JMac_88

He also satiated at the Fans forum that Rangers should aspire to global blue chip brands, Seko, Cadburys, EA Sports are that but we constantly meet brands and travel the world to try and do that. Return on European stage, run to Seville has helped, new partners are coming on board.

I'm sure James Bisgrove won't allow that to happen again, after all his comment at the Fans Forum was this We have taken learnings from commercial deals that have went wrong. Paramount is protecting the brand. Financially NFT was great but ultimately we got it wrong, I understand that and don’t get everything right, I apologise for that.

The Ticketing website for the club is an actual joke and is currently not fit for purpose in my view. The club could possibly be missing out on revenue due to the issues the fans are experiencing during ticketing for events. Bisgrove and his team should really be looking into that aspect and trying to improve the overall experience for the fans

Still find it odd that Castore did not have the so called Pro version able to go from day one! Castore has very "Quietly" recently put an option on the Rangers store for personalisation your own name and players names with numbers on the strips.(Seems like Free Personalisation too, well when you look at your cart all the additional letters and number are showing as free - might be temporary though!)

Bisgrove did state in a recent interview that Castore themselves have made changes in their business approach to ready themselves for another huge kit launch. They are now aligned with new manufacturers to produce much better quality produce for Rangers, the same manufacturers used by top clubs like Man City. Seems odd to me they now have the Seko and Tomket Tires on the strips this season, but no The energy check sponsor. i remember initially asking Castore awhile back regarding this and it basically was stated due to the lateness of the deals being announced was the reason for not being on the tops last season, even the pro tops. But now i am thinking maybe Bisgrove has gotten an improved deal from both companies who are wanting brand exposure on the clubs kits. I also remember asking Castore about the quality control checks on Rangers items compared to their own product ranges, my specific question was when during production are checks made and if the person doing the control checks worked directly within Castore. This was the generic line from Castore "We can confirm that all our products are quality control checked before they go onto general sale. If we have a known about an issue with a certain product then further spot checks and testing is carried out." - This was the line they came away with, no mention if someone within Castore checks the items during a production run. So with that said, it would be interesting to know how many actually shipped items have defects and you are correct that some of the stuff you see floating around on twitter seems highly suspect, i would imagine if Rangers sell over 100k of product and only around 3% have issues, i would presume Castore would say it's been successful.

Hopefully Castore have learned mistakes from the first season with Rangers. Seems like they are at least trying, I am sure i remember hearing that Castore was taking some advice from other manufacturer's to improve things. I also recently read that Bisgrove and Castore are looking at opening retail units within the Stadium when fans are allowed to return to the ground.

Christ taking manufacturing advice from Castore,for your own in-house manufacturing!, Does not soundlike it will be temporary.

The Wolves Castore deal seems slightly odd to me Castore doing the Pro ranges they know how ro do well, obviously the pricing of these products will be high! Whilst Wolves will do the replica range in-house it seems under licence from Castore

Just wondering has anyone actually asked Castore. what quality control checks are done in the manufacturing process of Rangers items. It does not look like Castore own any manufacturing facilities, just seems everything is outsourced from that point of view hence why i asked the above question. You would think someone from Castore would inspect the items at different stages of the manufacturing process. If the above was done, then i would expect you would not see as much irregularity between the same items. Basically Castore should put the same effort into its own products as they do in the Rangers items that are under the Castore Branding.

Personally i think this a fantastic idea. Interesting line here Profits from the Rangers Champions Wall will be reinvested in the wider Ibrox footprint to assist in the club’s plans to truly enhance our historic stadium and the matchday experience. The company doing the Champions Wall has worked with the likes of Aresnal,Leicester City and our club partner HSV Hamburg just to name a few.

I was under the impression only certain parts of the pitch was hybrid e.g penalty boxes and the rest was grass.

Yes, Rangers currently lay a new pitch at the beginning of every season. I would imagine the club at this moment in time would be looking to install some-kind of hybrid pitch. (was a Hybird pitch not meant to be installed a few years ago!) I think a hybrid pitch can last for approximately 8 years. could be longer if properly maintained, Whilst i understand the initial investment would be significant, surely it would save some money in the long run.

Castore seems to have linked up with our Logistics Partner Seko Logistics, well the delivery packaging of the Champions top has Seko Logistics name on it. I don't remember seeing any other item i have ordered from Rangers Store in the past have the address of Seko Logistics on it.

Surely it was just to give an idea and the club will know it is incorrect. Personally i think this is a fantastic idea and good to see they are using the profits generated from this in improving the wider Ibrox footprint to assist in the club’s plans to truly enhance our historic stadium and the matchday experience.

We have been with the Kindred Group since 2014, although since Bisgrove came-in it has evolved slightly Unibet on the training wear and now Unibet on our Third Domestic Strip and whilst in europe competitions too. Which is another brand under the above company who also own 32Red. I would imagine 32Red would be paying a decent amount considering they are now with the Champions and will potentially have more exposure due to being in the Champions League.

Seems to be official now - https://www.Rangers.co.uk/article/Rangers-announce-multi-year-partnership-extension-with-32red/3e96tycaFQDJBQJGziSoj5 From Championship to Champions - Such a good slogan from Rangers for the 32Red deal, someone from our marketing team done well

Rangers have clinched an extended shirt sponsorship deal with 32Red ahead of their Premiership title defence and return to the Champions League next term. The new multi-year arrangement will see the partnership between Rangers and 32Red - which started seven years ago - become one of the longest-running deals in British football. As part of the contract, 32Red will continue to host their 'Team Talk' initiative that uses Rangers as a platform for supporters to share their stories and discuss their mental health. Boss Steven Gerrard took part in a Zoom call with fans last week as they spoke of their experiences during lockdown and explained how Team Talk had offered them support throughout the Covid pandemic. Gerrard said: “Rangers and 32Red have been on a long journey together and I am delighted that our winning partnership is continuing. "I was particularly heartened to hear that the vital Team Talk initiative will be continuing as a result of the new agreement. “I recently took part in a really positive session and it is abundantly clear to me how much of a support network Team Talk provides to our fans. "Today’s announcement is really positive news for everyone connected to the club.” The 32Red logo will appear on Rangers' home and away kits next season as Gerrard's side look to regain their Premiership title, with the logo of Unibet set to appear on the third kit. That brand will also be used on all kits in European competition as Rangers gear up for a crack at the Champions League qualifiers this summer following three impressive Europa League campaigns. James Bisgrove, Commercial and Marketing Director, said: “I am delighted that the club and 32Red have agreed to extend the partnership, which is excellent news for the continued commercial growth of the club. "32Red have supported our club for many years of our journey back to the pinnacle of Scottish football and our historic 55th league title. “They’ve been part of our journey both on the pitch and in the community and we are grateful for their fantastic support. "They are long-term partners and we hope to continue the successful, winning, relationship for many years to come. “As we embark on our historic 150th anniversary season and looking forward to UEFA Champions League football at Ibrox, it will be symbolic of the strength of our partnership that 32Red and Unibet will be on the front of our shirts’’ Rangers first agreed a sponsorship deal with 32Red ahead of their Championship winning campaign under the guidance of Mark Warburton as they completed their climb back to the top flight of Scottish football. Gerrard has now clinched a historic 55th league title this term and the association with the Kindred Group will continue in the coming seasons. Neil Banbury, UK General Manager, Kindred Group, said: “We are thrilled to be continuing our longstanding partnership with SPFL Champions Rangers – it’s been quite a journey over the last decade and we’re proud to have played our part in that. "It is a hugely exciting time to be involved with the club, as this current season has shown already. "More widely, we remain committed to reinventing the sports sponsorship model, so that it benefits the wider community. "That is why as part of this extended agreement with the club we will be renewing our support for the vital men’s mental health initiative, Team Talk.” Source - Glasgow Times

Good sign that Castore are actually ahead of schedule for a change!

Sorry mate!

Season Ticket Renewal Video -Cracking!

Although it currently still states End of Season Training Range on the website, via email they are calling it the Champions Training Range. Marketing team not speaking to the website team.

Castore have changed it from the End of Season Training Range to the Champions Training Range.

Castore founder Tom Beahon on swapping life in the City and as a footballer to start fast-growing British premium sportswear brand Steven Gerrard wasn’t the only Liverpudlian celebrating when his Rangers team returned to the summit of Scottish football last weekend. Watching at home on Merseyside were Tom Beahon, 31, and brother Phil, 28, the founders of British sportswear brand Castore. Last year, Castore signed Rangers as their first football client. On Sunday, they toasted the perfect start to their five-season, £25m deal. “This is Rangers back where they belong and for Castore to be a part of that is just special,” Tom Beahon tells City A.M. The Beahon brothers launched Castore in 2016 after short stints in the Square Mile – Tom at Lloyds Bank, Phil at Deloitte – to raise startup capital. Before that, both played professional sport – football for Tranmere Rovers and cricket at Lancashire, respectively – but grew disillusioned. Their shareholders include Andy Murray and retail heavyweights Arnaud Massenet, who built Net-a-Porter, and Tom Singh, founder of New Look. After five years of selling high-end training T-shirts, hoodies and shorts almost solely online, revenue is forecast to hit £100m in 2021. “Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Puma are very much mass market brands purely by virtue of their size and scale,” says Beahon. “We want to be the No1 premium brand. That’s the opportunity that we see.” Castore ‘will be in the Premier League’ Football, as the world’s most widely popular sport, was naturally always on the roadmap. “We knew we needed to have world class athletes wearing Castore products on the global stage to get the brand visibility and authority.” But they waited until 2020 to partner with Rangers in a deal that, unusually for the industry, involves not only making the club’s kit but also running retail operations. Castore wanted a club with a fervent fanbase and worldwide visibility whose story also aligned with their “Better Never Stops” slogan. Enter Rangers, who, under former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard have returned from rock bottom in both football and financial senses to finally unseat rivals celtic again. “We were waiting for the right opportunity,” says Beahon. “Rangers, given everything they’ve been through, is the perfect embodiment of that.” Since then, Castore have been linked with kit deals for Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, AS Roma and, in rugby union, Saracens. Beahon won’t be drawn on specific teams but says: “We will be in the Premier League and we also will have a presence across all of the major European football leagues in the coming months and years.” Castore also has contracts with the West Indies cricket team, the Lawn Tennis Association, McLaren Automotive and Australian rugby league sides Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm. Beahon hopes to replicate the manufacturer-retailer model of their Rangers agreement with other teams. “We want to partner with clubs that have a desire to digitise and premiumise, and are knocking on the door of success.” Women’s range and footwear coming soon As well as becoming a shareholder, Murray was also the first notable ambassador for Castore. He is now one of a handful of big name British athletes aligned with the brand, including England rugby captain Owen Farrell and England cricketer Jos Buttler. Former England and Manchester United footballer turned outspoken pundit Gary Neville is a more recent – and leftfield – client. The Neville tie-up came about because he was already a fan of Castore’s range, Beahon says. Choosing ambassadors is “not a science”, he adds, and social media following is not as important as alignment with the brand – the tireless Murray being a prime example. For a company seeking to rival Nike and Adidas, there are two conspicuous elements absent from the Castore offering: footwear and a women’s range. Both are in the pipeline, Beahon says, without committing to a timeline. “Neither of those are anything that we can talk about at this moment in time unfortunately, but it is fair to say given the ambitions we have, both of those categories we would expect to be announcing something fairly soon.” Castore expect £100m milestone in 2021 Castore has progressed quicker than expected on all fronts – from product development and signing up partner teams and ambassadors – as business has boomed in the last 12 months. “The rule of thumb that we’re working to internally is that every month of lockdown will accelerate the digitisation of the retail sector by a year,” says Beahon. “So, by the time we come out of this period, a decade if not longer of digitisation has happened. That has benefited a brand like Castore.” As people have become more health conscious, demand for the company’s products – particularly running gear – has increased. Castore has updated its sales forecasts to reflect this year’s boom, given an extra nudge by a spike in replica kit sales to mark Rangers’ triumph. “Of course it’s been really challenging for so many people from a health perspective. From a commercial perspective, we’ve had a very good pandemic,” he says. “We’ve doubled the size of the business every year since inception and this will be a milestone year. It’s a very exciting time for us, that’s for sure.” Source - CITY A.M.

Castore seems to be All-in with the Champions Range - Black and Gold Range now! https://shop.Rangers.co.uk/collections/champions-collection