Company Profiling: Ship Sticks
Company Overview
Ship Sticks LLC is a private specialty logistics and supply chain company founded in 2011 by Jonathan Marsico and Nicholas Coleman, who currently serves as the CEO. The company is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, and employs around 20 individuals. Ship Sticks primarily offers shipping services for golf clubs, skis, and other luggage items, facilitating easier and more affordable travel for sports enthusiasts.
Services and Operations
Ship Sticks provides white-glove, door-to-door shipping services for customers worldwide, leveraging partnerships with major logistics providers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL to reach over 220 destinations. The company offers a simple scheduling system that includes options for shipment dates, pickup, and insurance. Customers benefit from $200 consequential insurance and $1,000 loss insurance with baseline shipping services.
Strategic Partnerships and Growth
Since its inception, Ship Sticks has seen impressive growth, partly fueled by its strong partnerships with top golf courses such as Bandon Dunes, Grand del Mar, and PGA National. Ship Sticks also maintains corporate discount agreements with its logistics partners, allowing it to offer services at approximately half the cost of traditional shipping methods.
In addition to its core golf shipping services, the company has branched out into other verticals, including the launch of shipskis.com, which specializes in shipping skis and snowboards. This diversification has supported the company's ongoing triple-digit growth.
Key Personnel
- Nicholas Coleman: Co-Founder and CEO. Nicholas has been instrumental in the company’s strategic direction and operational execution.
- Geoffrey Skoch: Chief Operating Officer. Holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management from Cleveland State University.
- Ali Frost: Chief Marketing Officer. Based in West Palm Beach, FL, with extensive experience in brand strategy and growth marketing.
- Matt Phillips: Chief Business Officer. Manages key business operations and partnerships, furthering the company's market reach and service quality.
Company Achievements and Media Mentions
Ship Sticks has been recognized by Golf Digest as the "Best Golf Club Shipper" for six consecutive years. This accolade highlights the company’s commitment to providing reliable and customer-centric services. CEO Nicholas Coleman has appeared in interviews with CNBC's Squawk Box and the Golf Channel's Morning Drive, sharing insights into the company's growth and industry impact.
In a Golf Digest article, the innovative start-up story of Ship Sticks was detailed, showcasing how a partnership with a key resort catalyzed its market entry.
Future Directions
The company continues to explore new opportunities for service expansions and technological enhancements to streamline logistics further. Potential areas of interest include expanding the range of sports equipment that can be shipped and enhancing user experience through technological integrations.
Competitor Profiling for Ship Sticks
Overview of Competitors
Ship Sticks operates in a competitive market with several established and emerging players offering similar services for luggage, golf equipment, and sports gear shipping. Key competitors include StoreMe, Luggage Forward, Unicobag, and TripHero.
StoreMe
- Founded: 2017 by Peter Korbel
- Headquarters: 135 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016
- Service: On-demand storage of luggage and bags in retail locations
- Funding: $112K raised as of June 2021
- Tech Stack: Utilizes Facebook Pixel, YouTube, and Apache servers
- Key Insights:
- Operates in New York City and Washington, DC with plans to expand.
- Unique Selling Proposition: Only on-demand storage app in NYC, targeting tourists and business travelers.
- Employees: Approximately 2 employees
Luggage Forward
- Founded: 2004 by Aaron Kirley and Zeke Adkins
- Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
- Service: Door-to-door luggage and sports equipment delivery
- Partnerships: Collaborates with Federal Express, UPS, and DHL
- Achievements:
- Extensive global reach, offering services to over 200 countries.
- Exclusive luggage delivery partner for Seabourn Cruise Line and The Luxury Collection.
- Acquisitions: Baggage Quest, Sports Express, Ship Luggage, and The Luggage Club
Unicobag
- Founded: 2015
- Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California
- Service: On-demand baggage delivery for airlines and passengers
- Target Market: Passengers and airlines, focusing on mishandled baggage and bypassing luggage carousels
- Tech Stack: Amazon AWS, Nginx
- Employees: Approximately 2 employees
TripHero
- Headquarters: Vail, Colorado, with offices in Aspen, Deer Valley, and Beaver Creek
- Service: Shipping and storage of ski gear and bulky luggage
- Achievements:
- Official shipping partner of Alterra Resorts.
- Notable presence in ski resort towns with a focus on hassle-free logistics and storing traveler’s equipment.
By understanding the competitive landscape and focusing on unique service propositions, Ship Sticks can maintain a firm foothold in the niche market of golf equipment shipping, while exploring expansion into other sporting goods and logistics services.
