VICE GOLF BALLS LAUNCH TO UK PRO SHOP MARKET

After an impressive 10 years’ of growth, that has created the world’s fastest growing golf ball brand, the owners of Vice, Ingo Duellmann and Rainer Stoeckl, have announced that the brand will launch offline in the UK.  The company will be making their brand available for sale through PGA Pro Shops only in recognition of the key role that green grass retailers play in the UK market.

This announcement comes on the back of the recent investment in VICE made by Oakley Capital, the pan-European private equity investors.  “Our brand is already the leading digitally native golf brand, and we are going from strength to strength,” comments Ingo. “With the support of Oakley Capital, we are confident that we can further accelerate our ambitious growth strategy for Vice Golf, which includes opening up the retail market in the UK.”

As part of this growth strategy, the company has recruited industry veteran Grahame Jenkins to lead an agent team to target Pro Shop business.  Grahame is well known in the industry with many years expertise working with some of the world’s leading golf brands.  “I have followed the growth of the Vice brand over the years and was particularly impressed with its recent success in the US market,” comments Grahame.  “The brand now sells to over 7,000 accounts globally, so the UK market was the obvious next step.  We have set up a team of top multi brand agents who will ensure that Vice achieves its ambitious distribution target in the months ahead.”

Vice will only offer their premium golf ball line to PGA Pro Shops, as a clear statement of who they see as the right sector of the industry to partner as Alexander Wicklein, global sales manager explains, “We want to partner with the right people.  They need to understand our product and be able to best represent us when faced with a golfer who does not know what ball best suits his or her game. That person is clearly a PGA Professional, which is why they are such an important part of our growth strategy.”

Grahame is still recruiting for the UK Vice sales team and would be interested in hearing from experienced North East England agents.  Email gjenkins48@gmail.com.

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