Direct Golf UK, Europe’s award winning and leading multi-channel specialist golf retailer, has promoted Simon Corp to the role of marketing and commercial manager.
Corp, 32, has been marketing manager for Direct Golf and its house brands for nearly three years and now takes on the added responsibility of the role of commercial manager, which has been vacant since April.
Company owner and founder John Andrew explained: “The commercial side of Direct Golf – working with the trade to open up our existing customers to further great opportunities – has expanded considerably over the past few years and has been working really well.
“However, rather than fill the vacant position of commercial manager from outside, we have opted to broaden Simon’s remit within the company to also take on the role of commercial manager, a role with which he is already familiar and dealing with clients which, in many cases, he already knows very well.
“We believe this continuity will benefit both Direct Golf and its increasing customer base.”
Corp also takes on responsibility for advertising budgets, managing the John Letters brand and overseeing the academies. It is a wide remit and is a challenge he is relishing.
He added: “I’m delighted to be able to take on the extra responsibility within Direct Golf and the new role is one which I’m approaching with great enthusiasm and determination.
“We have one of the best, if not the best, database in UK golf, which ensures Direct Golf is a hugely beneficial platform for commercial partners. It is my intention to continue to grow the commercial arm of Direct Golf and maintain the best potential ROI for our customers.”
Earlier this year, commercial activity saw Direct Golf increase its sponsorship of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, offering members and supporters exclusive deals on the popular, ground-breaking Progen range of golf equipment, and increasing its branding presence in and around Headingley, the cricket club’s home for almost 125 years.
It also launched a new loyalty card system which saw 10,000 customers sign up within the first few weeks, while appointing Chris Clarke, a former college room-mate of US Ryder Cup star Hunter Mahan, as the company’s marketing co-ordinator, a position which takes on much of the day-to-day marketing, freeing up Corp to take on extra responsibility.
Yorkshire-based Direct Golf UK has 20 branches nationwide and was named ‘best mail order company’ for eight successive years in the Today’s Golfer reader awards. The company, founded by John Andrew, a Class AA, PGA professional, in 1991, has enjoyed massive growth in 23 successful years of trading.
It started with one small shop in Huddersfield, but its philosophy of cutting manufacturers’ recommended retail prices proved to be very popular with the golfing public and it quickly gained the reputation for the best prices in the UK. Backed up with fast delivery and world-class customer service, Direct Golf UK grew quickly into one of the largest specialist golf retailers in the UK and Europe.
Simon Corp can be contacted via simon.corp@direct-golf.co.uk