Headline: Local Business Tournament Solutions Continues to Expand and Innovate at Local, Regional and National Tournaments

For Immediate Release: March 28, 2016

The Tournament Solutions "shopping spree" experience was on full display at the 2016 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Norton, MA —Innovation has always been a trademark of the Newburyport-based Tournament Solutions business model and that is truer now more than ever.

Since its founding in 2002 by managing partners and North Shore natives Pam Berube and John Lawrence, the once small company has emerged over the past decade as one of the premiere golf tournament gifts and awards company in the United States.

From autograph pin flags at the U.S. Open Championship and Ryder Cup to Kate Spade bags at your local charity event, Tournament Solutions has a solution for all event needs.

“We have developed a reputation nationally in the golf industry that if your tournament calls for a $3 gift or a $500 gift, we can deliver,” said Lawrence, whose team just returned from the Arnold Palmer Invitational held at the Bay Hill Course in Orlando (FL).

“Ironically the same tournaments may purchase both items. Our business plan from day one has been to cater to both the local event trying to raise money for their town soccer team or the PGA of America requesting player gifts for the Ryder Cup Team.”

As an official licensee of the PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA and LPGA, Tournament Solutions products are now found at all major golf tournaments. This season alone, Berube and Lawrence will send staff members to the following major events – U.S Open, PGA Championship, LPGA International Crown, Players Championship and Ryder Cup.

In 2015, Tournament Solutions joined forces with the MGA to serve as its “Official Gifts & Awards Sponsor”.  As part of this sponsorship, Tournament Solutions works with organizations – Member Clubs and charitable groups – to fulfill any tournament gift or awards needs.

All of the trophies that are awarded to the MGA Champions during the season are also locally designed and produced by Tournament Solutions.

“The relationship that we have developed with Tournament Solutions has been a perfect match,” said Jesse Menachem, the MGA’s executive director. “They fulfill all of our needs, and we know that they are also able to provide superior service and a wide-range of offerings to our Member Clubs. We feel fortunate to have such an outstanding company that has such national reach right here in our backyard.”

While Tournament Solutions enjoys relationships with scores of MGA Member Clubs located across the state, the work that goes into stocking a major golf tournament begins months and years prior as Lawrence and Berube meet regularly with the major associations (USGA, LPGA, PGA of America and LPGA) to determine which products will be featured each year.

At the U.S. Open Championship, for instance, Tournament Solutions provides product lines that include clear security approved bags, drinkware, koozies, mondomarks, and autograph pin flags.

“Golf fans look at the U.S. Open as a four-day competition, but for us the planning started last July,” said Berube. “Over many meetings with the USGA and a detailed process of product selection, logo detail, product color, and number of units, we are ready for Oakmont.”

Selection and product production is followed by intensive on-site work.

"We will have five people on site at Oakmont over a 12-day period working 14 hours on most days,” added Lawrence. “Fortunately, the USGA has a talented team of merchandise and logistic professionals that make our job much easier while on site. Things can get very hectic inside a tent as large as 45,000 square feet.”

In addition to the major national events, Tournament Solutions works with corporate and non-profit groups that run charity and regional events on a local, regional and national level.

Showing its unique ability to adapt and innovate, Tournament Solutions has recently introduced the idea of a shopping experience at these charity and corporate events.

Instead of ordering one gift for all participants at an event, guests can visit a special shopping area and select a high-end product of their choice as their tournament gift.

The options are plentiful, which is an opportunity that has resonated well with host organizations that are now able to offer “world class” brands including Tumi, Bose, Ray Ban, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Trek Bikes and Movado Watches.

"We have partnered with all of these great brands as they see us as their channel to the golf industry, which is a channel they have highly desired but have been unable to penetrate,” said Lawrence. “We basically started this model on the PGA and LPGA Tours a couple of years ago for those individuals playing in the Pro-Am, prior to the actual tournament.”

Lawrence noted that the individuals who participate in the pro-am events pay considerable amounts for the opportunity to enjoy a round with high-profile players such as Phil Mickelson, Lydia Ko and Bernhard Langer. Included in the pro-am package is a merchandise gift package and tournaments were beginning to request and desire more high-end and world-class brand name products.

"In offering a shopping spree, this allows these amateurs to have a choice of product,” said Berube. “For example they may not need a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses but would like a pair of noise cancelling headphones from Bose. Sometimes we have as many as six brands on site. Instead of a 'one size' fits all program, where everyone gets the same thing, the player has a choice."

The shopping spree concept has extended to high-end corporate, celebrity and charity events as well.

"What tournament organizers on the PGA Tour have figured out is that people will pay more to play and consistently return to the event year after year, when the overall experience is outstanding,” said Lawrence. “The high-end brand shopping retail experience has come to be one of those elements accomplishing this.”

It is indeed yet another example of the innovation and adaptability of Tournament Solutions.

A true game changer located right here in the Bay State.

To learn more about Tournament Solutions and its many services and products, visit tournamentsolutions.com.