Question 1

What does Pro Shop Commerce do for golf courses?

Accepted Answer

Pro Shop Commerce is a website design service that enables golf courses to sell their pro shop products online, 24/7.  With customized designs and fully integrated online shopping experiences, our e-commerce solutions create a new revenue stream for golf courses by empowering them to sell pro shop products to customers anytime, anywhere. Also, we can help promote not only the e-commerce pro shop, but the entire golf course by posting on social media (Facebook & Instagram).

Question 2

What type of golf courses do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We work with virtually any golf course, private or public, even Country Clubs, who are looking for additional ways to generate revenue. Most golf courses already have a website and a physical pro shop, but DO NOT have an online e-commerce store for the pro shop in which to sell general retail products and course-branded products online. GM's often see pro shops as only a convenience for customers but a minimal profit driver. Our goal is to change that.

Question 3

What are some benefits of an online store for pro shops, why should I work with Pro Shop Commerce?

Accepted Answer

There are a numbers of ways that golf courses can benefit from an e-commerce or online store for their pro shop.

• E-commerce stores can drive incremental revenue. Golf apparel is a $4B per year industry.
 • With an online shop that’s open 24/7, customers can buy anytime, anywhere.
 • Gift cards, apparel, and accessories can help get your branded apparel out in the market more widely. 
 • Promote the image and brand of the course to the masses, not just locals.
 • Compete with the big box retailers on the ‘general’ items, who all have online shops. You can take a piece of the pie.
 •  Pro shop foot traffic (and sales) are currently limited to only those that step foot in store, this expands the reach nationwide.
 • Pro shops typically contribute little to the course bottom line, our goal is to change that through an online store.

The Goal of pro shops has always been to keep customers happy, not be profitable. With our solutions, you’ll accomplish both.

Question 4

What does it cost and what's included?

Accepted Answer

Our goal is to make our solutions affordable so that nearly any golf course can afford our service. We charge a $997 set up fee and $499 per month for the initial term of 18 months. We also provide social media posting services where we will post 2 times per week on your Facebook and Instagram page, so that you stay top of mind with your followers. We charge an additional $399 per month if you elect to have us post on social media.

The $997 set up fee covers:

• Initial design and set up of the new website 
 • Including us loading in a handful of products so that you can see how it works
 • Training on how to upload products and descriptions
 • Training on how to link your bank accounts and fulfil online orders, shipping, etc

The $499 monthly fee covers:

• Use of our design and layout
 • 1 hour of monthly Support

Unlike other e-commerce website agencies, we do NOT take a percentage of your transaction revenue.

Not included is the url or domain hosting charge for the platform (~$200 per YEAR)

Do you own multiple courses? We can have one website that sells branded gear for each of the courses. Pricing will be based on a few factors, contact us to discuss the details.

We build it and set you up for success, you manage your products, inventory and customer fulfilment.  You know the products, descriptions, prices, pictures and inventory. We’ll train you on how to update the site, but it’s pretty straightforward. You can update the site as much or as little as you want, based on how your products and inventory change. No prior web design or coding experience necessary.

Question 5

Who owns it?

Accepted Answer

You, as the customer ‘own’ the content (the product pictures, descriptions, your customer data, the url/domain.)

We (the Agency) ‘own’ the design, structure, and master platform access for the initial term of the agreement. Think of it like leasing the use of our designs and set up of the website.

Question 6

What happens after the 18 month agreement, what are my options?

Accepted Answer

While we would hate to see you go, we understand that business needs evolve, so we’ve created two “Exit” options for customers that choose to part ways after the initial agreement.

1. Content Export: If you’ve decided to change platforms or companies, we will do a one-time content export. This means that we’ll export all of the product photos, descriptions, customer data and anything available in the platform and deliver to you in a few spreadsheets or files. There is a one-time fee of $1499 for this service.

2.  Full Transfer of Ownership:  If you no longer prefer to pay an on-going monthly fee, you are able to ‘buy out’ the website. This means we will transfer full access and ownership to you.  There is a one-time fee of $3,999 for this option.

If you choose to no longer have your e-commerce website ‘live’ at the end of the 18 month agreement, you may inform us in writing. At that time, we will disconnect the website and it will no longer be available to access by you or your customers. After 30 days of deactivation, we will delete the website and all of its content, orders and history will also be deleted.

Question 7

If someone is already in the shop, can’t they just buy on the spot? Why do I need an e-commerce website?

Accepted Answer

People are busy and often rushed to get to the 1st tee on time. With an online e-commerce pro shop, visitors can come back and shop online 24/7.  And you expand your reach to everyone, not just customers that know your course.

Question 8

What products can we sell in our online shop?

Accepted Answer

Basically anything that you have in your physical store, you can sell online. Even gift cards!   We recommend starting simple by adding and selling your top selling items or those with the highest margins.

Note, this is NOT meant to replace your existing website or the software that you use to book tee times. Once the website is built, it will have it's own url. We recommend adding a link to your existing website such as "Shop Online" or something similar.

Question 9

What about shipping and fulfilment?

Accepted Answer

That’s all facilitated through the platform. We’ll discuss in detail during the training but yes, of course, someone from your end will need to put products in a box and add postage. Most golf course pro shops find this very manageable. One of our customers joked..."it's pretty easy to fulfil orders, and kind of fun. It's not like we're Amazon!"

Question 10

How does this compare to other e-commerce solutions like Shopify?

Accepted Answer

There are certainly other e-commerce platforms out there like Shopify that provide DIY solutions. But the catch is, you have to 'do it yourself.' Most golf course GM's and pro shop employees don't have the time or desire to learn how to design their own e-commerce website. That's why at Pro Shop Commerce, we do it for you!

Our monthly pricing is comparable to Shopify and other e-commerce solutions. Unlike Shopify that posted $5.6B in revenue in 2022,  we're a small business that supports local golf courses and we would love your support. Plus, we always answer the phone and are always available to speak.

Question 11

I love it, I’m in! How does it work?

Accepted Answer

After your set up fee is paid and you send us the paperwork, we’ll get to work.

Within about 2 weeks, we will have built your fully functioning e-commerce website. The design will match that of your ‘main’ website and we’ll even get you started by loading in a few sample products so that you get an idea of how the website works.

The website will have its own domain name (url), so it is independent of your main website. As an example, if you main golf course website is www.mygolfcourse.com,(http://www.mygolfcourse.com/) we would create the new e-commerce website as www.shopmygolfcourse.com,(http://www.shopmygolfcourse.com/) or something similar.

Once you approve of the design of the new site, we would set up training. We’ll walk you through the basics of how to update the new site with product pictures, descriptions, pricing, promotions, as well as how to manage inventory and even how to facilitate shipping. The platform and its backend are very simple and intuitive to use. No prior website or coding experience is needed, it’s that easy!

Once you’re comfortable with how it works you are ready to start selling! We suggest that you add a "Shop” button or link to your existing website, or even a cool graphic. Once a visitor clicks that, it will open your new e-commerce website in another browser tab.

The platform gives you access to all of your orders, inventory, sales, and customer data. All are important and give valuable insight for future marketing and promotions.

No IT experience or coding are needed – the platform takes care of all of that, including a secure shopping and checkout experience.

Question 12

How does the Social Media posting service work?

Accepted Answer

Social media is a great way to keep your golf course and pro shop top-of-mind with golfers.

We would just need access to your Course’s Facebook & Instagram Business pages. We would provide you with a 30 day posting calendar, showing you what we are posting and on what day.

This would include the image, links, post descriptions, etc so you know what we are posting and when.

We post ‘golf’ related content; images and graphics about golf, etc.

In order to keep our costs affordable, we have created a content library that is used on your social media and other client’s social media, it's not unique to your course, but that’s ok! We just want to post relevant content to keep your course’s name top of mind (and top of Feed).

If you want to supplement the posts with actual pictures, promos, or content about your actual course, you are welcome to do that yourself! But we know not all courses have people or the time to do this, so we do this for you, its all about consistency.

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