After 20 years in enterprise in Australia, Augusta Golf Automobiles (E-Z-GO) has accelerated its share of the golf automobiles market by greater than 1000 per cent, writes David Newbery
The Hamilton Island Version launch of E-Z-GO automobiles was satisfying for employees and clients.
IT all began on a golf course … simply as so many golf-related enterprise ventures do.
Augusta Golf Automobiles (E-Z-GO) got here to fruition in 2004 after three acquaintances shared a spherical of golf and concepts.
“Twenty years in the past, I used to be enjoying golf in a three-ball with Nico Schutte, my associate in enterprise, and Adrian Johnson who was the E-Z-GO vendor for South Africa,” defined Raymond Georgiou, a chartered accountant by occupation.
“Adrian had simply gained the rights for E-Z-GO in Australia. There was little or no presence, infrastructure and assets right here and so they had lower than two per cent of the market.
“So, we invested within the model and fashioned Augusta Golf Automobiles and created infrastructure, assets, advertising and, as they are saying, the remainder is historical past.
“And 20 years later we’re nonetheless going and estimate our general market share now to be between 35-40 per cent.”
That’s praiseworthy and to rejoice the milestone within the golf automobiles enterprise in Australia there will probably be a get-together of workers and sellers at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast.
Founders Raymond and Nico, who’ve been using the golf automobiles enterprise alongside collectively properly for the previous 20 years, will host the birthday bash on Saturday, October 5.
As we speak, Augusta Golf Automobiles, the primary provider of golf and utility automobiles in Australia, has places of work in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and sellers in all different main centres and regional areas.
The Augusta Supply Truck dropping off a Batch of E-Z-GO’s Golf Automobiles.
“We’ve a great product and, in loads of methods, now we have been the chief in innovation and know-how – particularly when the lithium battery was launched,” Mr Georgiou stated.
“It’s modified the golf automobile business and E-Z-GO has been the forerunner and innovators by way of that area.”
Nico Schutte, who used to import second-hand E-Z-GO automobiles within the early 2000s, advised Inside Golf the corporate had grown from an $800,000 enterprise to $45m prior to now 20 years.
“Lots of that progress is because of Raymond who’s an unbelievably good supervisor and relationship builder,” he stated. “In the case of promoting, it’s a must to construct relationships and have good service and we do this.”
He additionally credit the E-Z-GO’s golf fleet supervisor Paul Jones for a spike within the progress.
“When Paul began with us in early 2005, he acquired so many golf equipment on board. Paul left the corporate briefly however he’s again and making an enormous distinction once more.
“Nevertheless, our success is testomony to all our skilled and passionate workers, a few of whom have been with us for 10 years plus, workers members together with Mats Marklund, Markus Thiele, Steven Cross, Tom Tocknell, Ian Bastock, Bruno Iorfino, Alan Pearce, Rico Schutte and Jarryd Georgiou, all of who along with all our different workers members have been instrumental to our progress and success”
Augusta Golf Automobiles, too, has a major business aspect to its portfolio and sells transportation (automobiles) to enterprise communities together with retirement villages, airports, factories and vacation parks, and many others.
“This a part of the enterprise has grown considerably through the years, the expansion coincided with the Appointment of Graham Janson, who has performed a stirling job on this sector” Mr Georgiou added.
“And since now we have illustration throughout the nation, we’re in all probability the one golf automobile firm in Australia that really gives a one-stop store service the place we are able to have interaction company, authorities departments and companies and repair them from one level of contact.
“We will do that nationally as a result of now we have branches and sellers in most strategic areas, who work collectively as one huge household, to make sure this service is offered to our clients.
“Our fantastic workers are passionate concerning the enterprise and supply after-sales service that I consider is one of the best within the nation.”
Nonetheless, there are many challenges and hurdles to beat to stay related within the golf automobiles business as a result of it’s a transferring goal in an ever-changing panorama.
By intelligent enterprise acumen, E-Z-GO has been capable of maintain tempo with the modifications and, because of this, is self-sufficient.
“Planning and forecasting on this enterprise is difficult since you are coping with trade charges and international modifications which might be out of your management,” Mr Georgiou defined.
“Then there are the relationships with golf golf equipment. After we first began, we may construct relationships with golf execs as a result of they typically owned the golf carts,” he stated.
“However over time that has modified and now round 90 per cent of golf carts are owned by the golf equipment so you’re coping with committees and so they usually change so it may be tough to construct long-lasting relationships.
The brand new E-Z GO Queensland Showroom in-built 2022.
One other main concern for the E-Z-GO model and its essential rivals, Membership Automotive and Yamaha, is what has been described as a Chinese language sugar hit – cheaper manufacturers now getting into the market.
“There are a large number of Chinese language manufacturers popping up promoting golf automobiles at ridiculously low-cost costs in Australia, America and different international locations and it’s gaining momentum,” Mr Georgiou stated. “In America, the market pre-Covid was estimated to be price $130m and post-Covid it has grown to $980m.
“There are 20-30 Chinese language manufacturers marketed and bought within the US and the identical is occurring in Australia. It is likely to be good for the patron, however it’s short-lived as a result of it’s not sustainable.
“There will probably be modifications and casualties over time – companies that can shut. I feel customers have to be very cautious once they purchase into that market as a result of the merchandise will disappear and there will probably be no after-sales service, no spare elements, no guarantee and they are going to be left excessive and dry.
“At E-Z-GO now we have on-site assist and repair services by way of our well-equipped service automobiles and highly-trained and expertise workers,” Mr Georgiou stated.
“There isn’t a requirement we are able to’t fulfill. We’ve a wide variety of product and we customise and modify and may produce a automobile for any requirement.”
Nico Schutte stated he want to see Australia observe in America’s footsteps by way of permitting golf automobiles on slow-moving suburban roads.
“Within the US, they’ve opened up all of the 50km/h areas to LSV’s (low pace automobiles),” he stated. “For those who enable extra buggies on the roads within the extra populated areas you gained’t get the fumes you get now.
“For instance, if anyone lives two kilometres from a college they will take the youngsters to highschool in a golf buggy. It’s low-cost and it’s a pleasant factor to do for the setting.”
Mr Georgiou stated the Augusta Golf Automobiles (E-Z-GO) milestone was commendable and believed there could be many extra celebrations sooner or later.
“We’ve been right here for 20 years and we’ll be right here celebrating in one other 20 years,” he stated.
Footnote: Augusta Golf Automobiles are the only distributors of E-Z-GO, Cushman, Tempo Know-how and Textron Offroad merchandise in Australia and the Pacific Area. For extra data, go to the web site www.ezgo.com.au
Customized E-Z-GO automobiles have turn into very talked-about in gated communities.
