10 Questions on Advertising… with Callaway Golf marketer Chris Gregg

But when the person in the back of the paintings brings with him such in depth sports activities advertising and marketing enjoy, plus a transparent and burning ambition to make Callaway Golf Europe one of the crucial international’s maximum colourful sports activities manufacturers, there used to be at all times self assurance it used to be going to be a good fortune.

Chris Gregg used to be named Callaway Golf’s EMEA advertising and marketing director originally of the 12 months, having spent the former six main quite a lot of advertising and marketing, business partnerships and company gross sales actions for the logo. Prior to that, he used to be the partnership making plans & ingenious supervisor at City Football Group, taking part in a key function as Manchester City and related golf equipment launched into their very own challenge to switch the face of soccer advertising and marketing.

With additional enjoy throughout tennis licensing, SAP’s golfing sponsorship and main Vitality’s soccer, rugby and cricket partnerships, there are few higher positioned to speak recreation. And as a brand new wave of golfing influencers, the emergence of LIV golfing and a quite sensational Rory McIlroy-winning Masters thrusts the game even additional into the limelight, we felt it used to be time to place Chris within the 10 Questions chair…

1. If it’s essential return and relive in the future on your profession, which would it not be?

I’d cross all of the as far back as day one within the sports activities business, at the IMG summer time internship. I used to be taking my first steps in the back of the scenes of Wimbledon and the 2012 Olympics – actually one of the crucial very best years of recreation this country has ever observed! To now be strolling in the course of the gates with a employees go at occasions I used to queue at as a child used to be in point of fact particular!

2. …Now let us know concerning the day that also will provide you with nightmares.

I used to be mc’ing an activation for SAP at a Gary Player Invitational match and I offered Fred Couples as Tom Watson. Right there at the first tee. It didn’t cross down smartly.

3. Who gave you the piece of recommendation you continue to are living by means of – and what used to be it?

My dad at all times stated to my sister and I, “Aim for the stars and if you miss, you’ll land on the moon.” That’s at all times caught with me. It’s one thing I are living by means of in addition to paintings with my staff on as a result of, in a cluttered sports activities advertising and marketing surroundings – and particularly in golfing – you wish to have to attempt past what you assume is conceivable if you wish to succeed in good things. It’s unexpected what number of people are restricted by means of their very own ideals – take away the ones limitations and open your eyes to what’s conceivable.

4. What piece of labor performed by means of somebody else are you in point of fact jealous of?

It must be The Secret Tournament for Nike across the 2002 World Cup. It hooked up with each and every soccer fan globally, but in addition engaged thousands and thousands of them with native tournaments in primary towns at colleges, stadiums and sports activities venues. 3v3, 1 function knockouts, impressed by means of the best avid gamers on this planet, oh and Eric Cantona used to be the ref – it doesn’t get a lot better than that! I would like to create one thing like that for golfing in the future.

5. What’s your elevator pitch to other people coming into the promoting business for the primary time?

Back your self, get ingenious, and know your price. It’s a extremely aggressive business so you wish to have to get at the entrance foot, stand out on your way, however on the similar time no longer settle for the incorrect function or a wage which isn’t consultant of the marketplace or your skillset.

6. Bringing a tennis legend on board for a golfing model created an enormous hit – what different go carrying mash-up would you maximum like to peer?

Andy Murray used to be a large hit throughout all metrics (model, social, e-mail opens, the lot!) and to have him voiceover our brief movie ‘Get Sprung’ used to be particular. So possibly shall we additionally get Mr Federer, Nadal and Djokovic in combination for a fit between the Big Four?!

7. How has the upward thrust in carrying influencers who aren’t essentially the ‘professional stars’ modified the way you way your paintings?

We are in an business obsessive about product advertising and marketing protecting options and advantages, so our way is intentionally concentrated on lightening issues up somewhat, connecting on a brand-first degree with the golfer. You can nonetheless display efficiency advantages in a extra original approach, with out shouting on the client in each and every conversation. The golfer is numb to it.

Professional Tour avid gamers are nonetheless the most important to our plans relating to validating the product on the best degree, but if you’ll weave in somebody who’s recognizable, likable, has carrying ability (golfing is tricky!), then it turns into extra relatable relating to how we will inform tales with our merchandise, placing them on the middle of ways you play higher golfing and revel in it extra with them.

8. You had been a Great Britain under-21 hockey participant. What’s the only trait each and every elite sportsperson and each and every advertising and marketing chief must proportion?

Resilience. For me, that suggests last laser-focused on what you and your staff are attempting to succeed in, supporting them during the adventure and, when it’s a good fortune, handing issues over to the staff and reminding them of the place we had been within the early stages.

And, if it’s no longer as a success as you had was hoping, then resilience kicks in once more which, as a pace-setter, you will have to personal and be informed from too. Elite recreation is the most productive preparation for this – there’s no hiding position, so that you’ve were given to be ready to place your neck out and put on it, no matter occurs!

9. Next week you get to play your dream spherical of golfing: the place are you taking part in and who’re you taking part in with?

Royal County Down with simply me and my dad.

10. Given the jobs held during your profession, have you ever after all mastered the artwork of turning down price tag requests? What’s the name of the game? (And if you happen to haven’t… were given any spares?)

These days it’s extra loose golfing ball requests however the reaction nonetheless works: “No worries, I’ll send you the link to our website!” (in particular as I’m chargeable for e-commerce too!). An FOC Callaway Chrome Tour dozen for you, even though…