POPPIES VOICE ROUND 2
Lee Owen asked the following question:
“How do the Club determine who produces the kits? Past few years is seems very late in pre season and close to the season before they arrive?”
Multiple companies are invited to bid for the provision of the club kit, with their submissions largely focusing on design options, pricing, and delivery. The kit manufacturer is then awarded a multi-year contract. Our present supplier is Sporting Touch, with this being the last year of the contracted period.
To be fair to them, this season’s kit is a bespoke one meaning that not only did we have to agree the artwork with them, but they also then had to manufacturer the kit – which obviously started with a single sample for review. It wasn’t simply a case of picking a design from a catalogue and placing an order, this kit has been designed from scratch. Matters have also been complicated by the pandemic, which has impacted the manufacturer process and delivery schedule.
The board can confirm that the kit is in the UK and is in the final phase of having the league decals applied to them. It should be noted that these decals were only made available to the club late last week and were immediately forwarded to Sporting Touch. The most important fact is that we will be ready ahead of the season start, which is our primary goal.
The board appreciate that this question will also likely be aimed at the availability of replica shirts which are already available to order via the club’s online shop for replica merchandise.
We can confirm that the merchandise order placed by the club is also in the UK and should be available from the club shop within a week. Again, there have been delays with its supply, but replica kit will be available before the start of the new season.
Note:
The board’s response is made to the question(s) presented, which may have been adjusted where multiple people asked a similar question. If you were named as someone who submitted the question but feel it does not reflect your original request, then please present your question again – stressing what was omitted/changed.
Watch out for more responses.