Hole19 expands market to Europe

Hole19 has launched a new online store in its home market of the UK. The golf technology company has made the site available to brand partners. It plans to make the platform available to customers in continental Europe later this year.

The platform aims to connect established and emerging golf brands with Hole19’s audience based on a business model considered revolutionary in the golf space. The company promises visitors “your own professional shop” and clearly emphasizes the value of personalized product recommendations on its home page: “Unique to you and your game.”

Brand partnerships

According to e-commerce director Chris Somerton, this market is the result of a significant strategic shift, mainly focusing on brand partnerships: “Our new e-commerce platform provides golfers with a completely personalized shopping experience and our partners, using a commercial model that puts for full control where it belongs, in the hands of brands.”

“The platform gives control back to brands.”

Hole19, which claims to be the world’s largest active golf community with more than 4 million members, promises brand partners full control over products and pricing. The goal is to offer an extremely wide range of products, from T-shirts to simulators, by eliminating barriers to entry. There is no cost to brands to integrate with or trade on the platform. They can expect “unique, holistic” customer insights. “We can provide brands with the means to reinvent their game,” states CEO and founder Anthony Douglas.

Vertical market

Through its platform, Hole19 capitalizes on the growing popularity of vertical marketplaces where buyers can find anything within a given market segment. These markets attract business by meeting specific customer needs that general markets have difficulty meeting.

Once launched in the UK, the Hole19 trading platform will be rolled out to continental Europe, which is scheduled for late 2024. The US will join next year.