Unlocking the Benefits of Using Ship Sticks: An Exclusive Troon Partners Network Conversation with AJ Steimel

Ryan Pensy:? Today, Ship Sticks is trusted by more than 3,500 golf facilities around the world and handles shipping for hundreds of thousands of customers annually. What defines your success in providing this valuable golf travel experience?

AJ Steimel:? Our success is defined by an unwavering commitment to deliver a seamless and reliable experience that enhances the golf travel journey. This starts with our partnerships. We have strong relationships with over 3,500 golf facilities globally, including many Troon properties.? This allows us to offer products and services that meet the unique needs of each facility and its customers. While we have a strong presence in the golf and travel industry, we wouldn’t be anywhere without the support of our green grass and resort partners who trust us to help elevate the travel experience for their members and guests.

That being said, as a company of golfers, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our service to ensure our customers can travel hassle-free and focus on their game. We offer an easy booking platform, real-time tracking, proactive issue resolution, and will even handle all customs paperwork for international travel. Ultimately, our success is measured by the satisfaction and loyalty of our customers and partners, who continue to rely on us year after year.

Ryan Pensy:? Can you quantify the savings and experience travelers enjoy through Ship Sticks vs. traditional airline transportation?

AJ Steimel:? Because of our relationship with global shipping and logistics companies, we are often able to provide significant savings compared to traditional airlines or alternate shipping methods. Depending on the service level, travelers who choose Ship Sticks could see up to 60% savings.? Additionally, Troon Properties and members of the Troon Network are eligible for additional discounts and promotions that are not accessible to the general public.

Prices aside, as airlines continue to hike up their luggage fees for oversized and specialty baggage, customers who use Ship Sticks also have an extra piece of mind while they travel. We provide complimentary insurance and shipment protection policies that ensure you won’t be left empty-handed, even in an unforeseen shipping challenge.

Ryan Pensy:? Golfers often worry about the safety of their golf clubs when traveling. What makes Ship Sticks so reliable?

AJ Steimel:? We’re a company of golfers and get how important this is. As a result, we handle your clubs like they are our own! Our reputation is built on providing a reliable and secure shipping experience, from start to finish. Our process begins with packing recommendations to ensure that your clubs are well-protected during transit and that shipping materials and boxes are available. We then work directly with our trusted

shipping carriers to pick up your golf clubs and luggage from your home or golf facility and deliver them directly to your destination. Our team of over 100+ customer service agents are readily available to help book your shipment seven days a week. Give us a call!

While in transit, our team receives daily reporting directly from our carriers, which helps us identify any concerns and address them proactively to avoid disturbing your golf plans. In the rare event that an issue does arise, we have comprehensive insurance, shipment protection policies and a robust third-party courier network that will help ensure your game won’t skip a beat.

Ryan Pensy:? As in any service business, customer interaction is a key to success. Can you speak to Ship Stick’s approach to customer service?

AJ Steimel:? Great question! Exceptional customer service is our core competency here at Ship Sticks. We recognize that shipping valuable golf equipment can be stressful, so we’ve designed our customer service approach to be proactive, responsive and supportive. Our team is available to guide you through the entire process, whether answering booking questions, assisting with customs paperwork, or providing packing tips.

We take pride in being able to “talk-the-talk and walk-the-walk” to ensure our customers receive the most genuine support possible. Our team stays up to date with the latest industry trends to instill confidence when helping book a shipment or answering questions about appropriate levels of insurance. We know your new Callaway TI Fusion’s may require additional insurance and can confidently provide similar tailored recommendations to your shipping experience. This is one more reason customers choose us over airline travel or general shipping options.

Ryan Pensy:? What is your strategic approach for driving the Ship Sticks brand and how you are looking to expand your global footprint?

AJ Steimel:? Our approach to driving the Ship Sticks brand is centered on deepening partnerships, providing a pinnacle customer experience, and leveraging scalable marketing tactics to expand our global reach.

As mentioned above, we currently have thousands of great partnerships,so we like to focus on strengthening these relationships while keeping one eye open on new opportunities as the golf travel space expands. By gathering genuine, organic feedback from our partners we are able to make informed decisions that positively impact the Ship Sticks experience.

Through the customer experience lens, we recognize that our service is what people come back for. The more we can build the trust of our customers, the more we will be synonymous with golf and leisure travel. By investing in new technology, refining our logistic processes, and expanding our service offerings, we continually put the customer at the forefront of our decisions.

Lastly, like any growing brand, we understand the importance of getting our service in front of the right people at the right time. Over the past year, we have built a strong marketing team who are working hard to scale the way we spread the word of the Ship Sticks experience in new avenues, globally. Speaking of global expansion, we are working closely with leading international golf properties and tour operators to enter new markets and meet the unique needs of golfers worldwide. With everything we do, we aim to maintain our focus on quality and reliability so we can establish Ship Sticks as the trusted choice for golf travel shipping on a global scale.

Ryan Pensy:? In addition to golf, what industry sectors present your biggest growth opportunity?

AJ Steimel:? In addition to shipping clubs, many of our customers have been taking advantage of completely hands-off travel by shipping their luggage along with their clubs. Bundle them together, or just have your luggage meet you at your destination for the ultimate VIP travel experience. We have also recognized the need to assist our partner facilities with their shipping needs, and have built programs to support vendor merchandise returns, single club shipping and customer merchandise purchases. We provide our partners with discounted, guaranteed rates for these shipping needs that avoid the troublesome overage fees often associated with working directly with carriers. This can all be completed directly on the partner Ship Sticks account or with the assistance of their dedicated account managers.

Our family of business lines include five other brands that offer hassle-free shipping services for travelers worldwide: Ship Skis, ShipGo, Luggage Free, Ship Camps and Ship Schools. Ship Skis is focused on creating a seamless experience while traveling to and from ski and snowboarding destinations. The ShipGo and Luggage Free brands work with customers and travel agents to provide a luxury luggage shipping experience when traveling globally to cruises, resorts and other top destinations. Ship Camps and Ship Schools aim to help parents with shipping needs to and from summer camps, dorms and college campuses. In 2025, we will launch Ship&Play, which will act as the umbrella brand that will power all of the individual brands, collectively. Keep an eye out for exciting branding updates and a completely revamped user experience on our booking platforms in early 2025!

While we cut our teeth and built an expertise in shipping golf clubs, we take the same pride and care in all our shipping experiences, regardless of the use case. Because of this we are well-positioned to capture a larger share of these markets and drive continued growth beyond the golf industry. If you would like to learn more about our other shipping brands please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer service team!

Ryan Pensy:? In partnering with @Troon, what were the key factors that helped form your decision?

AJ Steimel:? It has been our mission to work through our partners to reach new and existing customers to reshape the golf travel experience. Troon’s global reach and influence in the golf space presented a unique opportunity for us to expand our services and brand recognition across some of the most prestigious golf destinations in the world. Troon not only provides the most expansive reach, but also shares the mindset that the golf experience is so much more than just what happens between the first and eighteenth hole. The synergy between our two companies made it clear that a partnership with Troon would be mutually beneficial and, more importantly, provide added value to the golfers and facilities we serve.

If you would like more information on partnering with Ship Sticks, contact AJ Steimel, General Manager-B2B ([email protected]).