Sports PLC, owners of online sports equipment retailers www.thesportshq.com in the UK and www.golfoutletsusa.com in the US have announced strong sales growth for 2008 on both sides of the Atlantic and a year of exciting signings and acquisitions.
The UK operation was up 28% for 2008 including an increase of 34% in December and the US was up 22%.
Discussing the impressive performance, chairman and CEO Simon Millington commented, “It has been another wonderful year for the business with some recent major developments which will give us, we predict, strong growth in 2009 despite the current economic situation.”
“In July this year we signed former Masters Champion and Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam to represent our Forgan of St Andrews golf club range on tour and were delighted when he won the European Seniors Order of Merit in his first year with the brand. Forgan St Andrews, the world’s oldest golf company, launched an online custom fitting golf system www.forgan.co.uk which was the first of its kind in Europe and this has been extremely well received.”
“In November we completed the purchase of the world famous Cricket and Golf brand, Woodworm, for which we have great plans for 2009 and beyond”.
“We will continue to look for acquisitions of great sporting names in the coming year and to further enhance our management team which has recently been strengthened by 3 key personnel. Ryan Emery has joined us from Deloittes to become Financial Director, Rick Thackray has joined us after 20 years with American Golf as Operations director and Golf Industry veteran Steve Grant has taken the newly created role of European Sales Director to develop our wholesale arm.”
“Whilst there is little doubt 2009 will be challenging we are ready for that and believe strongly that our commitment to outstanding products at the lowest possible prices will continue to set us apart from the competition. Coupled to that our outstanding customer service we look forward to 2009 as a year of great opportunity.”