand,” said Rob Jackson, Head of Golf EMEA. “It has been a year of real momentum for us with traction out on tour that has translated into strong retail sales across all categories.”
Club sales, the backbone of Mizuno EMEA’s business, were up 4%, buoyed by the arrival of the new MP-18 Series irons, and a string of achievements on the world’s major tours by both contracted and non-contracted players, with more and more top professionals switching to Mizuno irons out of choice. The most of recent of successes being back to back U.S. Open wins for Mizuno irons.
“Tour players choosing to play our products has sent out a very strong message and we are delighted by the progress made in all other product categories too, with the strong growth in shoe sales particularly pleasing,” added Jackson.
Other headline performances have come from shoes and gloves, with the former up 113% YOY and the latter up 85%. Mizuno golf shoes have caught many an eye since their relaunch in the EMEA region, with both its WAVE Cadence and Nexlite models extremely well-received.
The expanded range of MP-S, MP-X, JPX and JPX-S balls has seen ball sales increase by a very healthy 29% YOY too, while bag sales were up 37% and soft goods including apparel up 44%.
Mizuno, founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1906, has long held an enviable industry- and tour-wide reputation for crafting the very finest irons on the market, whether the more widely playable JPX Series or the fabled MP players’ models in recent years.
The launch of the new MP-18s heralded a new era in players’ irons. With three distinct models and head types, there is greater scope than ever before for better players to mix and match models to create the perfect set for their needs. Grain Flow Forged in the brand’s exclusive Hiroshima plant and refined by Mizuno’s renowned master craftsmen in YORO Japan – including the legendary Turbo – the MP-18s are ‘irons to touch the soul’ and have been designed to find the artist in every player.
Late 2017 also saw Mizuno launch two new metalwood families – the ST180 and GT180 Series, featuring revolutionary metalwood technology. The ST180 is on point for today’s generation of high ball speed players now prevalent on tour. Approaching the science of driving head-on, the ST180 has a simple weight forward, low-spin profile, engineered to reduce spin rates. The new GT180 is a more sophisticated design with an expanded capacity to manipulate weight throughout the head – ideal for fitting studios and players looking to squeeze the last few yards from their swing’s motion.
With a fast turnaround on all new custom clubs, Mizuno has strived to “create the best products for consumers” for 112 years, and the new MP-18 Series irons and ST180 and GT180 metalwoods adhere firmly to that original spirit and desire, while offering the best performance benefits that modern technology can bring. #nothingfeelslikeamizuno
For more information on the MP-18 Series irons, ST180 and GT180 metalwoods, and Mizuno’s full range of golf equipment, apparel and accessories visit: golf.mizunoeurope.com