Club Glove recently requested we offer their products to our customers. We will be adding a few top products to our ecommerce store immediately.

The entire line of products is available and we’re thrilled we finally have quality products to fill the void since the last leather golf bag was discontinued by one of our other suppliers.  Every bag can be customized with your company branding or other personalization. Club Glove Golf Bags in our store.

Nearly every Touring Golf Professional in the U.S. carries their clubs in a Club Glove travel bag.

All Club Glove travel bags and luggage are manufactured in the U.S.A. and constructed from Invista Cordura. Invista Cordura is actually three times stronger than similar nylon fabrics in the market. Though considerably more expensive, it has been a key ingredient to the durability and success of the company’s products.

There is a great business article on Free Shipping at shop.org. It’s something we’ve been grappling with over the last year. Everyone knows there is a high cost of shipping since they are paying at the pump higher prices than ever. Our lowest cost to ship is now about $15, regardless of what we charge customers.

We recently changed our return policy. But think about the impact. We pay to get product from the manufacturer warehouse to us. Then we ship to the customer. If something comes back, we pay to ship it a second time. That’s up to $45 in shipping costs on a consumer order, depending on the initial volume/cost from the mfr warehouse. if the product is defective, we also pay to return the product to the warehouse from our corporate offices, since it may not be OK for individuals to ship anything direct to a manufacturer, and the shipping expenses on a minimum $200 now rise up to $60! If the customer orders the minimum $200, about 25% goes just to shipping.

What do you think? What is the most important factor for you to purchase at CEOgolfshop.com vs another online store?
- Free shipping promotions.
- Product selections.
- Great customer service.
- Whoever has the lowest price, including shipping.
- Whoever has the lowest price, I don’t look at shipping unless it seems unreasonable.

NATIONAL RETAIL FOUNDATION (NRF) Foresees Challenging Holiday Season, Forecasts Meager Sales Gains of 2.2 Percent
–NRF/BIGresearch to Unveil New Consumer Survey Info at 1 p.m. Media Briefing–

Washington, September 23, 2008 — The National Retail Federation today released its forecast for the upcoming 2008 holiday season, projecting that sales will rise 2.2 percent this year to $470.4 billion.* This gain would fall well below the ten-year average of 4.4 percent holiday sales growth and would represent the slowest growth since 2002, when holiday sales rose 1.3 percent.

“Current financial pressures and a lack of confidence in the economy will force shoppers to be very conservative with their holiday spending,” said NRF Chief Economist Rosalind Wells. “We expect consumers to be frugal this season and less willing to splurge on discretionary items.”

A number of economic indicators point to a challenging holiday for retailers. A struggling housing market and rising unemployment accompanied by meager income gains will continue to hamper the consumer throughout the season. Food and energy costs will remain high. With the current financial industry crisis continuing to chip away at consumer confidence, NRF does not foresee an economic turnaround until the second half of next year.

The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent stores, chain restaurants, drug stores and grocery stores as well as the industry’s key trading partners of retail goods and services. NRF represents an industry with more than 1.6 million U.S. retail companies, more than 25 million employees - about one in five American workers - and 2007 sales of $4.5 trillion. As the industry umbrella group, NRF also represents over 100 state, national and international retail associations. www.nrf.com

Contact: Kathy Grannis (202) 626-8189
Holiday Headquarters: www.nrf.com/holidayhq

To date, our corporate wearables prices have remained pretty constant over the last 18-24 months, despite the rising cost of conducting business. Fuel costs have had the greatest impact on our cost of doing business as they have across all wearables distributors.

In some sectors of our business our suppliers are adding a $5-15 per shipment surcharge. This is in addition to shipping fees. While some distributors can no longer afford to eat these costs, and they are now being forced to raise their prices, we’re still measuring the impact and ROI of various promotions. Increasingly, competitors are being forced to pass along increases as high as 15% to end-users. Fortunately, since we are both manufacturer and distributor, we have a more control than most promotional products companies. However, we are more carefully watching these estimates vs bllling to ensure that they are passed on.

The issue for companies like ours that provide services like embroidery is that we have to pay for shipping multiple times, depending on the brand and volume ordered.
For our own products, we pay to bring product in to the USA. Then we ship to the local embroiderer for those who do not advance order, then back to us for later fulfillment or direct out to the customer. Some brands we sell do not have embroidery on the premises. So there is a cost to send the product to the embroiderer, then to us (small orders are batched), then to the customer.

The smaller promotional products companies are the most likely to be hurt. We’ve already heard from suppliers who have closed huge numbers of reseller accounts because their business volume was low. The cost of fulfilling orders is high so by eliminating small accounts, operational costs can be trimmed.

CEOgolfshop.com is a valued member of the wearables resellers industry. We continue to have manufacturers request we sell their products to our B2B customers. Despite economic issues in the country, our company continues to grow and we will continue to specialize in the executive or luxury brand niche market.

The Bugatchi men’s shirts size chart has been updated. Please note that actual measurements are shown. This is to help you compare with other brands you may already own. You can measure the same points and determine the correct size for you. Customers tell us that Bugatchi sizes run true to what they normally wear.

Most size charts are for “fits size”. For example, the Bugatchi ACF1643 crew neck, long sleeve, in size large has an actual chest measurement of 49″. The Ian Poulter size chart size large “fits size 45″ chest”.

The 1525 Polo’s have a roomier fit than all other Bugatchi shirts. Short sleeve shirts will have a shorter length and slightly smaller measurements than long sleeve shirts.

A few months back the President of Sunderland of Scotland USA distribution asked if we’d carry their products. Personally, I’d never heard of them. The President said they were huge in Europre and rattled off a bunch of names I did know, both on tour, and the famous courses.

I did some research and determined that they certainly do have the best, or certainly a top contender, golf outerwear. I want three things from my golf outerwear above all else. It needs to be quiet. I have some nice shells, but I don’t like wearing anything unless I absolutely have to because I don’t want to hear any swish swish of my clothes on my back swing or follow through. It needs to keep me dry. I don’t like anything bulk or that restricts the swing movement. Sunderland golf outerwear solves all these problems with their patented technology.

What promotional items can I give away at a tradeshow/seminar? We market IT services to upper-level execs. I want them to keep it and I want it to be memorable.

ANSWER: Cheaper than a pen? Let’s take a different approach. You’ve got x number of prospects who are ready to buy, some in the sales cycle some not, and some who just want the free gift. All of but the last of them could have value to you at different times.
You need to know which ones will be valuable now or in the future. A great exhibit will draw them in long enough for you to interact and qualify them as to type of prospect or complete dud. Offer a grand prize that requires some work to get. That’s the hook. Have multiple people ready to talk to every one who’s standing so you can get that info. Everyone is a winner with the cheaper gift -a decent pen or one of my favorites- a magnet picture. Take photo and put head shot in a selection of super hero choices or a cartoon. You’d be surprised how many take home to their families and put on the fridge for years.

Our customers are fanatical about the Bugatchi brand and we want you to share your opinions with others.

Send us an endorsement and we’ll send you a free shirt!
Include why you love the Bugatchi brand and why you recommend others shop at CEOgolfshop.com. You can also share a personal experience that you think is relevant to prospective buyers.

Three ways to get your free shirt:
1. Send a personal video. Be sure to wear your favorite Bugatchi Shirt. Accepted formats include digital video cassette, quicktime VR, or any Apple software format. If your computer has a camera built-in, we should be able to accept whatever format it records in.
2. Create an audio recording. First, call (888) 587-6787 - Ext 5 and record your your testimonial. Please practice before you call in! Second, email us a photo of you in your favorite shirt.
3. Mail photo and written testimonial via email or snail mail.

TIPS ON WHAT YOU MIGHT INCLUDE:
What is your name, City, State? You can use your first name only, but we’d appreciate if you used your full name, Job Title and Company name if possible. It’s free advertising for your company too! What items do you own? What makes this shirt your favorite? Do you ever complimented about your shirts? What do they say? If you have worn shirts made of the same fabric, why do you like the Bugatchi one better?

Example: “Hi, I’m Joe Smith, CEO of Paper Goods USA. I wear Bugatchi golf shirts, shorts, and some dress shirts too. My favorite Bugatchi shirt is the ribbed long sleeve with mock neck. The fabric is super soft. When I wear it I feel …. Fill in the blank. Compared to …. The Bugatchi shirt is better because …..”

FREE SHIRTS OFFER DETAILS
First 5 Video’s accepted- FREE BUGATCHI SHIRT, ANY STYLE IN STOCK.
First 5 Audio/photo combinations, accepted- FREE BUGATCHI SHIRT EQUAL TO YOUR HIGHEST PRIOR PURCHASE- IN STOCK
First 5 mail/photo testimonials- - Free Bugatchi mercerized cotton shirt (SKU 1525)
All other entries: $25 off any future purchase by 12/31/2008

When will I get my shirt or other gift?
Your shirt will ship within 2-4 weeks of your entry acceptance and receipt of your shirt size and color selection.

Where do I email my entry?
art@ceogolfshop.com
or
CEOgolfshop.com
2633 NE 26th Ave.
Lighthouse Pt. FL 33064

Audio entries 888-58-POPUP ext 5 / (888)-587-6787 ext 5

Who is the judge of entries?
Christine Speedy, CEO

What are my odds of getting a free shirt?
This offer is being made to our top 50 customers as of 9/1/2008. Any other customers who discover this promotion may also enter, regardless of the date of their first purchase.

Who can enter? Any CEOgolfshop.com customer as determined by bill to or ship to address in our customer records.

What is the entry deadline?
We will run the promotion until September 30, 2008, and reserve the right to change the date at any time we’ve met our promotional objectives.

USAGE RIGHTS RELEASE
By submitting your entry you agree that CEOgolfshop.com may use any information and images you supply in current and future marketing and promotional efforts, without any further compensation. CEOgolfshop.com is not responsible for lost entries.
We do not require personally identifiable information, however, it provides more value to our prospective customers.

The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) is urging LPGA sponsors to withdraw support of the Tour until the English proficiency policy is retracted. As previously reported, LPGA will require all players to be proficient in English starting in 2009 and those who cannot pass an oral evaluation of English skills face suspension from the Tour. There are currently 121 international players from 26 countries on the LPGA Tour.

“This policy is tantamount to national origin discrimination, which is prohibited under Civil Rights Act,” said Vincent A. Eng, deputy director of AAJC. “The policy is an affront to our American principles of diversity and equality. It is even more unconscionable that the LPGA is devolving to past divisive and exclusionary practices of their sport following the successful closing of the unifying Olympic Games.”

“There is already a strong endorsement incentive for the players to learn English to increase their global marketability,” said Tuyet G. Duong, senior staff attorney at AAJC. “The new LPGA policy along with their actions to have a special meeting with the South Korean players, smacks of clear discriminatory targeting of those players.”

“The game of golf has a long history of exclusion of minorities and women and they have fought for years to be included in sport,” added Duong. “That is why it is shocking that the LPGA would issue this policy, which is completely contrary to the spirit of inclusion that drives LPGA pioneer women to continue breaking new ground in their sport. This will ultimately result in depriving the audience and fans of seeing the best golfers in the world.”

CEO golf shop currently has it’s largest selection of pants ever in stock. Whether you are looking for men’s trousers or just a great pair of golf pants, we’ve got the fabrics men really want.

The Bugatchi pants come in three basic fabrics including polyester, a silk/linen blend, and tencel. The tencel pants were a big hit last season and are back again in new colors.  The Bugatchi Single Pleated Silk Pants has a matching fabric in shorts. The polyester pants have a very nice hand feel and are great for every day wear and are our most popular golf pants.