Jonathan Marsico – Co-Founder, Ship Sticks

Our guest this episode of The Chicago Golf Report podcast is Jonathan Marsico, the Co-Founder of Ship Sticks, a premier golf club shipping provider. Since 2011, they’ve helped golfers ship their gear over 277 million miles – forming partnerships along the way with thousands of golf facilities, including over 80 percent of Golfweek’s Top 400 Golf Courses, Country Clubs, and Resorts

Highlights from our discussion:

• • Origin of Ship Sticks: The idea came to Jonathan Marsico in 2011 while on a golf trip with his co-founder, Nick. Nick had to ship his golf clubs from Florida to Scottsdale, Arizona, and was impressed by the convenience but disappointed by the high cost.
  • Inspiration: This experience led Marsico and Nick to create Ship Sticks, focusing on offering affordable and convenient golf club shipping services.
  • Early Days: Marsico and Nick initially targeted golf courses and pro shops, offering them a value-added service for their members and guests by emphasizing convenience and cost-effectiveness compared to airline baggage fees.
  • Key Partnership: A major turning point for Ship Sticks came when they secured a partnership with Bandon Dunes, a renowned golf resort, helping them establish credibility and providing a significant platform for growth.
  • Success Factors: Marsico attributes the success of Ship Sticks to:
    • A clear concept
    • Strong value proposition
    • Competitive pricing
    • Excellent customer service
  • Challenges: One of the biggest challenges has been changing consumer habits and convincing golfers to incorporate Ship Sticks into their travel routine, drawing a parallel to the rise of food delivery services like Uber Eats.
  • Customer Acquisition: Ship Sticks uses two primary channels for customer acquisition:
    • B2B partnerships with golf courses and resorts
    • Direct-to-consumer marketing (social media, search engine marketing, and television ads)
  • Customer Behavior Insights: Data analysis has provided valuable insights into customer behavior, including the timing and destinations of annual golf trips, helping to optimize services and marketing efforts.
  • Technology Role: Technology plays a crucial role in Ship Sticks’ operations, from enhancing the website user experience to utilizing advanced tracking and recovery technologies like FedEx SenseAware.
  • Expansion: Ship Sticks expanded its offerings beyond golf clubs to include luggage, skis, and children’s camp supplies through their new brand, Ship and Play, catering to a wider range of travel needs.
  • Customer Service: Marsico emphasizes exceptional customer service, particularly in handling unexpected situations or resolving issues. Going above and beyond to delight customers builds brand loyalty and fosters long-term relationships.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS