As a part of the ongoing commitment to keep our supporters up to date on live issues, today we turn our attention to our playing and training kits.
There has been much ill-informed comment on social media about the role that our supplier Just-Sport play in the process and the relationship that Just-Sport have with Nike.
A number of years ago the club used to operate its own shop and buy and sell its playing and training kits and other merchandise and memorabilia. The problem this method of operation creates is that there are minimum order quantities of replica kits and there is both an upfront cost and substantial monies tied up in redundant kits at the end of each season.
In 2012 we were sitting on substantial amounts of previous seasons kits which had no resale value to the club. The decision was taken to enter into both a retail and supply agreement with Just-Sport. Just-Sport took over the responsibility for operating our club shop, including all the employment costs and as a part of this arrangement they invest in all the stock including playing kit and training wear negating any drain on our cash flow and with no financial responsibility for unsold stock at the end of each season.
Our agreement provides for a guaranteed minimum profit per season with additional royalties, dependent upon retail sales levels.
In our opinion this is a financially smart way of operating.
Just-Sport have a relationship with Nike where they essentially look after all English Nike clubs outside of the Premier League. We are supplied with exactly the same stock from Nike and it is the same quality as supplied to Premier League clubs.
We work with Just-Sport and Nike to select exactly which kit design that we want for our first team playing kit and training wear and Nike supply this each season to our agreed specification.
Comments have been made about AVEC branded stock. This is a Just-Sport own label brand and it is sourced independently from the Nike kit.
All marketing material for our kit and kit launch is managed and provided by Nike just as they would with Liverpool, Tottenham, Brighton or Chelsea who are in the Premier League and are ‘Nike clubs’.
At Preston North End we are proud to be associated with Nike, a world leading brand and the combination of working with Nike and Just-Sport gives us the best of both worlds in terms of financial return and quality.
We hope that you enjoy the new home and two away kits, which are being launched over the coming week.
Peter Ridsdale
Owner's Representative