An ever-increasing number of young, serious players are now investing in powered trolleys to help improve their game, as they understand that the energy saved by not carrying a bag can actually save shots. Any historical stigma associated with using a powered trolley has completely disappeared and many of these younger golfers now see an electric trolley as every bit as important to their game as a driver or putter. Some county team coaches even insist that their players use electric trolleys to maintain top performance up to the final green.
The digital age
Motocaddy has accelerated this trend towards more youthful golfers by producing stylish, affordable products and cultivating a younger brand image. Our trolleys now feature a range of exclusive and innovative technology, such as a USB port that charges GPS devices from the battery during the round, and a pin number anti-theft device, both of which feature on our newly-upgraded S3 Digital.
Our latest trolleys also look sportier thanks to low-profile tyres and ergonomic handles, and we have introduced new colours and a wide range of battery options – from lightweight Panasonic to top-of-the-range lithium – to cater for this wider audience at a variety of price points. There are also a number of eco-friendly measures incorporated into the product offering. These include recycled packaging and a pledge to recycle any batteries returned to us by existing customers, while our lithium batteries are also extremely energy-efficient and take less time to charge.
Despite this innovation and the expanding market, some club pros still remain reluctant to stock powered trolleys as they mistakenly believe profit margins are low and question the products’ reliability.
Motocaddy trolleys are proven to be extremely reliable and our exclusive Royalty System offers club pros a guaranteed healthy profit, paid at the end of each month, in the form of a fixed royalty for each unit sold. Pros who don’t sell powered trolleys are therefore missing out on a great revenue opportunity as their members and visitors will have no choice but to buy from an off-course or online retailer.
Pulling power
As a company, Motocaddy has seen sales increase on average by 28% over the last three years, and we are confident that the success will not stop there as more golfers appreciate the benefits of using an electric trolley. With the help of a strong product range, Motocaddy has quickly gained a substantial market share – despite the fact the company only launched in 2005 – and sales have traditionally focused on powered trolleys. However, the market for premium pull trolleys is also growing and we have seen our S1 Lite model gain in popularity.
Putting aside the retail market, we have also noticed an increasing number of clubs introduce powered trolleys into their rental fleets. While more golfers are enjoying the convenience of using powered trolleys, some may not want the responsibility of transportation and recharging that goes with owning one. Pros who take advantage of this approach can generate up to three times more income compared to a conventional pull trolley rental. The initial outlay for the trolleys is naturally greater, but this can be recouped very quickly with rental revenue, and thereafter it is all profit.
One of our customers, Chingford Golf Course in northeast London, has even gone as far as scrapping pull trolleys entirely. The pro, Andrew Traynor, introduced a small number of our rental S1 Digitals to his fleet a year ago just to see how they fared. Within no time, rental revenue at this popular pay-and-play club increased significantly as customers warmed to the concept. It’s an interesting story and one I’m sure will raise a few eyebrows among other pros. Perhaps you should call for a demonstration!
