Kevin Saadallah (Citabel Golf): golf pros
Citabel Golf in Howald is the largest golf store in the Grand Duchy and the Grande Région, selling accessories and clothing. Interview with the store’s manager, Kevin Saadallah.
Can you briefly present your store?
We’re part of the CWA group, which owns multiple companies in the construction and sport sectors; we’re a part of the latter, along with Citabel Sports, Intersport, S-cape and Surf’in. Acquired in 2011, the store has been transformed: it now spans some 850 square metres, with a car park for easy access for all our customers fromLuxembourg, France, Germany and Belgium. We focus on helping our customers, whether they’re beginners or professionals. Our two resident golf pros help them to improve their swing and their equipment. We also have two other divisions:corporate and events. We can customise anything on the market, from balls to bags and polo shirts, and we also organise various events, such as a recent inter-company event for Télévie, an annual charity fundraising TV show.
“The clothing department makes all the difference: we’re the biggest in the Grande Région.”
What are your customers’ expectations?
They expect quality service and professional advice. We ask the right questions to find out what they need and we provide a service which has built up a base of loyal customers. We also lend full sets of golf clubs and if a customer has a problem with their electric trolley, we lend them a Jucad – the Rolls Royce of golf trolleys–while theirs is repaired. More generally, we hope that they’ll visit our group’s other companies: Citabel Sports in Leudelange, Poliform Varenna for their kitchen, Escape for their bike and Mobilier Jardin for their outdoor furniture. By using Fairplay, our free loyalty card, customers can enjoy a 10% discount on all the group’s sport brands; they can also collect items bought in Howald from the store in Leudelange or Junglinster and vice versa.
What future do you see for golf in Luxembourg?
I think that everyone in the industry needs to invest in young people, because it’s the best way to increase player numbers. We’re launching an initiative in 2019 to attract young people. Luxembourg’s teaching pros come from all over the world and play a major role in developing our sport. They have access to incredible technology which Citabel Golf supports.I was off to Orlando in January to find out about the latest trends at the world’s largest trade fair; I’m back to Luxembourg with the latest innovations to our great country.