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For the Love of Flying Discs — TeeBoxx Brings Fly Gear to the Point-of-Play

For the Love of Flying Discs — TeeBoxx Brings Fly Gear to the Point-of-Play

Monday, April 22, 2013 - 11:53

What if you could buy a new disc, or set of new discs, near the first tee of your local course? Would you do it?

It’s no longer a rhetorical question. In March, Omaha-based TeeBoxx installed its first automated retail center, or “pro shop in a Boxx” at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park in southwest Miami. Stocked with new discs from leading manufacturers, players, and those interested in trying the sport, are now able to stock up on the company’s “fly gear,” before hitting one of the park’s two 18-hole courses.

TeeBoxx has received a warm reception on the ground in Miami, and word is spreading fast through the disc golf community. TeeBoxx founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Aaron Martin, says TeeBoxx is a mission-driven organization and that proceeds from every purchase made at a local park go to help support the park, at a time when parks desperately need funding.

Martin says the driving idea behind the company is to act as a strategic revitalization partner for parks and courses. He explains the importance of the company’s private-public partnerships. “There’s self-interest here, in that these parks are literally our fields of play, but it’s bigger than disc sports. It’s about getting people to move and have fun.”

Martin, and partners Ross Brandt and Justin Cherry, has been inundated with requests for information since launching in March. It is a good problem for entrepreneurs to have, and the team is working hard to place their new automated pro shops at high traffic courses, and respond to all the interest pouring in from disc golf clubs, course architects, Parks & Rec departments, corporate events staff and from players around the globe.

TeeBoxx is active on Twitter and Facebook, and Martin is encouraged by the reactions from the community that he’s seeing there. Tuscaloosa Classic (@TTownClassic), for one, proactively wrote, “We’re ready for a @TeeBoxx here in Tuscaloosa. Two courses on the ground and two more on the way!”

TeeBoxx partners with interested parties at local Parks & Rec departments first and foremost, entrepreneurs, and retail companies governed by one of two programs based on specific geographic criteria. High traffic courses (or Premier Locations) that have more fund raising potential – being the priority in the companies business model – can choose to receive a TeeBoxx with nearly no upfront costs and a split in profits. All other locations have three and five-year leasing options making it affordable and available to any qualified party with good credit. Lessees can stock the TeeBoxx with their own inventory or buy from TeeBoxx at a competitive wholesale price. In either case, TeeBoxx provides the payment processing software, customer data, plus the legal and technical support, insurance and maintenance to make it all work seamlessly.

“A lot of people ask about security,” says Martin. It makes sense when you see what’s inside the TeeBoxx – rows of flying objects that want out! There’s no perfect solution he says, but the glass is shatterproof and the company’s second generation pro shop will feature a breach sensor that automatically drops a protective casing to safeguard the contents. Also, it helps that no cash is used in the transactions. TeeBoxxes also come loaded with a security camera, and alerts can be delivered by email or text.

“I’m certain we haven’t thought of everything, but we’re willing to learn as we go and grow the company by improving our service and our product at every turn,” says Martin.

In case you’re wondering you may have heard of these guys before. Brandt is a sponsored player on Team Vibram. Martin, until recently, was a sponsored player with Discraft. TeeBoxx plans to sponsor pro players in the future.

“We’re doing this because we love disc sports. It’s really the only way to go about launching a new company. It’s an all-encompassing pursuit,” says Martin.

About TeeBoxx

TeeBoxx is a mission-driven company working to promote disc sports by providing the latest equipment at the point of play. TeeBoxx partners with Parks and Recreation Departments to help fund the parks where disc sports are played with a new and vital revenue stream. Customers can also purchase disc sports equipment and learn more about the disc golf, freestyle and ultimate at TeeBoxx.com.

Submitted by Aaron Martin