The organizers of the first Nordic Golf Show, held in Malmö earlier this month, were amply satisfied with an increase of 20 percent in the number of visitors compared with the Golfmässan held for Swedish retailers last year. Golfmässan was held for about two decades in the small town of Jonköping, chiefly targeting Swedish retailers, but suppliers had been clamoring for a Nordic show held in a more central location for customers from other Nordic countries. All the leading golf equipment brands were at the show in Malmö: There were 82 exhibitors in all, representing more than 220 golf brands, or 22 more exhibitors than in Jonköping last year. The Nordic golf fair drew 1,440 trade-only visitors over three days and, most importantly for the organizers and their Nordic concept, the visitors included about 200 visitors from Denmark and 30 each from Norway and Finland. Attendance was boosted by the fact that Golfstore, the Swedish buying group for pro shops in the Nordics and beyond, held its buying days just after the Nordic Golf Show, and at the same location. The Nordic fair was laid out in such a way that Golfstore's preferred suppliers could stay in the same spot for both events. Dates have already been set for next year's edition, which will again take place in Malmö on Oct. 2-4, 2013.

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