Golfsmith Golf & Tennis Launches Tennis Web Site
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Corey
512-821-4800
matt.corey@golfsmith.com
09/09/05 - Austin, Texas– Multi-channel retailer Golfsmith Golf & Tennis serves up a brand new tennis web site.
The company today announced its strategy to extend its reach into tennis by launching an online tennis store at tennis.golfsmith.com. Golfsmith recently began operating tennis retail brick and mortar stores in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Orlando, Hollywood, FL and the San Francisco Bay Area under the Golfsmith Golf & Tennis brand. The company plans to continue to retrofit existing stores and open up new stores with full service tennis departments.
“Tennis is a natural complement to our national golf business,” said Jim Thompson, president and CEO of Golfsmith, a portfolio company of Atlantic Equity Partners III, L.P., a fund operated by First Atlantic Capital, Ltd. “And now tennis consumers can shop with us online at tennis.golfsmith.com to find all the best brands at guaranteed low prices, certified racquet stringing and Golfsmith’s 38 years of quality customer service.”
The new site features 2005 U.S. Open merchandise, a tennis buyer's guide with how-to-buy information, a special section on what the pros are playing with, and hundreds of items from the best brands in tennis. Golfsmith is also celebrating the launch of its online store with special giveaways and contests include a tennis vacation giveaway, free stringing, free overgrips and much more.
Tennis consumers will benefit from Golfsmith Golf & Tennis’:
- Choice – Golfsmith Golf & Tennis offers an extensive selection of pro-line tennis equipment, apparel, shoes and accessories from the industry’s foremost brands, such as: Adidas®, Babolat®, Dunlop®, Head®, Nike®, Prince®, Reebok®, Wilson® and Yonex®.
- Certified Racquet Stringing – In partnership with the U.S. Racquet Stringing Association, Golfsmith offers certified tennis racquet stringing and re-gripping.
- Specialty Retail Services – The retailer delivers innovative services to help consumers derive the most value and satisfaction from their purchases. A sampling of services include: 115 Percent Low Price Guarantee, certified racquet stringers, Golfsmith Gift Cards and special financing programs.
According to “The Tennis Marketplace,” the TIA’s research-based 2004 Mid-Year Executive Summary, “frequent” tennis players prefer to purchase racquets, shoes and apparel from “Pro/Specialty” retailers, such as Golfsmith Golf & Tennis.
“We believe the tennis retail market is very similar to the golf retail market in that there is a strong base of dedicated players; a fragmented national retail market; and the absence of a true national specialty brand,” said Thompson. “We are very excited about our continued expansion into tennis with the launch of our new web site.”
With superstores reaching from New York to California, Golfsmith is a true national retailer. Its superstores, which range in size from 10,000 to 30,000 square feet, are located in the following 16 markets: Atlanta (3); Austin (2); Chicago (4); Columbus, Ohio; Dallas (4); Denver (3); Detroit (3); Hollywood, FL; Houston (3); Los Angeles (6); Minneapolis; New Jersey (4); New York (3); Norwalk, CT; Orlando (2); Phoenix (3), San Diego and San Francisco (6).
About Golfsmith
Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc., is a multi-channel retailer of golf and tennis equipment, merchandise and training curriculum for consumers and golf clubmaking businesses. With approximately 1,200 employees worldwide, Austin-based Golfsmith today operates 51 retail superstores throughout the United States, distributes the Golfsmith golf clubmaker and golf accessories catalogs, and runs an online store at www.golfsmith.com. Through each channel, the company offers consumers a wide range of pro-line equipment and apparel, as well as Golfsmith’s proprietary golf brands. Since its inception in 1967, Golfsmith has designed and marketed golf clubs, golf club components and accessories, which today are sold under the following proprietary brands: Lynx®, Zevo®, Snake Eyes®, Golfsmith®, Killer Bee®, Gear for Golf® and Gifts for Golf®. It sells tennis equipment, apparel and services under the Golfsmith Golf & Tennis® brand. Golfsmith also conducts year-round golf training programs for clubmakers and hosts the Harvey Penick Golf Academy, which has taught Mr. Penick's renowned golf techniques to more than 17,000 golfers. The company also operates wholly owned distribution centers in the United Kingdom and Canada, and it works with distributors in Italy and Japan. Golfsmith reported fiscal 2004 net revenues of $296.2 million. Atlantic Equity Partners III, L.P, a fund operated by First Atlantic Capital, Ltd., is the majority stockholder of Golfsmith.
Links:
tennis.golfsmith.com
