|
Why join the AGCP?
Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
HOW - will the AGCP bring me more customers?
Belonging to the AGCP will bring you more customers in several ways. As our members will tell you if you ask them our locator does bring customers to your door. We will give you the information you need to make you a better fitter and clubmaker and your reputation will bring more business to your shop. Participating as a member will help you gain more customers. Attending AGCP events and classes will help you gain more customers. The AGCP’s National and International Advertising will bring you more customers. The AGCP has some of the best clubfitters and clubmakers in the world and being associated with them will bring you more customers. Ask the members, they will tell you.
WHO - will be "running" things in the AGCP, or who is pulling the strings?
Roy Nix owns the AGCP as a private business, a lot like your favorite restaurant or your favorite clothing store, or any other business you deal with frequently or have on an ongoing relationship with. Much like those businesses you trust and you find so valuable you will be pulling the strings as much as any other customer. Like any smart businessman Roy Nix knows that if you do not receive value for the money you spend you will not spend that money next year. It is to his benefit as well as your benefit to insure that every AGCP gets more than your money's worth of value from the AGCP.
WHEN - will I see some benefit as a member?
You will begin to receive benefit as a member as soon as you get those messages from the other members who say "Welcome to the AGCP". It is always beneficial to be wanted and it is nice to know that you are just as important as any other member in the AGCP. In the AGCP every member is a Good Old Boy you might say. It doesn't matter if you are a hobbyist or have a $300,000.00 a year retail shop, you can ask anything you want about clubfitting, clubmaking and the business of clubfitting and clubmaking and you will get an answer like any other member. There are no dumb questions in the AGCP as long as you discuss clubfitting, clubmaking and the business of clubfitting and clubmaking.
HOW - will I learn more about my craft?
Each year we have a conference in Columbus Georgia and we have 3 days or seminars conducted by some of the best clubfitters and clubmakers on the planet. The "movers and shakers" of our profession if you will. Starting in 2009 we will begin conducting classes from our home in Columbus GA. We are planning a series of classes that cover clubfitting and clubmaking from top to bottom. Our instructors will be the very same Industry leaders that conduct our Roundtable seminars. Not to mention the daily Email classroom we conduct on the internet 24/7/365 for all members to learn from.
HOW MUCH - will it cost me to belong?
It depends on how much business you do. This part we borrow from the socialist a bit in that more successful shops have to pay a little more to help support the National advertising we do. Hobbyist and part timers do not benefit quite as much as retail from this advertising so it is only fair that the bigger shops pay a little more. To join it will cost you $269 if your sales are $100,000.00 pre year or less and $299 if your sales are more than $100,000.00 per year. To renew each year is $229 and $259.
WHAT - is our goal and focus for changing customer perception of our profession?
We are forever preaching our successful member's marketing and advertising ideas in hopes that other members will be able to adapt them and use them to the same success. We are also running print ads in National Golf magazines and advertising on some of the key Golf forums on the internet. In addition to the wealth of information on the AGCP web site and we offer a Public Bulletin Board for golfers to read. As we grow and increase our membership and we can afford it we will do more advertising to get the message our. Look on our National Advertising Page and you will see the one of the ads that will run in Golf Illustrated beginning in October of 2008 and into 2009.
- Do you have a passion for building golf clubs?
- Do you enjoy helping golfers play a better game by improving their equipment?
- Do you want to learn more about building golf clubs?
- Do you want to know all of the latest technology used for fitting golf clubs?
- Do you want to know about and understand current shaft technology?
- Do you want to know about and understand current head design technology?
- Do you want to know how to recognize the facts from the myths about golf clubs?
- Do you want to start a business fitting & building golf clubs?
- Do you want your business to produce a healthy profit so you can use it for income and quit your regular job?
- Do you want to spend 3 or 4 days meeting with the best in the industry and discussing their techniques with them?
- Do you want to be known as the Golf Club Guru in your community?
- If you answered yes to any of these questions chances are you will want to be a member of the AGCP, read on.
- Some of our new members comment they learned more in the first month they were a member than in all the years they have been in business before.
- Some of our members have moved from part time to full time and quit their regular job and are now the Custom Club Guru in their community.
- Many of our members have increased the value of their clubs and increased their prices dramatically and report more growth and increased sales as well as increased profits.
|
|
Who Qualifies for Membership in AGCP?
Any clubfitter or clubmaker. AGCP currently counts over 115 independent clubfitters and clubmakers among its members!
What's in it for You?
Evaluate and compare your business against the rest of the industry by daily communications with some of the finest clubfitters and clubmakers in the world. Have your Qualifications listed along with your shop information on our web site for your potential customers to find you.
Vendor Discounts
Through the Group Purchasing Program, AGCP has negotiated substantial discounts on products and services with many of our Sponsors, a group of well-respected industry suppliers including Golfworks, Versus Golf, Acculength Junior Clubs, M. L. Wilson, Golf Supply America. Most of our suppliers give “Pro Plan” type pricing and Golf Supply gives Distributor Pricing on Ashton Heads. View the complete list of Sponsors HERE.
Conferences
The AGCP Annual Roundtable Seminars and Owners Conferences held in Columbus GA in December of each year provide premier opportunities for clubfitters and clubmakers to learn the most recent and successful technical, management and sales and marketing practices and network with other members. Members receive a $100 discount off registration fees.
Industry Newsletter
AGCP Members will receive occasional bulletins announcing special developments and notices of items of interest to our industry.
Members Only Web site
Tap into your peers for advice and guidance.
List serve
The AGCP email list serve connects members across the World.
Online Directories
Searchable online database contains contact information for every AGCP member.
Advertising, & Marketing Materials
13 Professionally Produced TV commercials available to members for customizing with your logo and shop information.
Shop Displays & POP Materials
AGCP Logo Shop Banner that can be customized with your name and shop name
PDF Files of Posters, Fliers, Hand-Outs and other POP material for your shop.
Price Calculators and Mark-Up calculators
Access to Excel Spreadsheets on the Members Sites that allow you to customize mark up and profit margins in your pricing. Models for cost plus markups and for labor plus material markups.
Advertising, Marketing & Merchandising Professionals
Roy & Linda Nix have worked in Advertising & Marketing as Ad Agency Owners, TV & Radio Station Sales Manager and are experienced in TV, Radio, Direct Mail and Print Media advertising design and Production. Both have experience in developing Marketing & Advertising Plans for local and regional Small Business Accounts.
Golf Professional and PGA Business School Graduate
Roy Nix completed his PGA Business School in November of 1968 and was Head Professional at 2 Golf Courses in the 1960s and 1970s. Roy managed his first Custom Golf Shop in the 1970s and worked with many of the PGA Touring Pros who played in the PGAs Southern Open repairing and customizing their equipment.
Peer Networks & Special Interest Groups
• Young Clubmaking Professionals
A listserve group specifically designed to address the issues and needs of the younger generation of clubfitters and clubmakers. A separate listserve for those who are just getting started to chat about your special needs in getting your business started. Since you will also be a subscribed to the main group you can bring your unique questions to the main group for answer you can’t find amongst yourselves.
• Retail Clubmaking Professionals
A listserve group focused on the needs of the retail shops in our memberships. A Separate listserve for those members with Retail shops to discuss Retail operations and your special needs. Since you will also be subscribed to the main group you will be able to share information you deem necessary with the whole group.
• Shaft Profiling Users Group
A group for those who want to develop shaft profiles to share with the AGCP membership
• Sales and Marketing Users Group
A group for doing research on sales & marketing for Golf Shops of all types. What works, what doesn’t work and why?
• Builders Technical Group
A group for those who wish to develop techniques for build superior equipment and who will share their information with the AGCP membership.
Enrollment in one of our Special Interest Groups is an additional $90.00.
Consultant Member Service
This is a Free Service for all members. The AGCP will set you up to network closely with an individual or even several leading Clubfitters and Clubmakers as mentors for advice and guidance in many areas of your business such as sales and marketing; technology; financial management; business valuation; human resources and more. We have members who volunteer for these services and they will be available to you on a time available basis to guide you along the way in starting your new business.
Lead The Way
Your opinion counts. The AGCP is led by clubfitters, clubmakers and Golf shop owners just like you.
Get involved on one of our Peer Networks and Special Interest groups.
Apply for the PrintImage Board of Advisors and help provide input for moving the AGCP into the 21st Century.
You can help chart the course for the association and the industry.
The Fine Print
1. AGCP Memberships run one year from January 1st each year through Dec 31st each year. Memberships will be pro-rated on a quarterly basis.
2. AGCP reserves the right to deny or revoke membership to any individual determined to be to be potentially harmful to the Association.
3. AGCP dues are not deductible as a charitable contribution for tax purposes; however, membership dues can be deducted as a business expense.
Ultimately, an investment in AGCP is an investment
not only in your business but the entire industry.
It is your association.
Get involved and start working smarter, learning from others,
and making more money, today!
You'll be glad you did.
|
