Everything went off well: 122 exhibitors were presenting their innovations for the coming season to 2,144 visitors from the trade at GOLF EUROPE 2013
The Augsburg Trade Fair was held from 29 September to 1 October 2013 on 8,500 m2 of exhibition space and was all about golf. Professionals and representatives from 29 countries met in a sporting atmosphere at the international trade fair for golf: GOLF EUROPE.
“We really are going in the right direction”, stated the managing director of Messe Augsburg, Gerhard Reiter, “The leading businesses from the industry such as TaylorMade adidas Golf Company, which presented itself with the TaylorMade, adidas Golf, Ashworth and Adams Golf brands, and the Wilson Sporting Goods Company, felt really comfortable in Augsburg, as did the other exhibitors who numbered more than 120 – that is the best foundation for developing this top-drawer trade fair, which was held in Augsburg for the second time and has now already been held on a total of twenty occasions.”
Andreas Dorsch, the managing director of the Golfmanagement Verband Deutschland, confirmed that, “With its second appearance in Augsburg Golf Europe has given a clear sign that it is going in the right direction. It has established itself as an important venue for the industry and in its present format it really has justified its right to exist. Golf Management Verband Deutschland will continue to commit itself to working together as the ideal partner with Golf Europe.”
A high-power supporting programme rounds off the exhibition programme. The recently introduced Coaching Seminar laid on by the ETPI, and organised by the PGA European Tour, provided answers to the questions posed by professional golfers, backed up with in-depth scientific data about the human body, driving and the flight of the ball. This multi-disciplinary approach which is already used by the European Tour players, ensures that the best possible development programme can be produced, tailored to meet the requirements of the individual.
Those who are interested can expand their specialist knowledge and pick up tips and ideas at first hand in the lectures presented by experts at no cost in the Learn & Earn Zone, organised by the PGAs of Europe and the PGA of Germany. Felix Lechner, marketing manager of the partner working together with GOLF EUROPE, notably the PGA of Germany, which provides intellectual and professional support, is pleased that the programme of lectures has been so well received, “The trade fair is much too good to do without it”.
The happy PRODUCT AWARD Winner in 2013
Exhibitors with particularly innovative products were afforded an opportunity to submit their new products in a total of nine categories with the aim of winning the GOLF EUROPE PRODUCT AWARD. An independent international panel of experts filled with well-known representatives from the trade, the media and professional players assessed the 62 product innovations submitted in the course of the trade fair.
In the Caddy category the SugarMonkeys won with QOD and the HAAS commercial agency won with its SUN MOUNTAIN COMBO, in the Clothing category the 1st prize went to Reithmeier Sportmodenvertrieb for its Wild Green. For GPS equipment, Garmin won with Garmin Approach S2 and Golf Tech won with Caddietech X1. In the Accessories category Golf Tech also won with BIG MAX I-Dry Raincover. TaylorMade won in the Clubs category with the SLDR Driver and Adams Golf won a prize with Tight Lies Fairway Way. In the Training Aids category for RSSDD – premiumbrands4golf won with Welling Put. In the Golfbags category the prize went to Golf Tech for its I-Dry Aqua Standbag and to The Cork Tree for its GOLF CARTBAG IN CORK LEATHER. In the Shoes category Henry & Magda managed to notch up the top spot with Henry & Magda as did adidas Golf with adidas adizero Tour.
Clean Winners e.V. was represented with a stand at GOLF EUROPE
Clean Winners e.V. campaigns for children in need aged from six to sixteen years. Clean-Winners children are given support and sports teachers for all different types of sport. To this end the association, its representatives and well-known ambassadors such as the PGA-Professional, Felix Lubenau, campaign on behalf of children and youngsters from socially-deprived areas in Germany and had a stand at the trade fair.
After the trade fair the visitors and exhibitors visited the second-oldest town in Germany
After the trade fair most exhibitors and visitors took advantage of the opportunity to stroll around the wonderful old town centre of Augsburg as well and allow themselves to be spoiled by the gastronomic delights on offer. The short distance from the trade fair to the centre of Augsburg offered the visitors and exhibitors an outstanding opportunity to take a leisurely stroll around the town in the evening.
What the Exhibitors have to say
“We are very happy with the outcome of our participation in GOLF EUROPE 2013 and we will definitely be here next year to build up an even stronger foundation. For us it shows that GOLF EUROPE provides not only a perfect venue for the gathering of the European Golf business, but also a successful order-platform. Our first time at the show has been very promising.” Andrew Law, Vice President – TaylorMade Golf Company
“Once again we have enjoyed the opportunity to meet both existing and new customers during the Golf Europe 2013 show. The overall atmosphere has been excellent, venue good with the number of visitors to our stand up on last year whilst quality remained high. Credit should go to the organisers who have delivered a good show platform which continues to improve each year. We look forward to 2014 and continued evolution.” Andrew Keast, Director – MIA Sports Technology
“We are very satisfied and we made exceptionally good contacts which proved to us that the demand for our brand is greater than ever before.” Karsten Klische, Business Manager – Wilson Golf Deutschland
“A super trade fair, even better than last year. Some more improvements were made on the service and organisation side. We are very satisfied with our participation in the trade fair. The town of Augsburg also has a really nice atmosphere.” Josef Kerschbaumer, Managing Director – KOMPERDELL
“Once more it has proved how important this trade fair in Germany is for the golfing industry. We have already made a note in our diary of the trade fair dates in 2014 since we shall definitely be coming back.” Peter Stollenwerk, Managing Director – Green Grass Golf
“The HAAS company is a great advocate and spokesman for GOLF EUROPE – it is absolutely essential for the industry to have this type of trade fair offering the best both in terms of quantity and quality. Virtually all the decision-makers from Germany have come together to a single venue as the trade fair organisation works very well indeed. It is a fantastic trade fair!” Stefan Hass, Managing Director – HAAS commercial agency
“The trade fair staff are friendly from the moment you pass through the access barriers onwards. Augsburg is a venue which is easy to get to – and we enjoyed plenty of good discussions here – You can count us in again for next year.” Bernd Riep, Managing Director – Silverline
“I am very happy and ever so satisfied with how the trade fair has gone and we shall definitely be back again in the coming year. Compared with the previous year there has been another improvement in quality. In the meantime I have become an enthusiastic devotee of the Augsburg trade fair!” Markus Heessel, Managing Director – Green Grass Golf
“We have a completely new product for CaddyBee, which appeals to its older target group which values not only healthy walking but also the comfortable alternative of a mobile pedestal and offers both opportunities with this new development. Caddy Bee was looking for a sales associate and managed to sort that out here at the trade fair – This means that we are really satisfied.” Werner Nickel, Managing Director – Nickel Putter
Diary entry for GOLF EUROPE 2014:
Next year GOLF EUROPE will be held 28 – 30 September 2014 www.golf-europe.com