ProQuip, the world’s leading innovator of lightweight golf weatherwear, has re-launched into North America, it was announced this week at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida.
The re-emergence of ProQuip USA (www.proquipgolfusa.com) follows a recently signed licensing agreement with ProQuip Ltd, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and re-introduces the company’s state-of-the-art performance weatherwear to the world’s largest golf market.
The announcement arrives in the afterglow of ProQuip’s high-profile performance at the rain-drenched 2010 Ryder Cup matches, where the company was the Official Weatherwear Provider for the European team and where, in unprecedented scenes during the opening morning’s weather delay, ProQuip rain suits were purchased as alternative rain gear for the American team and its caddies.
The resulting torrent of media coverage over the “Ryder Cup rain suit” storyline brought extraordinary global publicity and brand awareness to ProQuip. It also brought countless requests for ProQuip product from golfers, professionals, green-grass shops and retailers from around the world, particularly in the U.S.
“The journey over the last year to bring the world’s finest weatherwear back to North America has been very rewarding and the validation ProQuip recently received during the Ryder Cup was thrilling — a clear testament as to why we are excited to offer these products in 2011 to our market,” said Peter Dalton, CEO, ProQuip USA. “We have received remarkable interest in the products over the last several months and we look forward to delivering the highest quality, service and product versatility for our clientele.”
Dalton brings to ProQuip USA more than 30 years of experience in the golf business and corporate worlds. He is a former regional manager for the Ben Hogan Company and territory manager for Spalding Sports Worldwide. Dalton brings a strong financial background having previously served as director of corporate business for VFA, Inc., the leading provider of integrated software and services for facilities asset management.
ProQuip USA’s 2011 Weatherwear Collection will include a complete line of waterproof, quiet, breathable, stretch performance and ultra-lightweight rain suits and wind apparel for men and women. The collection will also feature a recently introduced, innovative water repellent knitwear collection, featuring lined, premium British lamb’s wool and luxury Italian spun Merino, specially treated so that water beads up and runs off the wool. The garment is also machine-washable and tumble dryer friendly, the first high quality yarn and knit of its kind produced with total easy care.
“We are very enthusiastic about the product range that ProQuip USA will bring to market in 2011,” added Dalton. “The communication lines with ProQuip Ltd. have been exceptional as it relates to future product development opportunities for the North American market. In fact, we are currently in design/development of several products that will only be offered in North America.”
For two decades the product development and design for ProQuip waterproofs and wind apparel has been the responsibility of Richard Head, managing director of ProQuip, Ltd. Head worked hand-in-hand with 2010 European Ryder Cup Team Captain Colin Montgomerie in the design of the team rain suit. Head has designed rain suits for over a dozen Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup teams since 1991.
“We’re thrilled for ProQuip to be able to re-enter the North American market and re-establish a specialist brand from the home of golf, Scotland, whose expertise is focused on one product sector alone – weatherwear,” said Head.
ProQuip USA’s sales and distribution operations exclusively encompass the following markets: United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Islands of the Caribbean and Bermuda. ProQuip USA is located at 40 Tioga Way, Suite 200, Marblehead, MA 01945 and can be contacted at 781.639.1060 or online at www.proquipgolfusa.com