Jamie Priest - Store Manager, Slough Store

"I have worked for the company for 11 years. I started as a junior at the age of 21 on a £7k salary in Bournemouth Store and managed to progress on the ladder to Assistant Manager within 4 years. After 5 years I was offered my first managers job at our Sunbury Store. I then moved to Camberley and opened the store with a record breaking £43k in one day.

"I have been Manager in the Slough Store for over two years, achieving Top Money for 2006 in our region.

"During my time with the company I have played golf with Sergio Garcia and had the opportunity to play some of the top courses in the UK. I was also lucky enough to receive an all expenses paid trip to the Callaway Headquarters in San Diego USA.

"I have found american golf to be a great environment to work in, talking golf all day to golfers who love the game as much as you.

"Who else would you want to work for in the golf industry?"

Jane Eyre - Visual Merchandiser

I was initially employed in 2000 to provide store support in the Northern Region. Looking back this proved to be a good grounding for my current role. Later that same year I helped with a new store opening at Meadowhall, Sheffield. I discovered how much I enjoyed the challenge of Store development and also had a natural flare for merchandising. Meadowhall became my base and I worked in store as a No.3 (Senior Sales Advisor) for three years as I continued to assist with Store openings all over the UK.

In 2003 the opportunity came my way to concentrate on store development and merchandising. Even though it was a steep learning curve; the challenges were both exciting and rewarding.

During my time with american golf I have been involved in:

• The opening and refurbishment of 24 stores, dealing with architects, shop fitters, site security etc.
• Retail exhibition at the British Masters, Forest of Arden in 2004
• Re-branding the company in 2005
• Design and layout for retail exhibitions being held in Edinburgh and London 2007

Visual merchandising is a major component of any retail company, the design and layout of a shop floor must promote and encourage sales.

Martin Barnes - Northern Regional Sales Manager

In 1987 I visited the Warrington Shop with a £300 voucher from my then employers for sales achievement. After telling Howard Bilton (Founder) what the award was for, I walked out with a new job!

I started as a Sales Advisor in the Sale and Warrington Stores, then just 3 years later I was promoted to Store manager at our Crewe Store, after a further 2 years was moved to the Manager’s position at Sale.

In 1993 I was promoted to Manager at Warrington Store, which included the additional role of ‘trouble shooter’ assisting under achieving stores to help improve their performance. In 1998 I was again transferred to Manager at the Manchester Store and was also part of the development team responsible for opening new stores and giving sales training to new starters, in this time I was involved in 16 store openings. As store openings increased the role developed into a full time role and I was offered the position of Sales Training Manager.

In 1999 I became the Regional Sales Manager for the Northern Region. I now have 15 stores in my remit stretching from Hull to Chester.