<?xml version="1.0"?> <ContentConfig xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <Widgets> <WidgetObject> <Name> Full Width HTML </Name> <Controls> <ControlAndLocation> <Control> html </Control> <Container> Row1 </Container> </ControlAndLocation> </Controls> <Config> <?xml version="1.0"?> <ConfigObject xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <HTML><style type="text/css" media="all"> .press-release { padding: 20px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,.2); border: 1px solid #ccc; margin: 20px 5px; border-radius: 8px; } .press-release h3 { margin-top: 0; font-size: 19px; } .press-release h4 { font-size: 17px; } .press-release .pr-body { font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em; color: #666; } .press-release .pr-focus { float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; text-align: center; padding: 5px; box-shadow: 0 2px 3px rgba(0,0,0,.1); border: 1px solid #ddd; } .press-release .pr-focus img { width: 350px; border: 1px solid #ddd; } </style> <h2>Golfballs.com Ranks Among Top Golf E-Retailers</h2> <div class="press-release"> <div class="pr-body"> <h3>Online Customization Drives Golfballs.com's Rank among Golf's Top E-Retailers</h3><br /> <p>LAFAYETTE, La. - A recent national survey conducted by the respected research firm Longitudes Group, LLC, ranks Golfballs.com as one of the country's most popular golf e-retailers.</p> <p>"Of those surveyed, 14 percent identified Golfballs.com as one of the websites where they purchase golf equipment, making them the seventh most popular overall and fourth among golf specialty e-retailers, " said Sara Killeen, president of Longitudes Group.</p> <p>Tom Cox, president & CEO links the increased popularity of Golfballs.com to the growing trend in customized products. Golfballs.com began selling customized golf products online in 1998. Currently, two-thirds of its annual revenue comes from the sale of customized golf balls, apparel and accessories from leading brands like Titleist, Callaway, Nike, Bridgestone and TaylorMade among others.</p> <div class="pr-focus"> <a href="http://www.longitudesgroup.com/news/golfers-rank-their-favorite-internet-retailers" target="_blank"> <img src="http://s3.golfballs.com/images/creative/external/2013-01_Longitudes/results.png" /> </a> </div> <p>"Our focus on customized products has been the key to driving customer loyalty and our rank on the Longitudes survey," Cox said. "Adding a photo, logo or other element of personalization to a product changes the nature of your relationship with your customer. It makes for a memorable experience. "</p> <p>Cox compared the sale of customized products to starting a conversation. "It's like the difference between talking about the weather and talking about your family," he said. "One is easy, but completely impersonal. The other takes more effort, but is engaging and can lead to a friendship. "</p> <p>Golfballs.com customers seem to agree. Of a thousand customers recently surveyed, 98% say they have or would recommend Golfballs.com to a friend.</p> <p>"This is the first comprehensive assessment of online golf retailers that we've seen," Cox said.</p> <p>Longitudes Group surveyed more than 1,300 golfers with established handicaps across the country and asked which online retailers they had purchased golf products from over the past year. Approximately 14 percent of that group identified Golfballs.com as one of their purchase sites.</p> <p>The survey gathered data on online purchase patterns of golfers and golf consumers, aiming to identify product categories purchased online and to determine the top online retailers favored by avid golfers. The survey, which was also broken down by age and ability level based on handicap, found that 84 percent of respondents had purchased golf products online during the past year.</p> <p>"Over a decade ago, we bet the future of the business on product customization," Cox concluded. "Since then we have continued to reinvest in equipment and technology that improves our production capability and our online customer experience. Our rank on the Longitudes survey validates our approach and tells me that we are making a lasting impression on customers. People remember doing business with Golfballs.com."</p> <p>For more information on Longitudes Group and the syndicated research conducted on golf Internet retailing, please visit <a href="http://www.longitudesgroup.com" target="_blank">www.longitudesgroup.com</a>.</p> <h4>About Golfballs.com</h4> Since February of 1996, Golfballs.com has been providing golfers with top brands, unique golf products and great service. Initially selling only used golf balls, Golfballs.com has transitioned over the years into one of the leading golf Internet retailers on the web - with a strong focus on customized products. As the Online Leader in Golf Customization&#8480;, Golfballs.com offers same day printing and shipping of customized items, enabled by their proprietary workflow system. </div> </div> </HTML> </ConfigObject> </Config> </WidgetObject> </Widgets> </ContentConfig>