Since starting out in 1999 with just a single store in Scarborough, Ontario, Golf Town has quickly emerged as Canada’s number one retailer for golf enthusiasts. There are now 39 superstores nationwide, and the company is continuing its expansion, with another 14 stores planned for over the next two years. From an IT perspective, this growth has added many new responsibilities and challenges for IT director John Hur and his team of four to contend with: “For starters, we cannot afford a lot of downtime,” says John. “And I need to find better ways to support our store staff and serve our end-customers.”
IT also plays a major role in supporting the demands of a fast-changing business: “We’re still small, but as the company grows we have more data, so we need more centralized solutions. Infrastructure-wise, we’re trying to make it ready, so IT can accommodate the business’s needs.”
“Earn my trust”
John has dealt with Metafore ever since his arrival at Golf Town seven years ago. Initially, Metafore was only one of many vendors and was primarily supplying hardware, but as Golf Town’s needs evolved the relationship has changed. “Now, it’s much more of a trusted partnership relationship,” John explains. “I still like to shop around, but Metafore would be my first choice.” Why does he call Metafore first, and why so much more frequently? His main reason is trust, which, as John emphasizes, was not easy to achieve: “It didn’t happen overnight. Definitely Metafore earned my trust.”
“Simplify my life”
Another major asset John points to is Metafore’s full-service capabilities. In addition to IT infrastructure, today Metafore also provides a number of advanced technical and professional services, all geared to addressing Golf Town’s increasingly complex business challenges, from security and data storage to business continuity. “Metafore has become a one-stop shop for Golf Town. Dealing with one person all the time, having a single point of contact, has definitely streamlined the IT process.”
“Keep up the great work”
What does the future hold in store? With its passionate customer base and a clear business focus, even in a sluggish economy Golf Town’s future looks as promising as ever – and so does its relationship with Metafore: “I see Metafore continuing to be a good business partner, and continuing to grow with us.” What does Metafore need to do to strengthen and sustain this relationship? It’s simple, says John Hur: “Service my business needs, educate me, be there when I need you.” In other words, Metafore, just stick to your game plan – and keep your eye on the ball…
