About this episode

Taylor Artman discusses his journey from pro golfer to founder of Surf & Turf Golf and shares insights on growing an apparel brand through a sales-first approach.

From Pro Golfer to 500+ Retail Stores: The Sales-First Apparel Growth Playbook with Taylor Artman Want to get your apparel brand into retail accounts, even if you're not viral on Instagram or TikTok? In this episode of The Business of Apparel Podcast, Rachel sits down with Taylor Artman, founder of Surf & Turf Golf, to break down how he leveraged community, credibility, and relentless sales focus to grow into 500+ retail stores, with minimal paid marketing. Taylor shares the real story of going from pro golfer to building a course-to-coast apparel brand, starting with a private "speakeasy" style golf club that created demand for merch. You'll hear how Surf & Turf landed early elite pro shop accounts, why wholesale-first helped build long-term stability (even with cash flow challenges), and the leadership lessons that came from hiring too reactively, then rebuilding the team with the right roles and ownership. Taylor also previews Surf & Turf's 2026 initiatives, including an NIL program, PGA section sponsorships, and a private-label offering designed to help founders scale without getting crushed by sourcing mistakes. Sign up for the Secrets Behind Billion Dollar Apparel Brands…

People in this episode

Host: Rachel Erickson

Guest: Taylor Artman

Topics covered

• apparel growth
• retail strategy
• sales focus
• wholesale
• leadership lessons
• NIL program

Keywords

• apparel brand
• retail accounts
• sales strategy
• wholesale growth
• leadership
• NIL initiatives

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Surf & Turf Golf, PGA

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