DIVOTS SPORTSWEAR’S PURCHASE OF SOPE CREEK APPAREL DRIVES REWARDS FOR BOTH COMPANIES
Complementary Apparel Lines Provides Sales Synergy
Norcross, GA (July 18, 2011) – By all measures Divots Sportswear’s purchase of Sope Creek Apparel Company last year has proven to be both a prudent and profitable exercise, with revenues for the acquired company climbing nearly 50% through the first half of 2011, according to Divots President Bob Friedman.
Divots, the oldest private golf apparel company in the country (www.divots.com), acquired the Atlanta-based resort wear company in 2010 to complement the breadth of Divots’ product line, but also to empower each company’s existing sales force within the golf apparel and resortwear categories.
Says Friedman, “The acquisition of Sope Creek has proven the perfect marriage between two brands that are similar, yet just separate enough to require their own focus at a golf shop or resort clothing store. The fact that each company has helped grow the other’s business in such a short time is testament to their remarkable synergy.”
While Divots has shined for the last 35 years, especially as a provider of private label golf apparel for upscale golf shops, the Sope Creek range has been a fixture in premier ski, beach, golf and tennis resorts, spas, cruise ships and upscale hotel logo shops. Their synergy is found in a client like the venerable Greenbrier resort, which has carried Divots apparel and accessories in its golf shop for decades, but is now beginning to carry Sope Creek apparel in its famous lobby sportswear shop.
Similarly, a variety of Sope Creek clients have now opened up accounts with Divots Sportswear after being introduced to the brand by the Sope Creek sales representative.
The acquisition of Sope Creek by Divots Sportswear marks the continued vitality of the golf apparel company as it celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2011. The Divots brand appreciates a widespread U.S. presence through green-grass golf shops, corporate partners and premier golf events, including major championships and numerous stops on the PGA, Champions and LPGA Tours.
While the Divots and Sope Creek sales staffs remain separate entities, the embroidery functions for Sope Creek are now handled by Divots’ expansive in-house embroidery operations. Sope Creek also enjoys a presence in the Divots Sportswear booth at the PGA Merchandise Show, PGA Fall Expo and other industry trade shows.
ABOUT DIVOTS SPORTSWEAR
Divots Sportswear Company, Inc. is one of the oldest private golf apparel companies in the U.S. For 35 years it has been recognized for providing quality men’s and lady’s golf apparel and consummate customer service to green-grass golf shops, golf outings, corporate functions and special events. The company’s extensive line of specialty products is geared to meeting a range of price points, with quick turnaround on a wide selection of in-stock items. Divots also owns and operates state-of-the-art, on-site embroidery machines that are used to create custom shirts, logos, and private labels. Divots has been a Vendor Partner Member of the Association of Golf Merchandisers since 1997. For more information about Divots Sportswear or Sope Creek call 800.847.3467 or visit online at www.divots.com.