ICC announces Classic Sportswear and Yetimo as licensee partners

Classic agreement covers Australia and New Zealand, Yetimo is global deal

Both partnerships run through to the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015
Clothing manufacturer Classic Sportswear and Yetimo, a producer of premium promotional gifts, have linked up with the International Cricket Council (ICC) as licensee partners.

Their appointment is under the ICC’s deal with Licensing in Motion, its Official Licensing and Merchandising Partner, and both Classic and Yetimo have seven-year agreements through to the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015.

The period of the agreements also includes another ICC Cricket World Cup in the Asian sub-continent in 2011, as well as ICC World Twenty20 and ICC Champions Trophy events and other tournaments including the ICC Women’s World Cup and ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup.

Classic specializes in clothing design and wholesale of its apparel while Yetimo deals in developing for international organisations innovative and creative solutions to their promotional needs at highly competitive prices.

Classic’s agreement is an exclusive deal in the Australia and New Zealand region, while Yetimo, whose agreement is non-exclusive and global, will work closely with the ICC’s other commercial and broadcast partners to assist in their event-related requirements.

Commenting on the agreements, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “The ICC is delighted to welcome Classic Sportswear and Yetimo to our family of commercial partners.

“The fact we now have tie-ins with two market leaders in their respective fields is testimony to cricket’s appeal and we look forward to working with both Classic Sportswear and Yetimo to help ensure our strong sport grows even stronger.”

Kim Ly, Group Account Director for Yetimo, said: “With the ICC events set across many participating nations and with billions of supporters worldwide, Yetimo is excited to offer the brands of participating sponsored companies a passport to endless marketing possibilities.

“Cricket has such strong history and spirit and now Yetimo is looking forward to being an integral part of the future events, supplying merchandise that will engage the diversified global audience.”

Tony Magnus, Director of Classic Sportswear, said: “We look forward to being able to showcase Classic Sportswear’s apparel to the many millions of cricket supporters nationally (within Australia and New Zealand) and internationally and to be involved with the truly international sport of cricket.

“The seasonal nature of sport means that Cricket is a perfect balance to Classic Sportswear’s traditional winter sales within the rugby codes and helps to pave the way for continual growth by opening our first full Queensland office.

“It will also see the employment of two additional executives as well as the recent commencement of our National Sales Manager, Dave Dinning, who joins us with a wealth of sports retail experience.”

About Classic Sportswear -http://www.classicsports.com.au/

Classic Sportswear is an Australian Sporting icon brand incorporated in 1934 and the company is now in its 75th year. Classic has been supplying Australian sporting teams with their apparel needs and putting supporter gear into retail outlets for generations.

Whilst Classic Sportswear was founded with skills in the Australian Rugby codes, the company has now moved into a wide spectrum of sports that have a global market.

Privately owned by two friends for the past 20 years and with a professional team of executive and staff focusing on customer’s needs Classic Sportswear continues to move forward on the sporting fields.

Classic Sportswear celebrates its 75 years as Australia’s longest-serving major sports label with a new and stimulating opportunity working with the ICC and Licensing in Motion to bring exciting sports fashion to cricket supporters across Australian and NZ.

The seven-year agreement culminates in the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in early 2015 but involves gripping annual tournaments that div the globe.

In the past 12 months, Classic Sportswear has taken a new and exciting direction from its traditional base of the supply of sports apparel to athletes and the replication for retail apparel.

Classic Sportswear now prides itself in being a leader in sports fashion for licensed sports. Whilst many forecast a current depression in retails sales, orders for the first range of Classic’s NRL (National Rugby League) supporter apparel (due in stores in early November 2008) are more than 50 per cent ahead of forecast thus confirming that the retailer is always ready to back a winner and that Classic has the skills to develop new and exciting ranges that will meet the consumers fashion, excitement and price needs.

About Yetimo -http://www.yetimo.com/

Yetimo was created in 2000 by a major brewer in the Australia/New Zealand market to develop and supply innovative premium and promotional products.

Yetimo was purchased by the owners of Classic Sportswear in 2006 as the opportunity presented itself to leverage both companies on the world stage and add skills and markets to each. Yetimo’s clients include many international companies and it has also grasped the opportunities to work with sporting organizations on licensed premiums. Yetimo loves the challenge of working with its partners to develop innovative and creative solutions to their promotional needs and at highly competitive prices.

Yetimo Director Tony Magnus said: “Yetimo Marketing is very excited to be appointed as an international ICC licensee for its global premium program.

“The appointment through to 2015 culminates in the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and offers the Trans-Tasman team at Yetimo truly international opportunities.”

Yetimo Senior Account Manager Stef Constantoulas said: “The opportunity to showcase Yetimo on a global scale is an exciting prospect.

“The team are firm believers that we have what it takes to challenge the norms of the promotional merchandise industry, setting and achieving goals that will leave our clients totally satisfied. Yetimo is continuing to turn endless possibilities into reality.”

Kim Ly, Group Account Director for Yetimo, added: “Promotional merchandise continues to be a key driver to engage audiences and Yetimo is proudly committed to achieve this for the ICC cricket events.

“Yetimo is excited to be involved in such a prestigious program and this appointment continues our direction and commitment of being supplier to key international sporting events

“Being appointed the official premiums merchandise supplier for ICC is a great opportunity for Yetimo to showcase our creativity on a global scale. We will be setting the benchmark to supply merchandise that will drive passion and spirit which is so integral to the supporters and worldwide audience of the game.”