As Europe sealed victory at the Ryder Cup, ProQuip, the specialist Scottish weatherwear company, prepared to respond to phenomenal international demand, especially from America, for its new range of products.
While ProQuip was the Preferred Weatherwear Supplier to the European Ryder Cup Team, in unprecedented scenes during the opening morning’s weather delay, ProQuip was asked unexpectedly to supply reserve rain suits to the American team, caddies and officials. As a result, more than 25 ProQuip TourFlex suits were sold from the official merchandise tent.
Unsurprisingly, amid the appalling weather that plagued the match, ProQuip sold out of rain suits at the Celtic Manor Resort.
Now, the newly relaunched brand is facing a new deluge – demand for its new products.
Paul Gerrard, a Director of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill, which acquired ProQuip in summer 2009 and has invested significantly in new products, leading to a 50% increase in revenues year-on-year, said: “The response to events at the Ryder Cup has been phenomenal. We have had buyers and retailers contacting us from all around the world, and especially America. They all want to know if they can order ProQuip products.
“What I can say is that we are close to securing a deal that will enable ProQuip to re-enter the American market and re-establish a specialist brand from the home of golf, Scotland, whose expertise is focused on one product sector alone – weatherwear.”
Paul Gerrard also said that plans were afoot to accelerate ProQuip’s expansion into Continental Europe and that major distributors are being sought.
A total of 17 new ProQuip weatherwear products have been launched in the past 14 months and while the brand is best known for its ultra-lightweight, quiet rain suits, it has recently introduced an innovative Water Repellent Knitwear collection, featuring premium British lambswool and luxury Italian spun Merino, specially treated so that water beads up and runs off the wool.
“We were already enjoying a resurgence in sales before the Ryder Cup,” continued Paul Gerrard. “Now, the publicity and brand awareness generated by the Ryder Cup is enabling us to rapidly build on that success and turn demand into sales.”
Gerrard added: “While we would have never wished for so much rain at the Ryder Cup, it just goes to show that every cloud does indeed have a silver lining.”
ProQuip www.proquipgolf.com