In the late 1970s, Joe Catford, a watchmaker and avid golfer from Kent, embarked on a remarkable journey that would revolutionise the golf trolley industry. Drawing upon his expertise in watchmaking, Joe designed his own electric trolley featuring a helical reduction gearbox, a significant improvement over the inefficient chain and belt-drives commonly used at the time. As Joe played his regular rounds of golf around the Sittingbourne area, his trolley quickly caught the attention of fellow golfers including our Managing Director Paul Street, who played his golf at Sittingbourne Golf Club at the time.
Simultaneously, Joe opened an automotive repair shop in Sittingbourne, which would later become the first headquarters of PowaKaddy. Demand for Joe's innovative trolley grew, and he gladly fulfilled the requests of friends who wanted one for themselves. Over the next few years, Joe continued to refine his design, constantly improving the performance and functionality of his trolleys.
In 1983, Joe, along with his business partner John Martin and his son David, made a significant move at The Open Championship held at Royal Birkdale. They showcased prototypes of the PowaKaddy Classic and returned from the event with an astonishing 500 orders. These initial orders marked the birth of the official PowaKaddy brand, and by late 1983, the trolleys were being shipped to golf professionals and retail outlets.
Throughout the following years, PowaKaddy experienced steady growth. In 1988, they introduced the Rio, initially a power-assisted pull trolley. A targeted ad campaign accompanied the launch, resulting in an impressive 10,000 orders for the new model. That same year, Joe and John sold the business to Sunleigh PLC, with Joe leaving in 1989 and John departing in 1990. John deGraft-Johnson took over as Managing Director, while Joe's son David remained as the brand's leading technical and operational expert.
The subsequent decade witnessed the expansion of the golf trolley industry, including the emergence of Joe Catford's new venture, Hill Billy, which became a close competitor to PowaKaddy in the late 1990s. In 1999, PowaKaddy unveiled the first iteration of their immensely popular Freeway range, quickly establishing itself as the number one trolley range in the UK.
In 2000, John deGraft-Johnson led a team that purchased PowaKaddy, bringing together the PowaKaddy and Hill Billy brands under one roof. During this time, the brand earned numerous industry awards. In November 2001, PowaKaddy introduced the groundbreaking RoboKaddy, their first remote-controlled golf trolley.
In 2005, after John deGraft-Johnson's departure, the PowaKaddy Group was formed under Private equity firm Graphite Capital. However, the following six years were marked by turbulence and inconsistency. In 2012, David Catford and John deGraft-Johnson, now business partners, acquired the PowaKaddy brand, leading to a reinvigoration of the company's presence in the electric trolley industry.
Under new leadership, PowaKaddy launched the Freeway Family range in 2013, incorporating the innovative PowaFrame chassis into every new model. In early 2014, they introduced the revolutionary Plug 'n' Play battery connection technology. In the years that followed, PowaKaddy focused on future-proofing the company by rewarding loyal employees and investing in senior management and engineering staff to propel the business to new heights.
In the late 2010s, PowaKaddy continued to break new ground in product innovation. They launched the ultra-compact C2 trolley in April 2017, the brand's smallest folding trolley ever. In July 2017, they introduced the FW7s GPS, the world's first electric trolley with integrated GPS, eliminating the need for separate GPS devices or mobile phone apps.
In the current decade, PowaKaddy has solidified its position as the world's leading trolley brand. They released the FX and CT ranges in March 2020, followed by the flagship CT8 GPS in March 2022. In February 2023, they unveiled the groundbreaking RX1 GPS, the world's first touchscreen remote-controlled GPS trolley.
As PowaKaddy celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023, David Catford, the CEO, expresses his pride and gratitude for the company's achievements. He acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the staff and thanks the partners, customers, and consumers who have supported PowaKaddy throughout the years.
PowaKaddy's success story has garnered praise from industry professionals. Terry Sims, Managing Director at Euroselect Golf, reflects on the tremendous advancements PowaKaddy has made over the past 40 years. Nick Tempest, General Manager at Euroselect Golf, commends PowaKaddy's commitment to innovation and high-quality, technology-driven products.
Today, PowaKaddy stands as a pioneer in the golf trolley industry, renowned for its innovation, reliability, and quality. With over 1,000,000 trolleys sold to date, PowaKaddy continues to lead the way, providing golfers with top-notch products and pushing the boundaries of technology and design.
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