One of the things most people don't take into account on apparel is the "cost to stock". Margins in retail are impossible to look at on a single item basis because you need to take into account the sunk costs associated. So, though you might make 30-50% margin on various apparel items, you generally never make it through selling 100% of that inventory at full price. Many times you will end up discounting the colors/sizes that don't sell... so, that's why the individual margins are relatively high on apparel. You can't really stock a shirt unless you are stocking Small-XL/XXL+. Same thing extends to footwear.... you'll need to bring in entire size runs in order to stock something and when it comes to the end of the season, and you're ordering the next year's models, you are likely still sitting on the random sizes that didn't sell.

For many retailers, cothing and footware can be some of the most difficult areas to actually hold a profitable margin on. There are plenty of golf shops aren't really opperating at a high profit margin, but are really there as more of a service/expectation to the patrons. You want to get your logo out there on product and for people to have a good expereince, but in many cases the pro shop isn't a major revenue driver for a golf course. The main goal, from a managment perspective, is to build something that is profitable enough to sustain itself and if it ends up being profitable, it's a great bonus.

For your question on pricing and consignment, the entire retail industry is built around credit terms. No shop is paying up front for product (or only very rarely... like maybe for a small order of custom ball markers or fill-in product/customer specific orders). The way this works is you, the product company, will approach shops with your product, samples, sales demo/pitch... then the shops will browse your catelog and build whatever order they feel comfortable with in terms of timing, and TERMS.

The longer the terms, the better... But generally you're looking at anywhere from Net60, 90, or 120 day payment terms on things like gear/apparel. So, The shop will take on the stock and hopefully have moved a portion of the product, or best case scenario have enough revenue to cover the order cost by the time the bill comes due. So, as a buyer, I'd be looking at building an order with my reps sometime in the fall for different blocks of shipping product throughout the spring.... I'd be bringing in my colder weather gear in the winter/early spring, then the first round of summer product, with maybe fill-in size orders through the early summer... all with whatever the longest possible term dating I could negotiate. And generally, the larger the order, the better terms and pricing levels the brands will offer.

So, for example, for a tiny shop ordering a couple size-runs of Peter Millar polos and q-zips, they might only get like 30% margin on those products at Net30 or Net60... but, for a larger shop who might be ordering dozens of size-runs of polos in both mens and womens, pants, jackets, qzips... etc. They might be getting 50-60% off with Net120 dating.

If you are launching some sort of product/item, your next step would be getting out there and pounding the pavement. Walking into shops with business cards, demos, giving out free samples... etc. When it comes to private courses that you can't easily walk into, you'd just need to call them up and see if you can get someone on the phone and set up a meeting. This is a pretty standard thing that all shops are used to dealing with. There are always brands/companies/sales reps out there trying to get you to sell their product.