Heading into the upcoming PGA Show in January 2025, Shade Headwear reported adding three golf industry sales veterans to its sales force.

“We are heading into next month’s PGA Show with a majority of the key territories covered with experience-proven sales reps,” offered James Thompson, co-founder and golf national sales manager of Shade Headwear. 2024 has been a year of building the trust of the industry and proving ourselves as a premium custom headwear supplier, and coming out of the July Frisco Show, we started to attract the interest of golf’s independent rep sales force. We went to work assembling a great mix of well-respected industry sales veterans and some new up-and-coming sales talent.”

Chris Alcocer brings over 30 years of golf retail sales management experience and successful relationship-building history through his dedication to customer service and product knowledge to the Shade Headwear sales team. As a multi-line sales rep, he has worked closely with golf pros and retail buyers/merchandisers to support them and help grow their retail revenues. After spending the last two decades in the SoCal, Las Vegas and Hawaii territory, Alcocer has relocated to Pinehurst, NC, covering the North and South Carolina region for Shade.

Matt Seare has worked in the golf business for 29 years. He began in retail as a salesperson and club fitter. After five years in golf retail, he stepped out from behind the counter and took a sales rep job at Adidas Golf. After two years with Adidas, he took a job with Bridgestone Golf. In addition to Bridgestone Golf and Shade Headwear, Seare has a well-rounded line of apparel and accessories. He covers Utah, Idaho and Montana.

Mike Meka has been in the golf business for over 30 years, working in various roles from head golf professional, director of golf, tournament coordinator, and manufacturer’s sales rep. His current position is working for Cutter & Buck, covering North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. He now adds Shade Headwear, which he will rep in Oklahoma and North Texas.

Shade Headwear is a lower-minimum, private-label, customizable headwear supplier to green grass golf, craft brewery and outdoor markets.

Image courtesy Shade Headwear